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Honda will launch a new, low-cost hybrid car in Japan, North America and Europe in early 2009 as it seeks to cut the lead of Toyota Motor Corp in the green car race…
Honda expects annual sales of 200,000 for the new hybrid. Total hybrid sales, including the Civic hybrid, a new hybrid version of its popular Fit subcompact and a planned sports car based on the CR-Z concept model, are expected to reach 500,000 vehicles a year after 2010, roughly one-tenth of total sales.
Announcing other details of the new hybrid-only car for the first time, Honda said the car would be a 5-door, 5-seater similar in design to its sleek FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle…
A new production line for electric motors will be added at Honda’s Suzuka factory in western Japan to more than double the production speed and cut costs…
Every little bit helps. I just wish they’d bring in a diesel pickup.
Very excited to see the Japanese seize the opportunity in fuel efficient cars.
Too bad GM pursued the irresponsible path of catering to the mostly little dick republicans needing to sit in Humvees and other stupid looking, gas guzzling street tanks for self esteem reasons.
Today, GM sees themselves 3 years behind in technology and cost reductions vs their Japanese counterparts. I hope they finally see the writing on the wall that their future needs to be Green Green Green.
#1. Hey, watch it! I’m a republican and I’ve NEVER had a problem in that area.
Of course, my car gets 45+ mpg.
Looks like a mix between a 350z and a CRX, but would a hybrid really have what look like large and prominent exhaust pipes? is this really the hybrid concept photo?
I still question the overall efficiency of a full gas/electric hybrid. Having two drive motors is redundant. How would a super efficient diesel running at a constant rate that powers a generator with a small bank of batteries for regenerative breaking and extra acceleration capacity not be lighter?
And of course, an option for the City Car version would replace the entire diesel system with extended battery capacity. Then all Honda has to do is put the equivalent charging generator into a trailer and lend it to you for free if you want to go on an extended trip.
I too wish that the European production diesels would be brought to North America…but they would not be 50 State legal since they are banned in CA (or at least I am pretty sure they are).
Volkswagen is introducing its new low-sulfur “clean” diesels later this year in the U.S. They will get 50 mpg and don’t require these huge toxic batteries to do it.
Have you all watched the CBS morning show Hypermiling test?
They asked the guy from CleanMpg.com, which gives excellent advice for any car.
They drove two Prius from Chicago to New York.
One Prius, driven by a reporter normally.
The other, by using hypermiling.
Also, some news on how people are buying the Geo Metro, used / refurbished, to save on gas, at up to 4x the Blue book / Red book evaluation.
#3 follow this link.
http://eahart.com/prius/psd/
The Prius / Ford Escape / Camry / Lexus hybrids that use PSD.
Actually two electric motors and a gas motor.
Efficient, simple, elegant engineering. Best of both worlds.
there’s a hideous “300 mpg” car (google that) called the aptera or something – it might even have been on the blog.
there’s also an interesting vw (google “mpg vw”) that actually looks kind of good. gets into those compact parking spots.
[ http://tinyurl.com/63a77n – ed.]
I’m still waiting for the diesel hybrid prius with solar panels on the roof and an HECE device in the engine. I bet it’d get 100MPG. Plug-ins are great too, but not much use to me until I can give my garage payment for charging it every time I park.
I had a CRX and was disappointed when they stopped making them. This car looks like what a CRX would look like if Honda kept making them.
#9
I, too, had a CRX – a 1989 CRX HF to be exact. It was probably the best car I ever owned. I still kick myself in the ass on a daily basis for getting rid of it. It was built in 1989 and though it was rated at 50/55mpg, I rarely got over 45mpg. Either way, that’s better than most of the cars on the market today – and this was back in ’89!
I’m not sure if I can say I like the ‘look’ of the CR-Z, but I’m sure it’ll be a great car as the folks at Honda know how to built a good automobile. My CRX had 160,000 miles on it when I got rid of it and it was still running like it was brand new.
#1, so it’s irresponsible to make cars you don’t like? More proof that some people hate freedom.
That hybrid pictured above looks a little too sporty to satisfy environmentalists. They prefer cars that look weird and uncool just so they can show off that they are driving a hybrid.
#12 – MikeN,
Not me. I’m just too old for a 2 dr. I need 4 doors, seating for 4 adults, and space for luggage. Prius meets that need. So does the civic hybrid. This, nope.
I’d rather just buy a Jetta. All this extra hybrid complexity increases the probability of mechanical failure. Plus the expected life of the batteries will be an issue depending how long you plan to own it.
I looks nice for a go-cart. What’s with the butthole exuast. I just don’t understand it.
#10 – Mine was a 1989 as well. I really liked that car.
#1,#11: It is not so much a question of not making cars particular group of people dislikes but the overwhelming industry trends that deny particular (in this case “green”) group their choice. In case of American car industry for couple of decades I am not able to get vehicle I want and need. Even from the foreign manufacturers, because all of them depend on the false marketing impression that certain cars wouldn’t sell (despite evidence against that conclusion).
Why can’t I get family wagon that does 45mpg+ (without hybrid systems)? If I am in Europe or Asia, I’d have a number of such models to pick from. In USA – 0. Reason is that such cars have what marketing people in the USA (wrongly) assume is the death-sentence-number: low horsepower.
Perfect example from the late 90’s: In February of 1997 I tried to purchase 1997 Passat TDi wagon, introduced just 5 months earlier. I personally scoured every WV dealer across the USA. NONE were left. What did WV do for 1998 model year? Bring double the amount (as one would expect from the sane company)? No, they discontinued the model. Because all car reviewers were blasting it for being “underpowered” with just 90hp.
So, I am not for banning the Hummers and such but for forcing the car industry to offer in the USA more efficient products they already produce overseas and let the customer make the choice either way.
PS: If CRZ is even close to CRX quality I’d be buying. Ours 1987 CRX lasted 174000 miles with ONE repair (at 117000 mi) and even in its death protected me (unscratched after collision with jacknifed tractor-trailer).
The reason those 1980s CRX’s got such great mileage is because they were so light because of the lack of crash requirements. A safe car has to have more metal to make it safe, the CRX was coming out of 70s era design – lighter for better mileage.
To me the big problem with the ultra efficient cars is the size in relation to other cars and trucks. I just can not believe that head on with a full size pickup would not pulp the person in the smaller car. I am sure that a Smart can do it, and still have the doors open and close, but the g-load must be tremendous. IF (and I can not happen in North America) they had a downtown core city-car only zone AND a segregated (barrier protected) highway lane I would be much more likely (or one could limit the damage from a large vehicle crash by putting a speed governor on them in certain areas)
But, when I am driving I typically have the 3 kids with me, the only driving I would do right now with a smart car would take me off my bike.
And on hybrids, I am sure that both engines, battery, and drive systems are efficient. BUT the redundant weight is not.
My brother wants to get this car but is also waiting to see what the new hybrid Fit will be like when it is introduced at the upcoming auto show in France.
He loves the idea of 66 m.p.g. the CR-Z may offer.
I sent a letter to the company,
lets see what happens..
Too all of you nostalgic for a CRX, right now I drive a ’90 civic 4-door, a close cousin of the CRX. Even with the throttle-body injected, (92 HP) as opposed to the carbureted HX engine, I have been averaging 38-41 MPG driving between 60-75 MPH. Keep in mind it has 276,xxx and runs better than most cars I’ve owned. Granted it’s no speed demon, but even after 18 years of “innovations”, there’s still the laws of physics and thermodynamics that ensure today’s size/weight/safety/emissions/horsepower “standards” = lower MPG. Like #17, at least give consumers a choice.
We can’t expect the big car companies to come out with a truly efficient automobile; it would make their friends in the oil industry angry.
And you wouldn’t like them when their angry.
Not that it’s hard to do, really. To wit;
http://tinyurl.com/4X6ddk
# 7 You didn’t just call that rolling work of art hideous, did you? The Aptera is a wonderful design; innovative, daring, comfortable, efficient, and yes, beautiful, at least to my eye.
Years ago I could not buy the car I wanted–American, 6 cyclinders, 4 speed manual shift. If I wanted that, I had to buy foreign.
Today, I want a 100mpg, not allowed on freeways, city communuter, 2 passenger no luggage. They are for sale or can be easily made yourself out of lawnmower parts but they aren’t street legal.
So many of our problems are self created or made worse by refusal to change.
Indeed, regulatory hurdles are in place that prevent the creation of truly efficient automobiles or houses, efficient bio-diesel, or even clothes that don’t fall apart every few years. But even within our restricted system there is potential for any of these things, with effort.
You also forget that unless you are talking about a company that is dedicated to catering to your niche, your purchasing desires aren’t relevant unless it is profitable for the companies making the products to accommodate.
#25 And yet, US car makers continue to market one new SUV after another, even though demand is actually negative. . . .But, I guess our purchasing desires are irrelevant, until they go out of business, at least.
Here! Here! I agree about the diesel pickup. We are way overdue for a small diesel pickup that gets 30 mpg.
They market SUVs because it’s their best segment. Even Toyota is making it’s cars bigger, and pushing SUVs and pickups. It’s environmentalists that want to override customer choices in favor of their own.
>>They market SUVs because it’s their
>>best segment.
Ain’t no fucking “best segment” now, is it son? Even the needle-dicked pansies who don’t feel like “men” unless they’re driving a 20-ton Humper are runing for the Smart Cars, now that the price of gas is exceeding their ability to put food on the table.
“Oh shit!! I might have to walk down to the corner store to get a newspaper, instead of burning 3 gallons of gas!! in my Combat Vehicle(TM)”
HAR!!
Couldn’t happen to a nicer group of folks.
When I was stationed in England in 1966 I bought new Austin Mini 1000 with a tiny four cyclinder engine. My average gas mileage was 55 miles per gallon and that was 1966.
Why won’t our auto manufacturers produce high mileage autos now and not make us all wait 5 more years when they will be required by law to do so ?
Nick M
North Carolina
Currently driving my second new Honda Odyssey
with four sons all driving late model Honda’s