5 posts tagged “hybrid”

Beginning with the all-new 2010 Honda Insight, Honda is changing up its hybrid vehicle strategy in order to reduce costs and produce hybrids that are more affordable than the competition. Already Honda has succeeded with the new Insight, which is the officially the most affordable hybrid in America. The next low-cost hybrid we’re likely to see from Honda is the new Honda Fit Hybrid.

The Honda Fit Hybrid will introduce hybrid technology for a whole new market as the Fit is significantly smaller than the existing Civic Hybrid and Insight Hybrid. Following the launch of the Fit Hybrid, Honda will also be launching the CR-Z which will be a hybrid in the form of a compact sports car.

The Honda Fit Hybrid marks a new direction for Honda according to used car dealers in St Louis. The automaker has previously avoided adding hybrid technology to models that don’t need it, unlike other automakers. As the Fit is already a very fuel efficient car, adding a hybrid variant was previously considered unnecessary. But Honda has reversed its strategy and will be offering a hybrid Fit as early as late 2010.

Part of Honda’s reversal from its initial hybrid strategy says Washington DC Collision Center stems from enhancements to the hybrid systems themselves. By providing lower cost hybrid systems, Honda can then provide hybrids at lower costs to consumers, which Connecticut Car Loans believe should appease plenty of would-be hybrid buyers. In order to achieve Honda’s goal of producing low cost hybrid systems, Honda revamped its manufacturing facilities and processes to make them as efficient as possible.

While the exact date of the Honda Fit Hybrid release is not yet known, it’s estimated that the vehicle will start under $16,000 when it arrives in showrooms late next year.

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Look for more news surrounding the Honda Fit Hybrid on Honda Dealer Information.

Honda has long been known for building fuel-efficient, economic cars that also provide a low-impact on the environment. However, the hybrid segment is where Honda has long been number to Toyota, whose Prius remains the top selling hybrid vehicle. With the 2010 Insight, Honda hopes to change perceptions and become the hybrid leader.

The 2010 Honda Insight is an important model within Honda’s lineup. Sure customers can get a hybrid Civic or Accord, but for those drivers requiring fuel efficiency at a low cost, it just made more sense to opt instead for the gasoline-only Civic or smaller Fit. Gardena Honda dealers say the Insight is intended to change this pattern, providing a bonafide green alternative even for those on a tight budget.

With hybrid technology costing a premium, creating a cheaper hybrid was no easy feat. The batteries and electronic motors that power hybrids are complicated, and Washington DC Honda dealers admit that they usually require owners to pay thousands more above non-hybrid equivalents.

The Honda Insight is scheduled to go on sale at dealerships shortly, and the base price of the insight begins at $19,800. At that price, the Insight has become America's most affordable hybrid vehicle, a distinction that San Francisco Honda dealers believe will make all the different among buyers.

Honda claims the new 2010 Insight will go 40 miles in city driving with a gallon of gasoline. Highway mileage is rated at 43 mpg. Although the mileage is outstanding, it isn’t the most compelling, especially from an all-new hybrid vehicle. Compare this to the original 2000-2006 Honda Insight’s 52 miles per gallon combined city and highway driving. However unlike the all-new model, the predecessor was at an advantage with only two seats and limited cargo capacity.

The latest Insight is a five door hatchback, improving the functionality of the previous Insight which Salinas CA Honda dealers say remains an important consideration among buyers. In addition to sharing this same body configuration with the Prius, the new 2010 Honda Insight also looks similar to the Toyota competitor.

While functionality has also improved (at the cost of fuel economy), Honda has also improved other areas of the vehicle. For example, the speedometer can actually change color to indicate how economical the driver is. While it’s a neat visual feature, it also keeps fuel economy in mind for the driver at all times. New Haven Honda customers were also amazed that there is even an “Econ” mode to reduce throttle response and adjust air-conditioning and electric assist to maximize fuel economy.

The challenge of the Honda Insight remains its main competitor, the Toyota Prius. Conveniently, Toyota has also updated its hybrid powerhouse, just in time to compete for the same hybrid buyers. But, with the Prius going for $24K and up, the promise of a cheaper hybrid with comparable space and fuel economy may be exactly what buyers want.

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The hybrid vehicle battle keeps heating up, which continues to give more fuel efficient choices to consumers.  

With the hybrid vehicles in high demand, it’s no wonder why hybrid leader Honda is preparing to introduce an all-new compact hybrid called the Insight. The 2009 Honda Insight is an all-new model, and will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this next month.

The new Honda Insight is a five-door vehicle that offers plenty of space for five passengers, and an easy to access cargo area thanks to its rear hatch. Honda Louisville also expects that the 2009 Insight will be the most affordable hybrid car available when it goes on sale in spring of 2009.

Honda is expecting global sales of the 2009 Insight hybrid to reach 200,000 units per year, with about half of those sales going to North American buyers. Honda will also attract Jackson Honda buyers thanks to an array of technology, including a new fuel economy system which Honda calls the Ecological Drive Assist System, or Eco Assist for short.

Already a leader in producing fuel efficient and clean products, Honda hopes to reach new heights with a new ultra affordable hybrid. The new Honda Insight should be a success as Honda Denver dealers are already eager to get their hands on them as buyers are constantly demanding more and more fuel efficiency. Although it’s easy to see why some shoppers at Warner Robins Honda have suggested that the Insight’s styling is reminiscent of the Toyota Prius, Honda doesn’t hide the fact that the new Insight is targeting the same buyers that would likely have the Prius on their shopping list as well.

For more information about the upcoming debut of the Honda Insight, check out the press release below.

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2009 Honda Insight Hybrid to Make World Debut at the North American International Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2008 — The all-new 2009 Honda Insight hybrid will make its world debut in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The five-passenger, five-door Insight will go on sale in the spring of 2009.

The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year - approximately 100,000 in North America - and will utilize a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™).

A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced to market the first mass produced low-emission gasoline vehicles; America's first commercially produced gas-electric hybrid car and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.

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Inching closer to the Honda Insight debut. Check back for the latest.

While the price of gas continues to affect consumers, and change the way in which they purchase new cars, Honda is still repeating the benefits with the Honda Civic Hybrid. Rather than taking the bold stance of the Toyota Prius, the Civic Hybrid is nearly identical to the Civic, simply with the addition of the hybrid electric system.

Although Waterbury Honda admits the Honda Civic Hybrid doesn’t get dramatically more mileage than the standard Civic, it still is worth considering. Buyers will get a 1.3-liter engine that produces 90 horsepower, plus a 20 horsepower electric motor. The Honda Civic Hybrid also comes with a continuously variable transmission, a wide range of standard features and equipment, and best of all an incredible 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 miles per gallon on the highway.

On the road, the Honda Civic Hybrid shouldn’t disappoint either. Drivers at Milledgeville GA Honda note that the Civic Hybrid offers plenty of power on the road, and isn’t much more expensive than the standard Civic model. Although some will find that the Prius has a love it or hate it design, the Civic Hybrid’s design is a bit more agreeable. Those taking the Civic Hybrid for a test drive at Honda Texarkana also noted that the steering, handling, and the brakes are commendable. Those looking for impressive pick-up probably would be disappointed by the Civic’s performance, as it reaches 60 miles per hour in a thrilling 10.8 seconds. But since most drivers considering the Civic want efficiency, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Drivers considering the Honda Civic Hybrid may want to think about considering the regular Civic model. For those who drive many miles per year, it’s worth the premium, but for ‘around the town’ driving, the standard model may be just as cost efficient. Also, Used Cars Shreveport also reminds potential Civic Hybrid buyers that a used model may also be worth considering in order to truly maximize your savings.

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Honda Dealer News is Honda Civic Hybrid central. Check for more new soon.

The Honda FCX Clarity is finally making its way to consumers’ driveways. After years of development, the Honda FCX Clarity zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell car has rolled out of production lines and will now slowly make its way to our shores to Los Angeles soon.

Honda’s FCX Clarity will offer about three times the fuel efficiency of a traditional gas powered car, according to the auto maker. The combination of hydrogen and electricity emits only water vapor rather than CO2 emissions.

Only about 200 FCX Clarity cars will be produced within the next three years. Initially, drivers will only be allowed to lease the vehicles as Honda still will be testing the technology to some degree as drivers use the vehicles in daily driving . Sadly, although demand and inquires are are high at Honda dealerships across the could, with questions being asked by Honda Dealer San Francisco customers, as well as at Pohanka Honda, consumers outside of Los Angeles will simply have to wait much longer before they'll be driving a Honda fuel cell vehilce. Leases will begin at about $600 per month.

As the price of gasoline continues to reach record highs, the the new fuel cell vehicle from Honda will surely be a hit, and will likely help fuel new hydrogen powered vehicles in the future.

 

 

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We’ll deliver more articles and coverage on the Honda fuel cell vehicle shortly.