---

Accord, Civic, CR-V Top 1998 Model Year Sales

14 October 1998

Honda Triple-Crown Winners: Accord, Civic, CR-V Top 1998 Model Year Sales; Honda Division Breaks All-Time Sales Record

    TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 14 -- The Honda Accord was the
best-selling car in America and the Honda Division set an all-time sales
record during the 1998 model year, according to final industry sales results.
Total Honda Division sales of 891,541 were up 10.9 percent from the 1997
record.  Other Honda Division highlights for the '98 model year include:

    * The Honda Accord returned to its position as the best-selling car in
      America, with sales of 413,628, a 13.1 percent increase compared to '97.
      For the model year, the Accord finished ahead of the Toyota Camry by
      more than 15,000 and ahead of the Ford Taurus by more than 34,000;
    * The Honda Civic was once again the best selling small car in America,
      with sales of 328,748, up 2.3 percent from last year;
    * The Honda CR-V was the best selling small sports utility vehicle as
      sales jumped 80 percent over the 1997 model year to 91,700. In just its
      second model year, the CR-V captured nearly 25 percent of its segment;
    * In 10 of the 12 months of the 1998 model year, Honda Division set new
      records for monthly sales. In August, Honda posted its best sales month
      ever, retailing 87,669 vehicles.

    Honda Division calendar year sales are also on track to set a new record,
with sales running 9.6 percent ahead of last year.
    The all-new Odyssey minivan, which reaches dealer showrooms at the end of
October, is expected to continue the sales momentum going into the 1999 model
year.  The largest Honda ever built, it features the most powerful engine in a
minivan, dual sliding doors and the widest front and rear track in its class.
The new Odyssey is the first minivan to offer head restraints and three-point
seat belts at all seven seating positions and is the only minivan with a
fold-down third seat.
    In addition to the all-new Odyssey, the Accord, Civic, CR-V, Prelude,
Passport and EV PLUS round out Honda's 1999 model lineup.  For 1999, Civic
gets new front and rear styling and the CR-V gets a performance boost with 20
more horsepower.