News

06/09/2010: Getting Back into the Title Fight

Honda Racing team star Matt Neal has thrust himself right back into the title fight for this season's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after a win and a third place finish at Knockhill in Scotland on Sunday.

Neal has moved into second place in the standings after the rounds in Fife and is optimistic of reaching the title summit in the remaining six rounds of this season's competition, which continues at Donington Park on 18th and 19th September. Neal carried a full load of success ballast to notch a fourth place finish in race one. He then took his fourth victory of the year in race two before he battled to third place in the final event of the weekend. It meant he outscored all his rivals over the three events and has edged closer to the top of the chase for the coveted crown.

“ It has been a great weekend for the Honda Racing Team because not only did I manage to take a race win but we have also moved to the top of the Manufacturers' Standings, which is important for the team as a whole and shows what a great job everyone's been doing. In the Driver' Standing, the whole situation has closed up which is what we wanted to achieve. ”
- Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team.

"The Honda has been a fantastic car for the confines of Knockhill, which is small and hilly. The handling of the Civic has always been a great strength and that meant I was able to capitalise when I had open road. When I got the lead of race two, the car just got better and better."

There was further glory for Neal's partner in the Honda Racing Team stable, Gordon Shedden. The local fans' favourite thrilled a packed crowd by scorching to victory in the opening race of the weekend and then followed Neal across the line in the second race to take more silverware. Those two results, plus a ninth place in the final round after he had been punted off circuit by a rival, have consolidated Shedden's fourth place in the points race.

Shedden said afterwards, "We knew that this would be a chance for us to score some big points and that is the way I thought it was going to go. I was taken out by someone else in a stupid accident in the third race but managed to salvage something to build on the two podiums I scored earlier in the day. I could have had even more points out of the weekend than I did but to win in front of my home fans is always special."

Both Neal and Shedden are optimistic as the title race moves in to its final stages, and team principal Steve Neal thinks that there are more strong showings on the horizon at Donington Park in two weeks' time. "The momentum has swung back in our direction," said Steve Neal. "We needed to score some big points here at Knockhill and we won two of the three races, so we have done what we set out to do. Donington Park is another circuit that plays to the strengths of our car. Things are looking good."

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27/08/2010: Honda Jazz Gets Hybrid Tech

A hybrid version of Honda's much-loved Jazz will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, bringing lower emissions and improved fuel economy to the practical supermini.

The introduction of Honda’s petrol-electric IMA system to the Jazz , makes the car the world’s first B-segment hybrid.

Featuring the practicality and flexibility of the current Jazz , but with reduced CO² emissions and improvements to fuel economy, the hybrid version will go on sale in the UK in early 2011.

The car will feature the same engine as the Insight hybrid; a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine combined with a CVT gearbox, with an electric motor sandwiched between the two to create a parallel hybrid system. The hybrid Jazz – like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models – will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions.

Much of the Jazz's practicality is derived from its height, but despite being taller than the current Honda Insight , the hybrid version of Jazz manages to maintain fuel consumption and CO² emissions on comparable levels.

Visually, this new, cleaner Jazz is distinguished from the current range by revised headlights with a blue surround, clear rear lights, new front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colours plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.

Inside, the cabin is also given a fresh look, with darker single colour dashboard, which contrasts strongly with the blue lighting of the dials and dashboard instruments. The new hybrid is also available with leather trim, the first time this has been available on a Jazz model in Europe.

MPG and emissions data will be released at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Along with the new hybrid Jazz , Honda will display the 2011 model year Insight , CR-Z , Jazz , CR-V , Accord and Accord Tourer , as well as the sports touring motorcycle VFR1200F equipped with the V4 engine, and a stylish PCX scooter with low emission idle-stop 125cc engine.

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26/08/2010: Honda CR-Z is one of Europe's Safest Cars

The Honda CR-Z has been rated one of Europe's safest cars, achieving a maximum 5-stars in the latest independent crash testing results from Euro NCAP.

Euro NCAP's rating scheme focuses on the vehicle's overall safety performance which gives consumers an easy to understand single score. The system considers occupant protection in frontal, side, pole and rear impacts, child protection, pedestrian protection and the availability of driver aids.

The rating scheme uses a weighted score, combining many aspects of a car's safety performance: adult (50%), child (20%) and pedestrian (20%) protection assessment results with the availability of safety assistance devices (10%). To qualify for inclusion, safety assistance devices (VSA for Honda) must be fitted as standard across 90% of the EU 27 2010 model range.

The CR-Z is the latest in a series of Honda cars to receive top marks. Since the introduction of the new rating scheme, Euro NCAP has tested four other Honda models; Civic , Accord , Jazz and most recently, Insight . All five models achieved 5 stars, with the Honda Insight also being named "safest hybrid vehicle" as well as the 2nd safest vehicle tested during 2009.

Euro NCAP's new assessment reflects Honda's commitment to overall vehicle safety, complimenting Honda's long standing in-house safety testing which seeks to improve real world safety. Honda's car-to-car crash test facility at the Tochigi R&D centre analyses impacts between models of different sizes and weights and develops solutions to mitigate injuries for both for passengers and pedestrians. The omni-directional vehicle-to-vehicle crash test facility opened in 2001 and is the world's first indoor all-weather facility of its type.

Safety in the Honda CR-Z

Vehicle Stability Assist

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking assistance to any of the wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.

Braking

14-inch ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes ensure road stability, which is further enhanced by the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE)

Developed in the car-to-car crash testing facility at Tochigi, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure is now a well-established strength of Honda's safety credentials.

The ACE body structure is a Honda exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. The ACE design utilises a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment and can help to more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles in a crash.

Pedestrian Protection

The CR-Z also incorporates many features designed with pedestrian-protection in mind. Research has shown that these features can dramatically improve a pedestrian's chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle. Features include windscreen wiper pivots designed to break away on impact, energy absorbing front wing mounts and bonnet hinges, as well as an unobstructed area beneath the bonnet allowing greater space for deformation.

Airbags and Seatbelts

On all models in the range, the driver and passenger Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) front and side airbags are complemented by full length curtain airbags to protect all occupants. There are three-point Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seatbelts in all seating positions, the front seatbelts also have two stage Energy Absorption (EA) load limiting pre-tensioners. Additionally in the rear ISOFIX points ensure secure and correct installation mounting of child seats.

Active headrests

The CR-Z is equipped with front seat active headrests which reduce the likelihood of neck injury in rear impacts. As the occupant is pushed against the seat back, a rigid plate in the seat presses a link to the headrest pushing it up and forward to support the head.

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25/08/2010: August Bank Holiday Opening Hours

Trident will be open at the following times on August Bank Holiday Monday:

• Ottershaw Opening Hours - 10.00 am until 4.00 pm
• Weybridge Opening Hours - 11.00 am until 4.00 pm

We still have a limited amount of clearance sale stock available in our approved used car range and a host of 'affordable driving' offers available on new cars.

Take the opportunity to have a leisurely look around over the Bank Holiday weekend!

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23/08/2010: Peace of Mind for Motorists

Independent research published today by Which? shows that in just two years of operation, automotive consumer champion Motor Codes is already making significant progress in raising service and repair standards in UK garages.

The research highlights that Motor Codes garages performed significantly better than non-Code subscribed service centres, spotting almost 20% more faults in tests set out by the consumer watchdog.

Backed by Trading Standards, Consumer Direct, the DVLA and VOSA which operate the UK's MOT testing station network, the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair commits garages to an open, transparent and fair method of business, aiming to maintain consistently high standards across the industry.

Trident Honda subscribe to the Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair and in doing so commit to:

• Operating as a responsible business
• Conforming to minimum industry standards
• Delivering high levels of customer satisfaction
• Offering consumer protection and confidence in the service they receive
• Honest and fair services
• Open and transparent pricing
• Completing work as agreed

At www.motorcodes.co.uk there is a comprehensive, nationwide database of over 6,500 reputable garages that promise to offer a high standard of service. On the website, each garage has a profile page where garages receive ratings from their customers. These Garage Ratings are generated when customers complete the government-backed customer survey and results from almost 4,000 responses show that an industry-leading 93% of motorists would recommend that friends and family use a Motor Codes garage.

To maintain standards, garage inspectors from the RAC check every Motor Codes garage in line with OFT guidelines. Reinforcing this process, there is an independent panel of experts which can take action against any garage that slips below the required quality standards.

“ Trident Honda is proud to announce that overall satisfaction with their service and repair work is currently rated at 99%. ”
- Richard Roberts, Managing Director

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20/08/2010: Music to Your Ears

Honda has announced that the '3 years affordable driving' offer available on selected Jazz models has been extended to encompass a wider selection of the Jazz range.

From today, '3 years affordable driving' is available on all SE, ES, EX Manual and i-Shift Jazz models.

These cars will now come with 3 years complimentary servicing, 3 years £0 road tax and the choice of PCP or 0% APR.

In addition, Jazz 1.2 and 1.4 Si models come with customer savings and reduced on-the-road prices.

Details of all the Jazz offers can be found on our Latest Offers page:

• Latest Offers

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12/08/2010: New SMR Service for Honda

Honda UK has unveiled a new SMR (service, maintenance and repair) service, which allows fleet customers to access all information on their cars online.

Fleet managers can use HondaSMR to produce large-scale SMR budgets, or even to bring up specific information about an individual car. Information is stored centrally and available online, making it easily accessible even when on the move, and the information on each car is extremely detailed, even listing components.

The system was developed by FleetData, a global provider of market intelligence solutions for the automotive industry, and was created specifically for Honda UK. The new online SMR solution will be used by both dealers and corporate customers.

“ Early feedback on the system from our leasing company customers and dealers is that the system delivers tangible benefits in terms of data, flexibility and speed of use. ”
- Lee Wheeler, National Leasing and SMR Manager, Honda UK.

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10/08/2010: Honda Scores at Snetterton

Gordon Shedden scored a victory for the Honda Racing Team at Snetterton in Norfolk on Sunday as he and team-mate Matt Neal continued their charge for the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. The flying Scotsman made a stunning start to the third race of the weekend to launch from the second row of the grid and into the lead when a rival ran off the road on the second lap of the race. Shedden was able to pull away from the rest of the field to his triumph, which he added to a fourth and an eighth place earlier in the meeting.

"I am delighted to walk away with a win," said 'Flash' Gordon. "When you consider how tough the British Touring Car Championship is and how competitive it is, any win is great. This was a circuit that played to the strengths of the other cars in the championship with the long, long straights and so to be able to stand on top of the podium on a track when we weren't expected to perform is a bonus. I am third in the standings and I am right in the mix but we can't afford any slip ups if we are going to stay in the hunt for the crown."

Shedden's team-mate Neal was ruled out of the opening race with a puncture while he was running in the top seven and managed to fight back to tenth in race two before using the reversed grid to score a podium in race three.

"We were on the back foot right from the start of the meeting," said Neal, who is now second in the title standings. "We didn't have the pace of the turbocharged cars in the championship - which I think need to be pegged back by the series officials to give us all a level playing field for all the different types of car - and I was also carrying 45 kilogrammes of success ballast into the meeting. To be able to salvage a third place was a bonus, but the rules need to change to give us all a chance. The Honda Racing Team has got some tweaks up its sleeve ahead of Silverstone in two weeks time but I am not sure it is going to be enough to keep up with the turbocharged cars.

"We have tracks that will suit us coming up in the rest of the schedule and we just need to make sure we maximise our scores when we can to keep the title fight on track," he added.

The next round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is at Silverstone on August 21/22.

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09/08/2010: Celebrate the Type-R

Honda is bringing together fans of its high performance Type-R cars at a special event at Silverstone this month (22 August).

• Type-R owners' celebration for Red H-badged cars
• Offer launched for new Type-R buyers with savings of up £2,230
• End of current Civic Type-R sales in the UK

The celebration of the famous 'Red H' badge coincides with the latest rounds of the British Touring Car Championship, featuring Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden in the Honda Racing Team.

As well as watching the thrilling tin top racing on the Northamptonshire circuit, enthusiasts from the biggest Honda owners' clubs in the UK will get the chance to experience the track for themselves in a 'Lap of Honour' to commemorate the Type-R. An exclusive Type-R Only Car Park will also be available for those Honda drivers attending the event, and each attendee will be able to enjoy Honda 'Dreamfields' hospitality throughout the day.

The celebration at Silverstone marks the news that UK sales of the current Civic Type-R are drawing to a close. Production of the hot hatch for the UK market will end in October 2010, with sales ending during December, due to forthcoming Euro V emissions regulations.

Over 12,000 of this generation of Civic Type-R have been sold in the UK since its introduction in January 2007. Production of the 3-door Civic Type-R will continue at Honda's factory in Swindon, to supply other markets further afield, such as Australia and South Africa.

Customer savings

With the end of this generation of Type-R in sight, Honda is using the Silverstone event to launch a new offer for all new Civic Type-R customers. Buyers of the high-revving hot hatch can now benefit from significantly lower OTR prices and a competitive finance deal to make paying monthly easier.

The Type-R GT is now available at £19,495 - that's a sizable customer saving of £2,230. And the new PCP finance offer of 5.9% (over 43 months) means a Type-R could cost as little as £235 a month, with a 30% deposit.

The offer covers the Type-R GT, Type-R LSD and Type-R MUGEN 200 models, and runs from now until 29 September, 2010.

Further details can be found on our Latest Offers page.

• Latest Offers

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06/08/2010: Improvements to the Insight

Honda has improved the specification and settings of its Insight hybrid in response to early customer feedback. The suspension of the low-emission, 5-door hatch has been adjusted to improve ride comfort and NVH levels, while interior trim levels have been enhanced.

• Suspension changes to improve ride and comfort
• Higher-spec interior
• New EX model with leather and Sat Nav

A new, top-of-the-range, EX model, featuring black leather upholstery and DVD Sat Nav and hands-free telephone equipment, has also been introduced to the Insight line-up.

The changes made to the Insight across the range are in direct response to the comments received from early customers and the media. The initial focus was on suspension, to which improvements have been made to address negative feedback on ride and comfort levels.

A number of chassis changes have been implemented, including: adjusting the recoil rate of the springs, changing the rear camber angles, altering the V-shape rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. The amendments promise to deliver improved ride, handling and stability.

As well as these upgrades to suspension, Honda has added rear parking sensors to ES-model Insights and above, and has changed some trim to smarten the interior. Dashboard and seat colours have been changed to give a more uniform finish, and some plastics have been improved. Chrome rings now surround air vents, and the doors have been given a silver garnish feature.

There are also two new paint options for Insight customers, with the introduction of Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Red Pearl.

Pricing for the Insight starts at £16,325 for the SE model, but with Honda's current Affordable Driving consumer offer, the hybrid is available at £14,995 OTR until the end of September, making it even more attainable; and the least expensive hybrid on the market by a mile. The highly-spec'd EX model with leather upholstery starts at £20,215 OTR.

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05/08/2010: More points this weekend?

Honda Racing Team's Matt Neal says he can extend his points advantage at this weekend's sixth meeting of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Snetterton in Norfolk.

The Honda Civic driver has a nine-point buffer at the top of Britain's most prestigious championship going into the three rounds at the 1.95-mile circuit. The championship will burst back into life after a seven-week summer hiatus.

"It's going to be a tough weekend because Snetterton's layout always provides rough and tumble," explained the 43-year-old. "There are some very fast straights followed by tricky corners and it is hard to defend when you are in the lead. But the fast corners on the track play right into my hands because the Civic has a great balance through those kinds of sweepers. I am confident we can bag three solid results and increase the margin at the top of the table."

Neal is forced to carry 45 kilos of success ballast into the meeting because he is leading the standings and the circuit also accentuates the strengths of the LPG-power cars in the contest.

Neal's team-mate Gordon Shedden took two wins at the last round of the series at Croft in North Yorkshire and he thinks he can narrow the gap to Neal in the rounds this weekend.

'Flash' Gordon said his aim for the weekend was to zero in on Neal with some podium finishes. "Like Matt, I think the LPG cars will be untouchable at Snetterton and we have got to aim to grab our chances when they come. We will be strong because of our good chassis but you can never tell. I will have to carry 27kgs in qualifying which could hold me back a bit so I will be concentrating on races two and three to score well."

“ The Honda has been quick at Snetterton in the past and there's no reason why it won't be again, because we have done lots of work on it over the last 12 months. I am looking forward to it because it has been nearly two months since the last round. This is like starting the championship all over again, and we are feeling confident. ”
- Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team

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26/07/2010: Trident Webserver Upgrade

Trident is pleased to announce that it is today moving from an in-house webserver, to a new server located in a state-of-the-art data centre. The new server is massively more powerful than the old server and is hosted behind a huge bandwidth Internet connection; as a result it is expected that this will dramatically improve performance for our customers. There may be some transitional issues and please do bear with us as we sort these out.

This change comes hot on the heels of a re-styling of the Trident website last week. We are aware of one or two issues remaining with this restyle, including the obscuring of the confirmation message when contacting us via the website. These issues should be ironed out this week. Our contact us page includes details on how to email us, if you do get stuck!

We do believe these changes will vastly improve our website and we do thank you in the meantime for your patience.

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21/07/2010: Driving You Further

Shell FuelSave (unleaded and diesel) is now available on Trident's Forecourt!

Shell FuelSave fuels are enriched with unique Efficiency Improvers, which are designed to improve fuel economy at no extra cost.

Researched over a number of years and tested extensively, Shell's scientists have developed FuelSave to reduce the energy loss in your car's engine through friction and build-up of fuel system deposits. Shell Fuelsave Unleaded is formulated to lubricate where normal engine oils can't easily reach. Shell Fuelsave Diesel is formulated to ignite faster and burn more effectively. In addition, Shell FuelSave also contains special detergents to keep engine parts clean.

This all adds up to improved efficiency, reduced fuel consumption and reduced motoring costs!

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19/07/2010: The True Test

Honda is to start selling electric cars in the US and Japan in 2012.

It will also launch a plug-in hybrid in the same year as it joins the race to manufacture more environmentally-friendly cars.

“ The next 10 years will be true test… ”
- Takanobu Ito, Honda Motor President

Honda's president said the firm had "no future" without making vehicles that emitted less carbon dioxide.

It is the first time the firm, which already makes the Insight and CR-Z hybrids, has set a firm date for launching electric cars.

Honda's Japanese rival Nissan is already taking orders for its Leaf electric car - due in Japan and the US later this year. Meanwhile, Toyota is planning an electric vehicle model for 2012.

Honda Motor president Takanobu Ito said, "The next 10 years will be true test of Honda's survival. Honda has no future unless we achieve significant reduction in CO² emissions."

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16/07/2010: Trophy for Honda CR-Z at What Car? Green Awards

The Honda CR-Z has won 'Best Sports Car' at the What Car? Green Awards, held last night at Twickenham Stadium, where it was commended for its best-in-class economy and value for money.

The CR-Z , priced from £16,999, won praise for its sharp handling, efficient engine and sporty looks, as well as its unique design.

What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler said: "The CR-Z is small and light and looks just right, and it?s powered by hybrid technology which means it's clean and efficient to run too. The CR-Z is the greenest and most cost effective sports car available in the market place today."

As the first hybrid with a sporty 6-speed manual gearbox, the CR-Z stands out from other green cars on the market and offers true driving thrills thanks to an agile chassis, direct steering, a low driving position and boosts of torque from the petrol-electric drive train.

Demand for the car has been strong since its release in June, with over 500 cars sold in the UK in the first month. Most customers have chosen the top spec GT model, priced at £19,999.

The What Car? Green awards, now in their third year, look for the best eco-friendly cars to buy. Rather than centre exclusively on emissions or miles per gallon, the awards take in a range of factors including value for money, safety and the driving experience, but maintain a core focus on environmental impact.

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11/07/2010: Rest Assured - Trident has the BSI Kitemark.

A bid to make the BSI Kitemark for Garages the recommended standard has been entered by Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, following a successful wide reaching radio morning (Wednesday, June 30th) with consumer motoring champion Quentin Willson debating poor garage servicing.

“ A garage that has the Kitemark has the ability to deliver a service which the consumer expects ”
Quentin Willson, UK Consumer Motoring Champion

Worryingly over half of the British population who have had a car serviced in a garage before are not totally confident that the work they have paid for has been carried out.

That's according to new YouGov research recently commissioned by BSI Kitemark, which throws light on just how wary people have become of garages and what work is actually being done to their cars.

Robert commented: "The Government needs to review protection for motorists when they are visiting a garage, with over half of the population not confident in the work that garages have carried out.

"We need to ensure they know what is being done on their vehicle and they are presented with a clear and understandable service - every time. I am recommending that the Kitemark scheme, operated by BSI, an independent Royal Charter body, is the standard that garages adopt.

"I have put forward this suggestion and I will also be actively lobbying to ensure that garages service cars to the highest standards therefore meeting the BSI Kitemark standards."

To obtain the Kitemark garages must address key areas: customer service, customer satisfaction, customer facilities - such as waiting areas, staff competencies - the quality of workmanship in the garage, their ability to use the equipment available, technical inspection and importantly fair and transparent billing. All these elements are then assessed by independent BSI inspectors and must meet stringent benchmarks if the valuable Kitemark is to be awarded by BSI.

Quentin Willson, the UK's consumer motoring champion commented: "Victims of dodgy garages can be eradicated if motorists would only use the BSI Kitemark certified garages. The Kitemark scheme has the most rigorous assessments and insists upon annual reassessment to make sure that the same quality and service is being delivered year after year.

"A garage that has the Kitemark has the ability to deliver a service which the consumer expects, therefore mitigating the risk of the unknown. Consumers take their car to the garage and fully expect that the garage knows what has to be done and that it will be done correctly and safely. The purpose of a Kitemark inspection is that the garage can demonstrate that they have been independently assessed in their capability to do, the work and those they have the right skills and knowledge."

Trident are proud to have already been awarded the BSI Kitemark award!

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05/07/2010: Some more good news about Honda!

The most reliable cars sold in the UK are made by Japanese brands, according to the latest Warranty Direct and What Car? survey.

For the fifth year Honda topped the annual car reliability study, with just 7 per cent requiring repairs in a 12 month period.

The research comes from Warranty Direct's 50,000 live policies on cars aged three to 10-years old. Warranty Direct carried out exhaustive research to reveal the nature of the repairs carried out on every model - from faults with the electrics, brakes and suspension to problems with the engine, transmission, or heating and cooling systems.

It was found that no Honda in the survey suffered from brake, engine or cooling system faults. Honda had the second lowest average repair bill and a low average repair time.

In addition to receiving a 5 star reliability rating, the final verdict was that Honda owners could sleep easily at night.

Let's face it, who doesn't want a good nights sleep?

Most reliable car manufacturers

1. Honda
2. Subaru
3. Mitsubishi
4. Lexus
5. Toyota
6. Mazda
7. Nissan
8. Skoda
9. Kia
10. Mini

Least reliable car manufacturers

1. Land Rover
2. Alfa Romeo
3. Renault
4. Saab
5. MG
6. Vauxhall
7. Peugeot
8. Audi
9. Rover
10. BMW

Source: Warranty Direct/What Car?

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01/07/2010: Weybridge Branch Telephones and Power Outage

At 9.10am this morning, a nearby builder cut through the main power supply for several postal districts in Weybridge , including our Weybridge branch. The power was reconnected in just over an hour and normal operations have resumed.

We'd like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience in getting through to us this morning.

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28/06/2010: Trident to sponsor Rotary Swimathon 2010

Trident Honda is please to announce they will be sponsoring the Rotary Swimathon for the third year running.

The event which takes place on Saturday 16th October 2010 at Woking Pool in the Park aims to raise money for local Surrey charities.

Further details of the event can be found at www.rotarywoking.co.uk or on our Rotary Swimathon 2010 page.

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22/06/2010: Tour Series is coming to Woking!

Trident Honda are proud to be offering their support to the Halford Tour Series as it passes through Woking on Thursday 24th June 2010.

Honda is the official car sponsor of the Tour Series and viewers will get the chance to see the brand new Honda CRZ being driven round the track prior to the start of the main race! In addition, Trident's Michelle Wayte and Nikki Crossley will be at the event offering promotional giveaways to supporters. Make sure you come down and say hello!

More information on the Tour Series can be found at:

www.tourseries.co.uk.

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18/06/2010: Honda BTCC Racing Merchandise available to buy now!

Honda Racing Merchandise is now available to buy directly at Trident Honda through our Parts Department.

Further details of the Honda BTCC Racing Merchandise and Boutique range can be found on our Honda Boutique page.

• Honda Boutique

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16/06/2010: Honda Insight wins Greenest Small Family Car of the Year

The Honda Insight 1.3 has been named as the Greenest Small Family Car of the Year by the Environmental Transport Association.

The ETA examined over 5,000 cars and compared their power, emissions, fuel efficiency and the amount of noise they produce to create a definitive guide to buying the greenest vehicle.

Andrew Davis, director at the Environmental Transport Association, said: “With the price of petrol at record levels and greater understanding about the threat to the environment there has never been a more important time to make fuel efficiency a deciding factor when choosing a car.”

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04/06/2010: The new Honda CR-Z has arrived!

The new Honda CR-Z Hybrid has been delivered to Trident!

Honda engineers built fun into every part of the new CR-Z . Its sleek, sporty looks and low stance aren't what you'd expect from a hybrid. But, the CR-Z is full of surprises! Drivers can select from three travel modes depending on how they want to drive. Choose Sport for a more exhilarating drive, Econ to engage the fuel-saving hybrid mode or Normal for every other day.

Visit our showrooms at Ottershaw or Weybridge to see this exciting new car.

Want a chance to win a CR-Z ? Remember to ask for a competition form when you visit us!

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03/06/2010: Honda Racing Team News

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship points leader Matt Neal is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of his Honda Racing Team Civic to continue the hunt for this year’s title at Oulton Park in Cheshire this weekend.

The 43-year-old moved to the head of the standings after the last rounds at Brands Hatch in Kent five weeks ago and is expecting an even stronger performance from his Civic in the three races in Cheshire. But, because he is on top of the standings, Neal goes to the fourth meeting of the season having to carry 45 kilos of success ballast which he thinks that could be a real handicap around the 2.26-mile track.

"I love the circuit and it always provides great racing because there are plenty of passing places," says Neal. "Carrying the ballast is going to be difficult because there are lots of uphill sections at Oulton Park where 45kgs is really going to hurt us. I will have my eyes on the BMWs to perform well there and you can never discount Jason Plato but our developments mean we should be able to be right in the mix."

Gordon Shedden goes to Oulton Park sixth in the points and has a 100 per cent record to defend in Cheshire. "I have won at Oulton in every season I have raced a touring car there and it has always been in a Honda! Talk about putting the pressure on…" he says. "I love the place because it is a real classic circuit and it gives the driver an adrenaline rush to nail a quick lap," adds the 31-year-old Scot. "Unlike Matt, I don’t have any extra weight on the car so I will be gunning for pole position to start the weekend off right. I want three big scores to push me to the front of the championship and given the developments we have made on the car, I am confident we will be right at the front."

British Touring Car Championship standings (after 9/30 rounds):

1. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (67)
2. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (67)
3. Steven Kane, Airwaves BMW, BMW 320si (59)
4. Paul O'Neill, Sunshine.co.uk, Honda Integra (56)
5. Mat Jackson, Airwaves BMW, BMW 320si (53)
6. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic  (50)

After a second victory at Brands five weeks ago, Scotsman Shedden will be carrying success ballast into the third round which may give his rival Matt Neal the edge to take his first win of the season.

"A Question of Motorsport Live" events will be staged at Honda dealer showrooms near to each of the BTCC rounds throughout the season. Please visit www.honda.co.uk/btcc for more details.

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28/05/2010: Ian Waters collects his new Honda Mugen 200

Ian Waters collected his new Mugen 200 - and not even the rain could dampen his spirits! This will be Ian's third Honda Civic from Trident Garages so not only is he a great brand ambassador for us - he is also one of the select limited edition Mugen 200 owners.

Ian is pictured here with Richard Roberts, Managing Director, collecting the keys for his new vehicle.

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27/05/2010: Opening Hours for Bank Holiday Monday

For all those people wanting to come down to Trident on May Bank Holiday Monday and visit our Summer Sale Event, we will be open:

• Ottershaw Opening Hours - 10.00 am until 4.00 pm
• Weybridge Opening Hours - 11.00 am until 4.00 pm

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26/05/2010: Honda UK announces Summer Sale Event

Honda UK has announced they are to hold a Summer Sale Event across their network of dealerships. Launching a series of unbeatable deals for a limited time only, there has never been a better time to become a Honda owner. Running until the 30th June 2010, supply is strictly limited and demand is expected to be high, so make sure you take advantage of the offers available by visiting our showrooms at Ottershaw and Weybridge .

Further details about the offers available on brand new Civic's, Jazz's and Insight's can be found on the Latest Offers page.

• Latest Offers

Trident Honda are also offering Summer Sale Event reduced prices across the range of our used car stock - there really is a deal for everyone!

• Stocklist

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24/05/2010: Honda relaunches 'Impossible Dream' advert

With the World Cup rapidly approaching, the whole nation will soon be watching the TV with a mixture of hope and nervous anticipation. Honda is providing the chance to relax to the voice of Andy Williams and their classic "Impossible Dream" 2 minute 39 second film. The length of the advert means that the entirety of the Andy Williams track can be played, against a backdrop of the incredible heritage of Honda's historic products, along with the future of the brand including:

• Honda FCX Clarity - hydrogen fuel cell car
• Honda CR-Z Hybrid ^? - sports hybrid petrol-electric coupe
• Honda ASIMO - the Honda robot
• HondaJet - the Honda revolutionary jet aeroplane

These products represent, not only future technologies, but also Honda's ambitions to be an environmental leader across Europe.

The advert will be on air in various forms up to 11 June.

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29/04/2010: Honda Type-R gets standard limited-slip differential

Honda has announced that LSD (limited slip differential) is now standard on Honda Civic Type-R . Previously only available on certain special editions, like the Type-R Mugen 200 , LSD improves the handling of the Civic Type-R and further confirms its place as a serious performance machine.

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22/04/2010: Trident joins Facebook and Twitter!

Trident has now joined Facebook and Twitter as new media for connecting with our customers. We plan to use Facebook for online discussions, reviews, sharing of Honda related videos and photos and generally keeping you up-to-date with everything at Trident and Honda.

If you have a Facebook account and would like to become a Fan of Trident, or follow us on Twitter, then please follow the links opposite or below:

• Trident Facebook
• Trident Twitter

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17/04/2010: Trident Ottershaw achieves A+ Honda Customer Satisfaction

Trident Ottershaw has just achieved a grade A+ status for customer satisfaction, as assessed by the Honda Speakback programme. Honda Speakback is an exceptionally tough measure of customer satisfaction, with a large number of customers being contacted.

Managing Director and Ottershaw Dealer Principal Richard Roberts said: "Thank you to all our customers that participated in the Honda Speakback programme, and well done to our Ottershaw Team for getting this superb result."

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19/03/2010: Download Trident Stocklist as PDF

You are now able to download our complete stocklist in PDF format for printing or simply for reading when not connected to the Internet. The PDF is about 2mb in size, which will take approximately 10 seconds to download over 2mb broadband, or about 5 minutes on a 56k modem.

The PDF version of the stocklist will be updated hourly, at the same time as the stocklist itself.

• Trident Stocklist PDF Version

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06/03/2010: Changes to the Trident Stocklist

We have made a number of changes to our stocklist today, after receiving feedback about our old stocklist . These changes include:

• Ability to search list by petrol, diesel or hybrid fuel
• Ability to search list by manual or automatic gearbox
• Restyle of stocklist gaining the benefits of the latest web technologies
• Inclusion of all vehicle information on one page, saving you from having to go backwards and forwards between the stocklist and individual vehicles

With all the information on one page, clicking on any vehicle will reveal additional information and photos (and again to hide it), clicking on the thumbnail photos will zoom into each photo.

We would love to hear what you think of the changes, please contact our webmaster to provide feedback.

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18/02/2010: 'The Event' Competition Winners Announced!

The lucky winner of the dinner and overnight stay at Foxhills resort, Surrey is Mr David Dutson of Ashford. Congratulations!

Other competition prizes included Bourne Valley Garden Centre Vouchers and River Bourne Health Club guest passes. Competition winners have been notified by post so look out for your winning envelope!

The Trident Team look forward to seeing everyone at their next Event running later this year.

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16/02/2010: The search for Britain's best local garage!

Golden Garages is the first competition to uncover the best service and repair garages in the UK. Wherever you live in the UK, this is your chance to nominate your favourite local workshop.

You can vote by visiting the Golden Garages website below and by entering you'll also be in with a chance of winning an action-packed off-road experience for you and two friends.

The first round of voting closes on 8 March to produce a shortlist of five garages from ten UK regions. You'll then have the chance to support your favourite garage, up to 24 March, to produce the top ten regional winners from across the country. And finally, the panel of experts judges will decide on the Motor Codes Golden Garage from the list of regional winners, announcing their decision on 6 April.

For more information, please visit:

• http://www.goldengarages.co.uk/

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16/02/2010: Type-R Mugen 200 Limited Edition

The Limited Edition Civic Type-R Championship White Edition is almost sold out, since it went on sale just over a year ago, 578 have been registered with 12 to go. We are delighted and very excited to announce the limited edition Type-R MUGEN 200 featuring exclusive MUGEN equipment that will go on sale from 1 April 2010.

Inspired by MUGEN Euro's high performance Civic Type-R Mugen, the MUGEN 200 is fitted with unique body parts, wheels and badges to give it stand-out looks, and a limited slip differential for ultimate handling.

As its name suggests, only 200 of the special Type-R models will be made.

• Type-R Mugen 200

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15/02/2010: European Debut of Honda CR-Z at Geneva

The 2010 Geneva International Motor Show will be the world debut of the European specification Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe.

Honda CR-Z Hybrid customers will be able to enjoy the first car to combine a hybrid system with a 6-speed manual gearbox. By combining an efficient 1.5-litre petrol engine with Honda's unique IMA parallel hybrid system, the CR-Z can offer lower emissions of all exhaust gasses, while offering an entertaining and engaging driving experience. The flexibility of the IMA parallel hybrid system means that it can be used with a manual gearbox, allowing drivers to exploit the broad spread of torque, while maintaining excellent fuel economy of just 5.0 l/100km.

The CR-Z will go on sale across Europe in the middle of 2010 and prices will be announced at the Geneva motor show.

• Honda CR-Z Hybrid ^?

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15/02/2010: The Event in review

This weekend's "The Event" was one of the best attended events that we have ever held, with our showrooms buzzing with activity over the weekend. We would like to thank everyone that supported the event and we do hope that, even if you didn't purchase a car over the weekend, you enjoyed The Event and learned a little more about Trident and Honda. If you weren't able to attend, please do contact us , as we still have some very strong showroom offers available.

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10/02/2010: Honda Airbags - Recall is for US Only

We would like to reassure our customers that the airbag recall being discussed in the press today does not affect any vehicles originally destined for the European market, being limited to US specification vehicles only.

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09/02/2010: This Weekend is The Event

Trident Honda is holding "The Event" this weekend. Benefiting from reduced pricing on both new and used cars and unique promotional offers, please do join us for coffee and pastries, and we will be delighted to assist you with finding your new Honda. For more details, please see our The Event page:

• The Event

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05/02/2010: Vehicle Scrappage Scheme Extended

The Government has announced that the vehicle scrappage scheme has been extended to the end of March 2010; previously the scheme was to end at the end of February. The vehicle scrappage scheme gives £2000 against a qualifying part-exchange towards a new car. Please read our Vehicle Scrappage page for more information:

• Vehicle Scrappage Scheme

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02/02/2010: Honda Jazz offer reinstated

Good news! Honda has reinstated their December Jazz offer:

• Jazz Offers

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More

See News 2009 for more news.