Dissecting the 2008 Honda Accord Marketing Brochure

Honda, like most other manufacturers, has placed a premium on their point of sale (POS) products. The most widely circulated of these point of sale products is their individual model brochures.

In this article, we are going to take a thorough look into the 2008 Honda Accord marketing product brochure. This is a 23 page brochure that Honda has invested a tremendous amount of money hoping to persuade the general public that this is more than a car, but an extension of who you are.


"In Developing the new Accord, we considered the road...and everything beyond it." This is the lead in for the brochure. Honda is trying to create the feeling that the 2008 Accord is designed to be than just another car, it's a driving experience.

On Page 4, they cleverly turn the Accord into a personalized driving machine. "To surpass everything we've done before, we've looked for inspiration beyond where it lives to where you live. Precisely tuning the new Accord to the demands of the road, and to desires of its driver." The marketing department wants you to imagine that the new Accord is going to taught the nuances of your driving environment and learn the way you drive on the roads you drive.

Turn a couple more pages and find that even with a Honda, "Sex Sell". "This is about lines and curves and shape. In other words, it's about desire." They mention that the new Accord is designed to invite a stare and that it can stir passion. Everyone wants to seen in the right place with the right people and of course in the right car. Honda has done a great job on this page to address the "Right Car" part of this equation.

As you continue through the brochure, "It's like no other Accord we've ever built. It's like every Accord we've ever built." If it aint broke don't fix it, well Honda knew the Accord was not broken, but they wanted you to know that they completely scrutinized all facets of the Accord and refined all areas to make the latest Accord the greatest Accord.

Honda has always been about its engine. The reliability of a Honda will never be undersold. Now, to go along with the engines unsurpassed reliability, is a new found power plant and environmentally emission friendly design. "It starts with a commitment. It starts with a promise. It starts with an engine."

Of course, Honda had to touch on what is becoming "The Marketing Catch Phrase" "DNA". This is simply what engineers' thought process was when creating the new Accord. They wanted to be environmentally friendly, "Green". They wanted the Accord to be safe and at the same time be fun. They are convinced and wanted to convince you that they have accomplished all the above.

The overall design and layout of the 2008 Honda Accord brochure gets a big thumbs up. They have managed to touch on the emotional side of the potential buyer and let them imagine what it would "Feel like" to own the 2008 Honda Accord. Being one with your machine, getting noticed, sexy, fun, safe and "Green" is what they want to feel. If the Accord comes close to the sales pitch of the brochure, Honda has another homerun on their hands.

A Mere Girl Splitted the Car into Two and Killed 3 Persons!

1. When I'm reading the international news online today I stumble upon a road crash news that killed 3 person in Japan. It looks like unusual event as the car appeared to be cut into half and parts going here and there. How is so?

2. The news said that a young lady (19), just learning to drive, drove through Matsue City at breakneck speeds, soon crashing her ride into a streetlight at high speed in truly spectacular fashion. Hmm might be she was learning to drift at the time which I doubt so, high chance of under DUI.

3. The crazy car was then tearing the SUV in half and killing the three back seat passengers who unwisely let her take them for a spin, as told by the news. She was only lightly injured, as was the fortunate young man sat beside her. Young man? Her driving trainer maybe? Or perhaps her boyfriend? Poor guy. I really like Japanese girl because of their kawaii (cuteness) but now I should think twice even I have chance to date any of them. Like I have chance hehe.

4. As told by the news, the three passengers killed were acquaintances of the driver, as was the surviving passenger, and the three soon died after being taken to hospital (looking at the state of the rear half it seems they had no chance at all). The car in question was apparently a 2002 Mitsubishi AirTrek, a sturdy enough vehicle, so it is all the more impressive how badly it was totalled by her death defying/inducing driving. Wow now I should put the Mitsubishi AirTrek on my wish list car. And I'll do the review of the car later when I have time.

5. Despite being a learner driver, with only a provisional licence, she was not displaying learner plates, and on top of this driving four other people around at high speed through central Tokyo is also not behaviour generally considered appropriate to learners; police are already looking at charges of involuntary vehicular manslaughter. Youngsters nowadays are so hazardous to society as I can put them into words. As safety officer for years (maybe a year and half but still more than a year hehe), education to be conducted and they need to be brainwashed about road safety. Even Japan is a modern country with first class citizen, that doesn't change the fact that among themselves, there are quite huge numbers of people being an 4ss.

6. The stupid driver will doubtless have many difficult questions to answer when she is released from hospital. And of course, from my opinion the event indeed will change her life and her perception onto people's life. Hopefully, she will be the one that promoting road safety to the people to payback her sins towards the family of the killed persons.

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..

A Mercedes Got Nailed by a Cellphone!

1. The weirdest and dumbest crash ever seen by me, and might be you too. Hopefully there will be nothing like this happen in Malaysia. If not, I'll laugh non stop during my crash investigation work. Uh, not good, supposed not to laugh at people's unlucky event. sorry, my bad my bad..

2. Anyway, yet it is still not as funny as Terengganu MB wants to change all Perdana to Mercedes. Be careful MB, even the cellphone will get angry!

3. Hmm now I'm thinking what happen to the occupant of the car. By the way, this crash happened in Russia and I'm not sure whether Russia is right hand drive or left. If right hand drive, ughhh I guess the driver was experiencing pretty severe injury over there. Trauma to head would bring GSC (level of consiousness) of less than 7.

4. "Dude..What will be the direction of force and CDC code of this kind of crash? looks like a collision from the top?" Hmm lemme see..the code shud be like 00TDAW3 which means collision from top with distributed of damage (more than 41cm), covered from bottom and top area on respective side, wide area covered and the depth of crash extent is at level 3. How's that? It just estimation though.

5. No wonder Putin doesn’t want anyone especially teenagers to use cell-phones in there cars. But who cares? He's busy attacking Georgia as I write this. Stupid Putin!

6. Back to the topic. Can you think of a better reason to ban those "devilish" machines in vehicles than this cell-phone related accident caused in Russia? Of course, Malaysia should learn from this event too. Too many stupid people used cellphone in the car while driving. Im stupid too sometimes! And I don't think you are not. Cheh its kinda irony eh.

7. Anyway, learning from the post, be careful when you are driving, look you side mirror, rear mirror, front and dont forget to keep an eye on your top too! And, dont use cellphone while driving ok. The huge cellphone will hit you from the top if you are not carefull enough. Chiow.

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..

Lamborghini Reventon Vs. Ferrari Enzo

1. I figure once in a while I need to enjoy my eyes with this kind of impossible getting machine thing. Sport Cars! Reading Sport Cars Specs are really tiring but open wide my eyes huhu.

2. These two exclusive cars are among the top in the world at the moment. Take a look of their comparison.

Lamborghini Reventon
Specifications

Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Driveline: All Wheel Drive
Tires F-R:245/35 ZR18 - 335/30 ZR18

Engine
Displacement cu in (cc): 396 (6496)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 650(478) / 8000
Redline at RPM: NA
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 487(660) / 6000
Type: V12

Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 185 × 81 × 44.7
Weight lb (kg): 3671 (1665)

Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph (s): 3.3
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): NA (21.3)
Top Speed mph (km/h): 211 (340)

Ferrari Enzo
Specifications

Brakes & Tires
Brakes F/R: ABS, vented disc/vented disc
Driveline: Rear Wheel Drive
Tires F-R: 245/35 ZR19 - 345/35 ZR19

Engine
Displacement cu in (cc): 365 (5988)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM: 660(485) / 7800
Redline at RPM: 8200
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: 484(657) / 5500
Type: V12

Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Length × Width × Height in: 185.1 × 80.1 × 45.2
Weight lb (kg): 3009 (1366)

Performance
Acceleration 0-62 mph (s): 3.65
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): NA (23)
Top Speed mph (km/h): 225 (362)

3. Truly, when judging and estimating the cars, my eyes just look at the how fast the car go from 0-100 km/h. Seems like on this battle, the Lamborghini is the winner!

4. Even though on endurance fight, the Ferrari will beat Lamborghini hell out of it. Seriously. On design term, I give 5 stars for both. Wohooo..

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..

The Road Cracked Again!

1. Last week, I have been shocked, and I believe you are too with news that MRR2 bridge was cracked again. It was for in fact, the third time since 2006, where the first one in 2004. The problem is the crack occured at the same strecth that had a problem last time. Cost of RM70 million before this to fix the bridge seems like going to garbage because only can sustain the bridge for 2 years. Average of RM35 million per year. Hmm..

2. "3 of 18 carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) tensioner that adding to the bridge pillars are suddenly broke". Luckily, the new JKR management successfully detected the defect earlier, before the worst severe tragedy happens, which of course, will make Malaysia is in the eyes of the world like the collapsed of Minnesota Bridge. (I studied at University of Minnesota and I know where exactly the bridge is and until now, I still can't believe that massive bridge collapsed)

3. Two years after the MRR2 damage has been fixed on 2006, the bridge is become defect again. So actually it merely can be utilized in 2 years lifespan, yeah seems like it. I really want to see the contract agreement between the contractor that fix the bridge and the goverment. How long the bridge is still in the responsibility of the contractor. And if my guess is right, its only 3-4 years. You know, engineers are really great in estimation with only 5-10% error. So that they can maximize the profit.

4. The engineers are already calculated that the fatigue cyclings (N) that could be sustained by the bridge. The biggest mistake is they are a little bit underestimate or accidentally left the factor, which vehicles in Malaysia increasing exponentially during the past years which implicitly indicated that the road user increase as well as the users of the MRR2. As a result, they must fix the bridge with their own cost. Good news for us, goverment do not need to pay a dime.

5. There are no heavy vehicle bans on the MRR2. Thats the reason why some of the road there have potholes here and there. I personally didnt like driving on MRR2. I rather used other road. Potholes are bad for my car's tyres and suspension. I love my car. How about you? This is not related to the topic, sorry hehe.

6. The traffic on MRR2 is indeed overwhelming. Constant maintenance and observation is needed. Some independent body should be involved on the observation too. We do have actually, but I'm not sure they are independent or not. The association called Road Safety Audit. Plus, somebody must make sure that the contractor do their job well, without using crappy materials just to get profit. Its not their fault though. The fault lies on people who push them hard, squeeze them and threaten them for money.

7. Suddenly I feel not really confortable on the fact I will drive on the defected part within this 3 weeks (thats what goverment said time to fix the defect). Why? It is traffic jam! Maybe I should extend staying here in UK, until the road is fixed. Bah forget it, its not my daily route to work anyway.

8. To JKR, please do u job well to pantau the make of the road. All the bad roads are appeared like "mushroom after the rain", after all the contracts of road made given to the private company. Before this, JKR did the road by themselves and the road are for my opionion is the best of all. For example, Federal Highway connecting Kuala Lumpur and Klang, until now still good even after quite years.

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..

Shocking Facts on Vehicle Safety (I): Seatbelts Part 1

1. Many people believe that in road traffic accident, speeding is the main factor of killing people, or simply can be put in a better statement, “speeding your vehicle will speed your life”.

2. That is not 100% true because in fact, it is NOT speed that kills, but actually is the SUDDENT STOP. Why? Let’s take an example.

3. A red car is driving 120km/h and then suddenly lost control and went to the side of road, and fortunately the side has a long wall. The car is hitting the wall (not head on), and dragging along the wall. After 50 meters, the car stopped and what do you think the luck of the driver?

4. Ok another example, might be some of you is lucky enough experience this or ever heard of the case. A blue car traveling along the highway at 120km/h and suddenly out of nowhere got hit from the back by an unknown vehicle. The blue car spun and went turtle, dragged on the road for about 60 meters. Assuming both drivers wear the seatbelt. What happen to the drivers?

5. The answer for both cases is they still alive because they told you the story! How could dead men tell you the story right? “Hmm bro, I think you are a little bit away from main point, what are you trying to say by giving those examples?” Be patient.

6. Now let’s look on a case where head on collision, a red car at the speed of 120km/h hit head on with a blue car at the speed of any (could be 50, 100, or 120). Bang! After the collision both are stopped, immediately less than a second. From the outside we could see the event like it’s just in a blink an eye. Suddenly the occupants in blood and the cars wrecked like hell.

7. Let’s see this video from Youtube on the movement of the occupants in a slow motion.

8. From the video above, in a split second we could see that the man that not wearing rear seatbelt hitting hard all other occupants who wear the seatbelts and this happen very fast and only in milliseconds. When the rescuer or public people come to see, the position of the occupants is just like before the impact.

9. The flying unbelted man is coming back to his seat like nothing is happening, and "looks very cute where he lean on her gf shoulder". What they didn’t know is during those micro seconds, everything is happening.

10. They might asked, “How this women bloody injured? She sat on her seat and belted too, doesn’t make any sense she could be injured like that”. How? Why? What? All those are commonly asked; even the investigation police officer has pain in the ass to figure things out.

11. Those people didn’t know, but now you know it and you should start now to wear the seatbelt. Even only one person inside the vehicle do not wear the seatbelt, she/he could become hazardous to your safety.

12. Thus, your responsibility is not only to wear the seatbelt but to remind occupants in the car to wear it too.

13. All the drivers should bear the responsible for this. Please read My Rear Seatbelt Post on how other occupants could kill you during the crash. Before starting any journey, especially long distance journey, please ensure that all the occupants inside the vehicle is belted.

14. You might be thinking, I am a safe driver, possibilities for me to involve in accident is very low. You are wrong! Anything could be happening on roads, you know, they are lots of idiots out there. Prevention is better than cure, as I could say.

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..

When the Road is Badly Made

1. Last week I got this email and found it quite interesting fact about our new upgraded PLUS highway. To be truth, I experienced the uncomfortable feeling too, driving at stated upgraded highway and when I checked our crash database, for some reason many fatal accidents occured along this stretch (approximately Rawang - Tapah) after the new 3-lane-highway opened up. Here is the email I got, I think its quite good to share.

I am a frequent user of our North-South Expressway and I have this IMPORTANT experience to highlight and share:-

I was driving back to Penang yesterday afternoon (24 June 08) when I saw the unfortunate accident in the opposite direction involving the passenger bus that skidded and overturned at Tanjung Malim. I didn't know that the skidded bus was from hometown Penang untill I watched TV3 news later in the evening and was shocked to learn that the accident took two lives.

Now, this is what I need to share:-

I am a building contractor with over twenty years of experience and I have been driving my 5 series BMW (latest generation and a dammed solid road holding car) each time
I travelled to KL. Lately, the new extended 3 lanes highway had been opened up for use and since then, I have also been using it quite oftenly.

HOWEVER, when I used it each time it is WET, I can really 'feel' that the new road surface is extremely SLIPPERY! To share with some of you, my car comes with a built-in traction control mechanism (skidding prevention mechanism) and you can feel it each time it is activated. Previously, I don't come across this kind of slippery feel except when I drive over a paddle of water at certain speed.

From my observation as a building contractor, the 'wearing course' of the new road surface could be TOO FINE OR TOO SMOOTH and TOTALLY UNSUITABLE for highway use!
The wearing course (top premix layer) mix design for highways should be of minimum 20mm coarse aggregate mix that will give us the required bond between the surface and our tyres. Fine wearing course (14mm coarse aggregate size and below) is only suitable for normal road. (A proper test need to be carried out to determine the mix design of the wearing course).
Since the opening of the three lanes highway, I had seen cars skidding in front me or in the opposite direction and approximately 2 weeks ago, one of my friends who is also a frequent user of our NSE, came to share with me about his slippery feeling as well as the many skidded cars he had seen lately.

I am highlighting this to TV3 and The Star with the hope that a thourough investigation could be carried out immediately to find out how or what causes the bus to skid. A proper and independent test need to be carried out urgently to determine the design mix of the wearing course. THIS CAN SAVE LIVES.

2. Here is the Youtube link that justified about the technology he talked about in the email. From now on, I'll not driving fast at the stretch, especially during wet time and I hope you will do the same. And dont forget to tell your friend and family about this.

3. This is the event when the make of highway involved lots of bribes and such. When the accident occur, people might blame thats the driver's fault, but actually it is not 100% true.

4. The fault is big portionly thanks to the maker of the highway and the people who involve in the build. "I want to get this contract", "Give me 10%", "Ok, you got it", "Hey I wont approve the project, but 5% will do it", "Ok, you got it"..the contractor is then calculating, "Damn, I wont make any profit at this rate, I'll use crappy materials, so that I can profit too" This is how the tragedy begins..

5. Its kinda unfair if just blaming without suggesting any improvement. For my opinion, to remake or redo the badly made highway will of course eating a lot of efforts and money.

6. So that is definitely not the best solution. Since this problem frequently happening during raining/wet time, so it is best if the authorities could make something like signage on this problematic stretch. The signage must be visible during the heavy rain and must be made as frequent as possible. Such as "Be Careful during the rain", "Speed up, and your life will be sped up too" and such.

7. Huhu I think languange people is better on this. But the point is put signages as many as we can on this strecth so that people will know. And of course, after 10 years time, hopefully there is no such thing as bribe or misconduct of power during highway remade..

Don't you agree? Feel free to add and comments..