Honda explains the lack of moonroof and LED lights on the Insight

When the Honda Insight went from concept to production in late 2008, it stayed mostly true to what was first shown at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. However, as usual, there were a few detail changes, chiefly to the lighting. The concept version had really cool looking LED headlight clusters. However, when the production version appeared in Detroit this year, those were replaced by more conventional halogen units.

While the LEDs are efficient and would have saved some energy, Honda reminds people that the Insight was designed as the Hybrid for Everyone! A big part of making the Insight accessible was keeping the cost down and those LED light clusters remain very expensive. Thus they were left on the cutting room floor. Another feature that wasn't on the concept but does appear to be missed by some buyers is a moonroof. This option was sacrificed in the name of efficiency since it adds weight to the car in addition to cost. As such the engineers decided it wasn't worth eating into the efficiency.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/08/honda-explains-the-lack-of-moonroof-and-led-lights-on-the-insi/

Honda changes course and switches from diesel back to hybrid

A few years back after getting the hybrid ball rolling with the original Insight and then Civic, Honda added a hybrid version of the Accord. Like the Insight, it was not a strong seller and, after a few years, it was discontinued and Honda decided to switch its focus for larger vehicles to clean diesel. The plan was to keep hybrids in smaller cars and while using oil burners in larger cars, SUVs and vans. Honda had planned to start its U.S. diesel push with a 2.2-liter four in the TSX this year. However, after diesel prices spiked last year and the overall market collapsed in the fall, that program was canceled.

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has now revealed that plans for larger diesel engines have also been canceled as a result of the cost of trying to meet new U.S. and Japanese emissions regulations. Honda had hoped that its in-house developed NOx catalytic convertor would allow it to avoid using urea injection. Instead, Fukui said the company will develop a hybrid system suitable for larger vehicles. No timetable has been revealed for introduction. Fukui also said that Honda would not drop the price of the Insight in response to Toyota's price cuts on the Prius in Japan.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/03/honda-changes-course-and-switches-from-diesel-back-to-hybrid/

Toyota to Take on Honda Insight With New Hybrid, Nikkei Reports

I guess this was bound to happen.

By Bill Koenig
March 13 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. plans to develop a new hybrid car costing less than 2 million yen ($20,436) to compete with Honda Motor Co.’s Insight, Nikkei English News reported, without saying how it obtained the information.
The new model will be as much as 30 percent cheaper than Toyota’s Prius hybrid car, which starts at 2.33 million yen, Nikkei reported.

Source;
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aLMrNb_93dbk&refer=japan

Could this be Honda's CR-Z in production form?

Well, don't know where Mr. Burlapp dug this up (he's always been great at finding stuff like this), but it's interesting none the less. Looks a lot like the Honda S3000 that was to be proposed to replace the S2000. If anything, I think it could be what the CR-Z could end up looking like in it's (close to) production form, although Honda has squashed any ideas of a convertible CR-Z last I heard.

Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2009/03/hondas-miata-fighter.html

Honda's hybrid selling well

The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen (S$29,500) in Japan and will sell for under US$20,000 (S$30,800) in the US, the cheapest hybrid on the commercial market. -- PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO - ORDERS for the hybrid Insight have totalled 18,000 since it hit the Japanese auto market about a month ago, outpacing Honda's target and underlining the success of the new affordable and ecological vehicle, the company said on Tuesday.

The brisk demand for the gas-electric hybrid is a rare piece of good news for Honda Motor Co. as the auto industry grapples with plunging global demand. Honda, Japan's second biggest automaker, was hoping for the Insight's monthly sales to reach 5,000 vehicles.

The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen (S$29,500) in Japan and will sell for under US$20,000 (S$30,800) in the US, the cheapest hybrid on the commercial market. The Insight goes on sale in April in the US, and March in Europe.

Oil prices have tumbled from their peak last July, detracting from the possible appeal of gas-sipping hybrids. But the Insight is drawing a wide-range of buyers to the showroom, according to Tokyo-based Honda The Insight was the top-selling hybrid for February in the ranking of new vehicle registrations in Japan, totaling 4,906, or No. 10 among all hybrid and regular models, even though it wasn't on sale for the full month.

That outpaced the Prius hybrid from Toyota Motor Corp, at No. 12, with 4,524 registered for the month, and cumulatively the best-selling hybrid model.

Details of the Insight's overseas pricing are still being finalised. But it's cheaper than the Prius, at US$22,000 in the US and 2.3 million yen in Japan.

Toyota, which sold 285,700 Prius cars worldwide last year, is introducing a remodelled Prius in May, which is bigger and has a more powerful engine than the current Prius, and likely to be more expensive.

Japanese media have speculated that Toyota may continue selling the old Prius even after the remodeled version goes on sale - an unusual move for an automaker - to compete against the cheaper Insight.

Toyota has refused to comment on the report. But it is almost certain that the competition among hybrid offerings will intensify this year.

Last month, Honda chose a new president and chief executive Takanobu Ito, who has a career in engineering, to press ahead with innovations and prepare for long-term growth. -- AP

Source;

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking+News/Tech+and+Science/Story/STIStory_348242.html

Another Honda Diesel Article; Honda Delays 60-mpg Diesel Acura TSX

The European diesel-powered Acura TSX gets more than 60 miles to the gallon in EU driving tests. But Honda is delaying production for the U.S. due to cost issues and technical obstacles.

Honda announced last week that it will delay the launch of its planned first diesel [1] for the United States. The diesel-powered Acura TSX will be pushed back to 2010 from 2009, and some reports claim the company’s U.S. diesel program may be canceled completely.

The main reason for the delay is cost. Honda claims the expense of creating a diesel engine to meet California’s emissions standards—allowing it to be sold in all 50 states—has increased to more than $5,000 above a comparable gasoline-powered version.

The Japanese newspaper, Nikkei, said Honda is seeking to develop new catalytic converter technology that uses less platinum in order to keep prices down.

“We have to proceed cautiously in this environment.”

Honda spokesperson

In addition to cost factors, Honda has been unable to produce the diesel model with an automatic transmission that would pass emissions standards. Honda was not ready to move forward with marketing only a manual model in the American market.

The engine in question is a new version of Honda’s 4-cylinder 2.2-liter, i-DTEC engine. In Europe, where it’s sold in the Honda Accord—a model known as the Acura TSX in the US—the engine provides 188 horsepower, and more than 250 foot-pounds of torque.

Honda’s change of direction will send its engineers back to the diesel drawing board. In the meantime, Honda is said to already be working on a V-6 diesel that could be used in larger vehicles such as the Pilot SUV, Odyssey minivan, and Ridgeline small pickup.

Reuters recently reported that Honda also based its decision to delay [2] on the high cost of diesel fuel. With diesel prices higher than gasoline and weakening overall vehicle demand, Honda officials argued it was not the right time to roll out a more expensive new model, even with spectacular fuel economy. The European model gets more than 60 miles to the gallon in EU driving tests.

Source;
http://www.hybridcars.com/print/25245

Rumour: Honda Working on Hybrid Motorcycles

The above pic is NOT the hybrid that they are working on.

We must admit, that this one caught us a bit off guard as well. After all when you reall compare motorcycles with cars, the bikes merely sip on the fuel while cars guzzle on it. So its not a surprise that most car manufacturers are concentrating on making 4 wheeled hybrids only.

But given that motorbikes require so much less energy, it would make sense to make hybrid versions of these - imagine having a bike with a potentially unlimited range. Things however are not so easy as you may think - once more due to the battery technology which effectively remains unchanged from the original concept a hundred years back.

However, Honda believes that it can shrink a hybrid engine enough to be mounted on a motorcycle frame. The hybrid motorbikes will be available in engine displacements between 200 and 1,000 cc, and, according to Honda, will be 50 percent more fuel-efficient. Production costs will be cut by using common components in both hybrid cars and motorcycles. Expect the hybrid bikes to be out as soon as 2010.

Source;
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20080927p2a00m0na020000c.html

Honda, Citing Battery Limits, Avoids Rush to Plug-Ins

Masaaki Kato, president of Research and Development at Honda Motor Company, stands for a photo in the company's North American headquarters in Torrance, California, on Sept. 12, 2008. Photographer: Jonathan Alcorn/Bloomberg News

By Alan Ohnsman

Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., first to lease hydrogen autos to U.S. drivers, said batteries haven't advanced enough to make rechargeable cars a good replacement for gasoline models and isn't following rivals who plan to sell plug-ins.

"For battery-powered vehicles to become more widespread, more popular in the market, we feel battery technology needs to advance further,'' said Masaaki Kato, president of Honda's research unit, in an interview at the Tokyo-based company's U.S. headquarters. Expectations for plug-ins are big and ``we don't know that that could be sustained right now,'' he said.

Honda is bucking an industry move toward lithium-ion batteries as record-high U.S. fuel prices this year and climate change concerns over carbon dioxide push carmakers to develop alternatives to gasoline power.

General Motors Corp. sparked interest in a new generation of electric cars with its Volt, a sedan due by 2010 that will travel 40 miles solely on lithium-ion batteries before needing a recharge. Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, and No. 3 Nissan Motor Co. are also readying small electric cars powered only by batteries.

A production version of GM's plug-in Volt is to be shown tomorrow in Detroit.

"GM and Toyota are slugging it out for attention as technology leaders in this area,'' said Phil Gott, a powertrain analyst for market forecaster Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. "Honda doesn't want to get in the middle of that. They've also been fast to market with many technologies, and don't have anything to prove right now.''

'Impossible to Imagine'

Vehicles using lithium-ion power wouldn't satisfy most consumers, since such batteries are costly and still hold less than half the energy of gasoline by weight, Kato said.

"We just don't see it providing the type of driving performance you get with a gasoline-powered vehicle,'' Kato said Sept. 12 in Torrance, California, speaking through a translator.

For example, the Japanese government's advanced battery development program has a goal of boosting energy storage capacity by seven times and cutting cost to 2.5 percent of the current level, said Kato, who is also senior managing director for Japan's second-largest automaker.

"That gives you a pretty clear example of what type of gap we're facing relative to a gasoline vehicle,'' he said. "At this point, I'd say it's impossible to imagine a date at which such a breakthrough could occur.''

Refining Fuel-Cell System

While Honda may offer a plug-in at some point, for now it will continue refining the fuel-cell system in its new hydrogen- powered FCX Clarity sedan, Kato said. Based on advances the company has made with the vehicle, including improving range to 280 miles, ``we believe it's easier than battery innovation,'' Kato said.

Such a choice isn't unusual for Honda, said Michael Omotoso, powertrain analyst for market-research firm J.D. Power & Associates in Troy, Michigan.

"This fits in with their reputation for conservative product decisions,'' Omotoso said. ``They opted not to offer V-8 engines and stayed out of big trucks, and they're doing well this year because they focused more on small cars.''

Source:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a1gUi10kXBsM

A Honda CR-Z Rendering

Found this rendering of what the CR-Z may look like from a reader over at Autoblog.com.
Here's the concept version of the car.

So much has been made about the new Honda Insight that it seems like the CR-Z had been forgotten. This car looks like it will be a two-seater like the CR-X was and is said to be designed with the CR-X as a heavy influence.

Source;

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/17/rendered-speculation-honda-cr-z-hybrid-coupe/

What's New for the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

What's New for 2009
The 2009 Civic Hybrid is a minor model change, with a revised front and rear fascia as well as some new added features:

Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control
Included on Civic Hybrid, VSA is an Electronic Stability Control system that works in conjunction with the Civic's drive-by-wire throttle and its 4-channel ABS systems to enhance controllability while the vehicle is accelerating, braking, cornering or when the driver makes a sudden manoeuvre. VSA functions by applying brake force to one or more wheels independently while also managing the throttle, ignition and fuel systems to help the vehicle maintain the driver's intended path of travel.

The VSA system constantly analyzes data from seven sensors that monitor wheel and vehicle speed, steering input, lateral G forces and yaw rate. It compares the driver's control inputs with the vehicle's actual response. Whenever the actual response falls outside of a predetermined acceptable range, VSA intervenes with a corrective action. For instance, if VSA detects an oversteer condition, the system may apply braking force to the outside front and rear wheels to counteract the unintended yawing effect. In the event of understeer, VSA may apply braking to the inside rear wheel while reducing engine power to help return the car to its intended course.

VSA also provides a limited-slip differential effect for the front wheels by applying braking force to a slipping wheel, thereby redirecting driving force to the wheel with more traction.

USB Device Connector
For anything that you can use USB connector for.

Paris Auto Show, Honda to Exibit New Euro Civic Hybrid and Diesel Gearbox

While the main attraction at Honda's Paris motor show stand will be by far the long awaited Insight hybrid concept, the Japanese automaker will also perform the European debut of the restyled Civic Hybrid and the world premiere of the i-DTEC automatic gearbox that has been that has been developed exclusively for all Honda models equipped with the firm’s 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel engine.

As you can see in the picture above, not much has changed on the 2009 Civic Hybrid. Like its Japanese and American counterparts, the Euro spec hybrid sedan benefits from minor cosmetic changes including tweaked front and rear lights, a more aggressive bumper and new alloy wheels. The changes to the Civic Hybrid will also carry across to the conventionally powered 1.8 litre 4-door Civic sold in selected regions across Europe.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2008/09/honda-to-debut-restyled-civic-hybrid.html

Another Individual Pic of the Honda Insight Concept

Honda to Display Concept Model of All-New Insight Dedicated Hybrid Vehicle Scheduled for Release in 2009 at Paris Motor Show

The 2nd pic has the 'Insight' (I thought they weren't going to call it that....), FCX Clarity, and the CR-Z.

TOKYO, Japan, September 4, 2008 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will display the concept model of its all-new Insight dedicated hybrid vehicle at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (October 2–19; Press Days: October 2–3). Honda is introducing the advanced Insight to meet the needs of customers in a new era of widespread demand for hybrid vehicles.

The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's "insight" into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers.

A five-door, five-passenger compact hatchback, the new Insight will feature an innovative new platform in which the battery and control unit are located beneath the cargo space for exceptional utility and a light, pleasing driving feel. The new Insight features Honda's innovative, highly efficient compact hybrid powerplant, in which a gasoline engine serves as the main power source and the electric motor assists when extra power is needed, such as during passing or start-up and acceleration.

The new Insight also features a new driving support function that helps drivers make the most of its exceptional fuel economy to achieve more efficient, environmentally responsible driving.

Thanks to reductions in the weight and size of the Insight's key components, Honda has also achieved significant cost reductions.

Honda plans to introduce the production version of the all-new Insight to the markets in Japan, Europe and North America in spring 2009 and projects annual global sales of 200,000 units.

At the Paris Motor Show, Honda will also display the FCX Clarity, its fuel cell automobile that offers the ultimate in clean performance, producing absolutely no CO2 emissions in operation; and a design study model of the CR-Z lightweight sports hybrid vehicle, scheduled to be released in the near future.

Honda to Reveal the Honda Hybrid Concept Sept. 04, 2008

Speaking with journalists at the European launch of the new Jazz (Fit) in Frankfurt, Germany, Honda UK’s environmental manager John Kingston said that the new standalone hybrid model will play a very important role in the company’s future. “"It is a very important car for Honda and our future direction. This is a car that will change customer perception of hybrids."

"This is key for us and to achieve this hybrids have to be made more affordable - the key barrier to hybrid sales is price and we want to break that barrier," added Kingston.

In terms of pricing, although Kingston did not reveal specific details, he did note that Honda’s aim is to price its new global hybrid at the same levels as conventional cars from rival manufacturers.

Built on a new platform, Honda’s compact-sized five-door hatchback will use a revised version of the Civic IMA’s mild-hybrid powertrain. Among other developments, the powertain’s key components is said to be more compact and placed under the cargo space instead of behind the rear seats, as in the current Civic IMA.

Source; (via carscoop)
http://www.just-auto.com/article.aspx?id=95866&lk=s (sub. req'd)

Edmunds Blog; Honda Awaiting New "Super" Lithium-Ion Battery for Next-Generation Hybrids

Honda's Integrated Motor Assist mild hybrid system (right) would get a boost from new high-power lithium-ion batteries the company could start using for 2010 models.

By Bill Visnic, Senior Editor

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. -- Honda Motor Co. is preparing for an all-new, advanced lithium-ion battery that will allow its engineers to extend Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid-electric technology to larger vehicles, a senior company executive told Green Car Advisor during an annual auto-industry conference frequented by heavy-hitters from carmakers' management ranks.

Honda has in the past been non-committal about lithium-ion, but that posture apparently is changing. And Honda recently was linked in lithium-ion talk with Japanese electronics giant and battery developer Sanyo Electric Co.

John German, American Honda's manager of environmental and energy analysis, said the coming lithium-ion battery formula -- the developer of which he wouldn't name -- does not enjoy extra capacity compared with known lithium-ion characteristics. Instead, the new chemistry is targeted at allowing the batteries to charge much more quickly.

This, in turn, will allow for an increased amount of battery capacity that can be assigned to actually powering the motor. And more power means the IMA system can be employed for larger, heavier vehicles.

In addition, German says the new batteries will be markedly cheaper.

Apart from potential for vehicles such as the Ridgeline midsized pickup or the Odyssey minivan, the extra IMA performance could mean a return of the Accord Hybrid - this time using a 4-cylinder engine instead of the first-generation Accord Hybrid's V6.

German says the new butt-kicker lithium-ion chemistry should be ready in about the same timeframe as GM's lithium-ion-dependent Chevrolet Volt "extended-range" electric vehicle, the car that put lithium-ion development on the hot seat.

And while Honda brags about the slenderness of IMA's engine-enhancing electric motor - which is wedged between the engine and transmission - German says underhood space has become so valuable that even the currently required 1.5 inches or so is tough to engineer.

But Honda's advanced lithium-ion battery's potential for the midsize Accord must be tempting, as the company is no doubt anxious to get back in the game against Toyota's Camry Hybrid, of which Toyota reputedly has just a five-day inventory.

Honda's first Accord Hybrid was designed for performance enhancement, coupling the IMA system with the company's thrusty 3-liter V6.

Accord's loyal buyers didn't respond, however, and Honda dropped the Accord Hybrid after the '07 model year and before the next-generation model was introduced for '08.

While Toyota's hybrids keep selling well, German told Green Car Advisor, that he thinks Toyota invested in the wrong technology by opting for the "full" hybrid design instead of Honda's IMA mild hybrid system.

"We get 80 percent of the (full-hybrid) benefit at 60 percent of the cost," German insists.

Source;
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/08/honda-awaiting-new-super-lithium-ion-battery-for-next-generation-hybrids.html

Honda FIT Hybrid Not Coming to North America

Over the past year, Honda officials have spoken extensively about plans for hybrid vehicles to be added to the lineup. Starting next spring, a new hybrid-only five door hatchback that looks like a scaled down version of the FCX Clarity will debut at a price expected to be less than $19,000. That will be followed by a second dedicated hybrid coupe based on the CR-Z concept. The Civic hybrid will also be staying in the U.S. lineup. What U.S. buyers won't be getting is a fourth model that has been mentioned by CEO Takeo Fukui. Honda will add its IMA hybrid system to the Fit, but only for the Japanese market. During the recent media drive of the new 2009 Fit, I asked spokesman Sage Marie when the Fit hybrid would be arriving. Marie explained that because of supply constraints of the Fit, there were no current plans to bring the hybrid model to the U.S. Much like the MINI Cooper D that is already selling at capacity, Honda is selling every existing Fit it can get, and adding another variant wouldn't likely help the business case. American buyers have shown a preference for a dedicated hybrid and Honda plans to attack that segment with two new cars in 2009.

Source; (Honda)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/22/honda-fit-hybrid-not-coming-to-the-us/

More Info to add to Honda's Diesel/Hybrids

Source;http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/13/honda-getting-3-more-hybrids-and-3-diesels-in-the-next-few-years/

Honda has always had one of the cleanest and most efficient model lineups in the U.S. market and they look set to continue that trend over the next several years. We already knew that the Japanese automaker would be adding three more hybrids to its lineup over the next two years: the five-door hatchback coming next spring will be followed by the CR-Z-based coupe and a hybrid version of the new Fit. Honda has been saying for over a year that they would keep the hybrid powertrains in these smaller cars which are used more often for urban driving. For the bigger models, they have decided diesel is the way to go. The first diesel model will show up next year in the Acura lineup, most likely starting with the TSX. According to Automotive News, diesels will then spread to the Honda side of the house starting with the Accord and CR-V. Both will likely get the same 2.2L four cylinder diesel that's going into the TSX. The next generation of the Odyssey minivan, which is due in 2010, may be the first Honda vehicle to get the 3.0L diesel V6 that the company is developing. That same engine will probably eventually end up in several other models - possibly the Pilot and Ridgeline - as well as in Acura vehicles like the MDX.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/13/honda-getting-3-more-hybrids-and-3-diesels-in-the-next-few-years/

4 Hybrids and 2 Diesels on the Way for Honda

2009 Honda FIT (2011 FIT Hybrid?!?) Nice.
Honda CRZ.
The Global Honda Hybrid, incorrectly termed 2010 Insight.
2010 Honda Stream/Latitude.

Honda seems to be the only major automaker making it through the tough times of high gasoline prices and for the future the Japanese automaker plans to keep doing what its doing - keeping compact and green. Honda plans to offer more hybrid and diesel technology in its future lineup which will also get smaller.

“A smaller minivan could fit into Honda’s future,” Dan Bonawitz, vice president for corporate planning and logistics at American Honda Motor Co., told Automotive News. ”Ultimately, there will be a lot more smaller cars. The U.S. will look a lot more like Europe.”

So far dealers are waiting on the arrive of the redesigned 2009 Honda Fit. A hybrid version of the Fit will arrive in 2011. Of course let’s the five-door hatchback that’s been keeping Honda in the headlines recently. The dedicated-hybrid model will arrive next year as a 2010 model year and will cost below $20,000.

Both of those hybrids will be followed by the Honda CR-Z hybrid that is due out in late 2011. The CR-Z will be followed by a redesigned Civic and Civic Hybrid along with a diesel powered Accord. The diesel engine will also make its way in the CR-V in 2010.

As for the gas-guzzling and larger models - the S2000 roadster’s future is unclear after sales have fallen off dramatically. The new redesign Pilot just hit the market this year and Honda has already cut production of the new SUV.

The Honda Ridgeline was just refreshed for the 2009 model year - the Element will see a redesign in 2010 along with the Odyssey. Another minivan, the Japanese Honda Stream, is expected to be imported to the U.S. by 2010 as a rival to the Mazda5.

Source; http://www.automotivenews.com/ subscription needed.

Next Gen Hybrid NOT called Insight, Expect 60mpg US (around 70mpg Canada)

Honda's apparently aiming for a fuel economy of 60 MPG or higher with the new Honda hybrid expected to show its face at the Paris Motor Show. We're also hearing "Insight" has been tossed out the window as an option for the name.

Although we already knew Honda would be shooting for a starting price around $18,500, drastically undercutting the new Toyota Prius, but with fuel economy targets out there in the open, we're interested in how they'll hit it.

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/400052/honda-hybrid-to-purportedly-deliver-60-mpg-not-be-named-insight

Honda's Next Gen Hybrid Site

Here is a link to a site provided by Honda to keep you informed on what's going on in their world of Hybrids.

http://automobiles.honda.com/hybrid/