In This Issue
Blue Diamond reports record first half profits of £7.6m
Delivering high sales all year round
Good start to sales in October
Winter colour fills the gaps for plants sales
Nursery spearheads broadband rollout to remote areas
RHS and Scholastic UK announce major new partnership
Evergreen Garden Care launches new UK website
Squire's donates 300 silver birches to local communities
Get down to earth...with Gardening Is Good For You
Perrywood celebrates first birthday in Sudbury
Tong to host half term charity family planting event
Spooky Half Term at Squire’s Garden Centres
Honda launches new range of cordless products plus smaller robotic mower
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Christmas knocks garden decoration sales
Add colour – get growing
Good omen for Christmas product sales
Swapping planting for painting! Alan Titchmarsh gets his green fingers into Heart Research UK's anonymous heART project
Calathea: November Houseplant of the Month
The best of last week's
Woodlodge win Choice Marketing Sundries Supplier of the Year Award - UPDATED - More photos added
Wyevale Chairman backs a strong future for independent garden centres
Neudorff signs exclusive distribution agreement with DLF Seeds
Glee’s owners rebrand as Hyve
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Honda launches new range of cordless products plus smaller robotic mower

Honda is set to herald in a ‘New age of cutting’ for the 2020 season, with several new and updated products across five categories in its Lawn & Garden machinery range.

Most significantly, Honda will enter the cordless lawn mower market with the launch of two all-new premium models building on its renowned class-leading IZY platform.

Carrying over the same qualities, build standards and traditional styling as IZY, the HRG416XB and HRG466XB ‘IZY-ON’ models will deliver exceptional performance even in demanding conditions, offering 4.5Nm and 6Nm of torque respectively. Both will feature a new brushless motor design, for optimum efficiency and contributing to noise ratings of just 91dB(A). The larger HRG466 model will also offer integrated on-off selective mulching – a first in the cordless lawn mower market.

Providing the power for the new cordless models will be a choice of three batteries – 4Ah, 6Ah and 9Ah – which make up the ‘Universal Battery System’ for Honda cordless products. Featuring class-leading ‘Thermo-Smart’ control technology to keep the battery cool even in demanding conditions and over long periods of use, these units offer high performance and long life, with the professional-grade 9Ah version capable of delivering up to 45A of current for heavy garden work, and fully weatherproof to the IP56 standard.

Steve Morris, Head of Product Products at Honda (UK) comments: “Lawn mowers are absolutely core to the Honda Lawn & Garden business, it’s what we’re famous for, and after more than 40 years in the market we continue to set the standard. With customers increasingly moving towards cordless products and battery technology now so advanced that it offers no compromise compared to petrol-power, it’s a natural fit for us to introduce premium cordless models alongside our revered petrol and ro

Continuing on a similar theme, the 2020 season will also see Honda introduce a new range of cordless handhelds consisting of a hedgetrimmer, brushcutter and leaf blower. Using the same choice of three batteries available in Honda’s forthcoming cordless lawn mower range, the new handhelds will offer the power and performance more associated with petrol-power, but with additional convenience, ease of use and comfort. The new handheld range will extend the application of the universal battery system. 

Honda’s move into the cordless Lawn & Garden market comes at a time of a continued shift of customer preference towards cordless products, thanks largely to developments in battery technology. Nonetheless, Honda remains committed to their petrol models, seeing them as a core part of their line-up, with the new cordless range now offering customers the widest possible choice based upon their requirements and preferences.

2020 will also see two new additions to Honda’s robotic mower line-up, Miimo, with the introduction of the HRM40 and HRM40 Live. Designed for smaller gardens of up to 400 square metres, the new model will feature several new intelligent features for enhanced convenience, usability and connectivity. The ‘Live’ version offers full smartphone connectivity through an app, voice control via Alexa and adapts automatically to weather conditions. Installing all-new Miimo couldn’t be easier, with a four-step process compared to nine steps for a typical competitor model. Honda’s ‘Map & Mow’ technology eliminates the need for the customer to install the guide wire, set mowing start points and home position, or to set its cutting schedule. The docking station is also very simple to install, with the power cable conveniently encased in a tube and out of the way.

Updates to Honda’s petrol-powered line up

Honda’s lawn tractor models will also get a refresh for 2020, with new engines in the form of the GCV530 and commercial-grade GXV690, and a wide range of new features for enhanced convenience and comfort. Among the latest additions are a speed hold system, a full colour LCD display, a USB port and device holder.

That isn’t all! Honda continues to bring innovation to its revered IZY range, famed for being lightweight, robust and versatile and packed with technology. For next season the line-up of nine petrol models with a choice of three different cutter deck sizes will be powered by the latest four-stroke Honda GCV engines – the GCVx145 for 41cm and 46cm models, and the larger GCVx170 for 53cm models, offering improved efficiency and Auto Choke for easier starting.

Finally, Honda has added a new model with extra power to its 4-stroke brushcutter range – the UMK450 - designed to suit the needs of professional and semi-professional users. The new UMK450 features a 47.9cc power unit and has three version available including the UMK450LE with a D-loop handle, the UMK450UE with a bike-type handlebar, and the UMK450XE with a bike-type handlebar and full anti-vibration mounts. The UMK450XE is a professional version with a new frame and handlebar design, to improve handling and operator comfort during longer working periods.

The UMK450 is powered by Honda’s GX50 4-stroke engine producing 2hp and with plenty of torque to maintain constant engine and cutting speed, even in heavier working conditions.

The new models will be available from Honda’s Authorised Dealer Network ready for the start of 2020 season. For further information please visit www.honda.co.uk/lawn-and-garden

See GTN Xtra's photos from last weeks Press Launch below

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Honda Press Day 091019_GTN001.jpg
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