How the Honda Insight hybrid works

All you need to know about Honda's newest carThe guiding design mantra behind the all-new Honda Insight is “Aero Athlete.”And while that may sound more apt for an exotic Italian two-seater or muscular sport luxury whip rather than an uber-economy car, the sinewy exterior and sporty interior of the 2010 Insight do conjure up athletic images.“This is an image we use through the design process to communicate our goals for Insight,” explained Yasunari Seki, Honda’s chief engineer of the new 2010 Insight. “It features a chiseled, aerodynamic shape that promises muscular driving.”He added that the muscular yet elegant lines of the new vehicle form a sharp wedge meant to visually communicate an athlete’s speed, all the way back to the aerodynamic...

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2010 Honda Insight EX Hybrid goes 100 km on five bucks

"Is that one of those hybrids?" the guy next to me at the gas station asked as I topped off the Honda Insight's tank."Yes, it is" I replied. He inspected the cars awkwardly-shaped body for a moment, one lip half curled. After a moment's pause, he commented "I'd never buy one of those". "Why's that?" I asked. "They're all weird" was his response.He was referring to the relative unfamiliarity hybrid cars pose for the majority of the car-buying public. Hybrids are popular in their own small circles-- but a relatively tough sell to the majority of shoppers who don't know what they do, how they work, or what they'll be like ten years down the road. Despite all the good intentions, hybrids haven't exactly been flying off dealer lots.Somewhere beneath...

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RX-7 Concept May Appear at Tokyo Motor Show

This year’s Tokyo Motor Show is the perfect opportunity for Mazda to introduce a RX-7 concept so there’s a possibility we may see it appear in October. The RX-7 will likely showcase Mazda’s new design philosophy which goes once step beyond the previous ”Nagare” concepts.The new RX-7 is said to relieve the RX-8 of its rotary flag-bearing duties and become Mazda’s flagship rotary sports car featuring a new design philosophy which we’re told is “one step beyond Nagare”. It has also been previously reported that the new RX-7 (or RX-9 according to Holiday Auto) would go on sale in the first half of 2012, which would mean the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show (TMS) would be the obvious place for its debut. This year’s TMS is an opportunity for Mazda to cash...

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Sanyo to crank up hybrid battery production capacity by 75%

Sanyo is one of the biggest suppliers of nickel metal hydride batteries for hybrid vehicles, along with Panasonic EV energy. Currently, Sanyo's primary customers are Honda and Ford, but the company also has deals with Volkswagen and Audi for future products from Germany. Ford's ability to sell hybrid vehicles has, in part, been constrained by limited supplies of major components like transmissions and batteries. That situation may soon change, since Sanyo has decided to increase its production of NiMH cells by 75 percent.Sanyo currently builds two million NiMH cells a month and had been planning to increase that to 2.5 million. Instead, Sanyo has decided to ramp that number up to 3.5 million cells per month. Some of those will undoubtedly go...

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Special Motorcycle Sidecars: Laverada Supercar

Don't know what I'd file this one under....Here's someone who has made from a Laverda motorcycle a sidecar. Not just any sidecar, but a supercar sidecar, including gulfwing doors. The sidecar part looks amazing, a true work of art. It's almost like it came straight out of the factory.The builder, a Frenchman named Francois Knorreck built this in his spare time. The Laverda, named Snaefell, was built in a mere 10,000 hours... incredible. Since it was a part-time build, it took 10 years to finish.Parts were used from other vehicles, like a Kawasaki 1000, VW Golf GTI, Audi 80 and a Citroen Xantia car. Further gear was found on BMW and Renault cars.Just have a look at the detail that went into this motorcycle:Click here to read more about it and...

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2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year Contenders Announced

DETROIT — The so-called "long list" of candidates for the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year was revealed late Monday. It is noteworthy for its lack of Chrysler vehicles and its even division among automakers from Japan, Europe and the U.S. The list includes three Korean vehicles, including the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the Kia Forte and the Kia Soul — and even includes an offering from Suzuki, the Kizashi. The 37 vehicles on the slate include 12 offerings from Japan, 11 offerings from Europe, 11 offerings from the U.S. and three offerings from Korea.The 2010 North American Car of the Year candidates are: the Audi S4, BMW Z4, BMW 335d, BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Fusion/Fusion...

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Car and Driver: 2010 Honda Insight vs. 2010 Toyota Prius, 1998 Chevy Metro

1998 Chevy Metro?!? Why not a reeaaal car, 1982 Pontiac Acadian!The two latest mileage maestros—and the, uh, old Chevy Metro—will knock you stiff via tranquility, especially if you drive there.BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY J.G. RUSSELL July 2009What we have here is an official C/D comparison test in which the photo vehicle, a Honda Pilot, proved far quicker than any of our contestants. These cars make you feel guilty about eating red meat. Convicted road ragers should be forced to do time in any of these three. Both hybrids here are brand-new, if not all-new. The Honda Insight, which made its debut in 1999, has undergone the most radical transformation, gaining one cylinder, 25 horsepower, a back seat, and a shape that no longer resembles...

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Hybrid version of Honda CR-ZX coming to the Tokyo Motor Show

Due to the success of the recently launched Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, it appears that Honda wants to be the first Japanese manufacturer who is launching a hybrid sports car. The new vehicle which will be based on the Insight, represents a second series of the CR-ZX, and according to Best Car Magazine will make its official debut at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show.Under the hood, the new vehicle will feature a 1.3-liter (possibly 1.5-liter) engine capable to deliver an incredible fuel consumption of just 3.6 l/100 km. More details to be revealed! Also check the news about the hybrid successor of the Toyota Supra!Source;http://www.4wheelsnews.com/hybrid-version-of-honda-cr-zx-coming-to-the-tokyo-motor-sh...

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Honda will focus on its engines, says its new president!

Although the Japanese carmaker Honda has a lot of green products under its belt due to its hybrid and alternative fuel programs, it was recently reported that their new president, Takanobu Ito, has made a statement saying that they will not totally abandon the internal combustion system.In contrast to previous presidents who were all, without exception, engine men, the next president is a chassis engineer. So, although Honda is chasing fuel cell and hybrid technologies, Ito said that they cannot improve the hybrid system without working on engines. He believes that engines still have a long way to go. There is a ring of truth to what Ito has said, since there is still a lot of work to be done in improving the switch between gasoline and electric...

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For Baffled Buyers, a Guide to Cars Made in North America

ABOUT 8.5 million cars and light trucks were assembled in the United States last year, but only about five million of those were made by the automakers traditionally known as the Big Three. More than three million of the vehicles assembled in American plants were built by autoworkers employed by foreign brands like BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota.Add to those the familiar Detroit nameplates coming from plants in Canada and Mexico and it’s easy to see how confusing it can be for consumers leaning toward the purchase of an “American” car. Which is the more American product, a Honda Accord built by Ohioans for a company with its headquarters in Japan, or a Ford Fusion built in Mexico for a corporation that is based in Michigan?Among...

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The Toughest Cars On The Road

Quick, guess which automakers produce the most affordable, long-lasting cars? If you said Honda and Toyota, you're right.Our list of the toughest cars on the road includes four winners from Honda and two from Toyota--a veritable coup for the Tokyo-based companies."They just keep reinforcing that perception," says James Clark, the general manager of Automotive Lease Guide, a residual value data provider based in Santa Barbara, Calif. "It's a purchase you're never going to be questioned on--'Why did you buy a Honda?' It's very safe."In Pictures: The Toughest Cars On The RoadRounding out the "toughest" list, Subaru and Ford Motor earned two slots each, thanks to strong results from Subaru's rough 'n tumble Forester and Impreza and Ford's trusty...

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Pioneer Dumps Honda And Launches New Auto Gear

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I was under the impression that Honda was coming to the aid of Pioneer....Pioneer Electronics who last week launched new automotive entertainment and navigation gear has said that it has terminated the issuing of shares to the Honda Motor Company as their shares rise on the Tokyo stock exchange.In Australia the struggling electronics Company is banking on premium Hi Fi, Digital Radio sales in partnership with Pure and automotive gear to drive sales.Last week Pioneer unveiled four new in-dash navigation models that include iPhone capability and built-in Bluetooth on all models.With the new Pioneer navigation devices users can now input a navigation destination by voice and conduct point-of-interest (POI) searches, such...

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Mugen Civic Type R hatchback restores former glory

HA! First dual exhaust Civic I've ever seen.... Honda's Euro-market Civic Type R hatchback has been called out for being a successor that hasn't exactly succeeded. Seems a bit of the thrill is gone from the new car compared to the old one. Enter tuning firm Mugen, whose modifications to the Type R hatch should make it even better than it once was. Not much is known about the changes in store. However, based on changes made for Mugen's Japan-spec Civic Type RR 4-door sedan, these pictures, and the fact that this car might take on the Renault R26.R, you can expect much: upgraded suspension and 18-inch wheels, giant front splitter and rear wing, huge exhaust, and a powerplant putting out 237 bhp and 160 lb-ft. If the pictures don't lie, however,...

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2010 Honda Stream MPV Receives the Mugen Treatment

Here's some more Mugen news for all you Honda fans. Along with the release of the first photos of the European specification Civic Type-R 3-door hatchback, the Honda parts specialist revealed its updated tuning package for the discreetly facelifted Stream MPV. Mugen's aero body kit features all the usual pieces such as a front spoiler, a rear spoiler and a roof-mounted rear wing. Additional exterior modifications include a sport grille, side skirts and 17-inch alloy wheels.Owners of the 2010 Stream can also order a sports suspension, beefier brake system, a performance muffler with a single exhaust pipe and a sport air filter.Source;http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2009/06/2010-honda-stream-mpv-receives-mugen.h...

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Plymouth Roadrunner Concept

Pretty cool, but I think this is the last thing that Chrysler needs right now, they have their token revival car in the Challenger already....Plymouth Road Runner ConceptI think it's difficult and a tight task to bring back a trademark that has vanished into thin air. Especially nowadays where competition is tougher than ever in the automotive industry. And so it may be for Plymouth - a brand that dissappeard and left memories for having built great classics and muscle cars.The most noted Plymouth car ever may be the Road Runner. For a possible and effective relaunch of the Plymouth brand a reissue of the Road Runner could fit the bill. Overall it means the transfer of remaining memories and spirits of a car brand from yesterday into the future....

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2012 Honda CRV Information from TOV and MagX

TOV reader comes across a July 2009 issue of japanese magazine MAGX with a article on the 2012 Honda CRV."Loyal TOV reader Dan forwarded this July '09 Mag-X piece on the 2012 CR-V. TOV member 'sugaki' was kind enough to provide a translation of it. Thanks go out to both.In summary, Mag-X says that the basic requirements for the next generation CR-V (production code 2WS) have been settled and Honda is currently focusing on the styling direction for the 4th generation of their compact SUV. Due to the current CR-V's popularity abroad, it is said that the new model will be very similar in size to the current version. The dimensions projected by Mag-X reflect very small increases in length, width and height (4535x1820x1685 mm).Mag-X mentions that...

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Priddy gets some more Acura ZDX Spyshots

This is straight from leftlanenews;Once again our spy photographers caught up with an Acura ZDX test group and this time we managed to get a bit closer up. Looking very much like the New York Auto Show concept, Acura’s “four-door sports coupe” will be arriving later this year as a 2010 model. The “four-door coupe” trend quickly spread throughout the luxury sedan segment following the launch of the Mercedes CLS, and it looks as though the ‘CUV coupe’ segment is the next frontier for luxury automakers. Obviously some of the ZDX Concept’s — which first debuted at the New York Auto Show — details have been toned-down, but it looks like the production ZDX is, for the most part, staying true to the show car. That means a radically sloping roofline,...

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Rumormill: More Toyobaru scuttlebutt comes to the surface

A "Toyota insider" has supposedly spilled a few more beans to 7Tune about the upcoming front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe the automaker is collaborating on with Subaru, and according to the source, the 2+2 will carry a few of the Lexus LF-A's design cues when it hits the market next year.Although Lexus' "L-Finesse" styling has remained exclusive to Toyota's luxury brand, certain elements of the language have begun to filter down to the automaker's mainstream models, specifically the recently released Venza CUV. The rendering above hints at some of the lines that could make the cut on the production version of the "086A," but contrary to past reports, 7Tune's tipster says that the Toyota and Subaru versions won't be remarkably different –...

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Honda considering two lower-cost hybrids

With news coming in that Honda isn't selling nearly as many Insight hybrids in the U.S. as it would like, it would seem the Japanese automaker could go one of a few different directions. It's possible that Honda could reverse course on hybrids and focus instead on incremental improvements to its already excellent line of internal combustion engines. Alternatively, Honda could double down on its hybrid program and commit to more models and development. It's this latter path that the automaker seems to favor.According to a report in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Japan (via Green Car Advisor), Honda President Takeo Fukui says the automaker is working on two new hybrids that would cost less than the Insight's already low $19,800 starting price....

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Fiat Launches Small Car Grande Punto | Priced at Rs.3.99 to 6.11 Lakhs | Fiat Grand Punto Photos, Pictures, Images

Fiat Launches Small Car Grande Punto | Priced at Rs.3.99 to 6.11 Lakhs | Fiat Grand Punto Photos, Pictures, ImagesGrande Punto - the much awaited premium hatchback from Italian motor giant Fiat launched in India on Wednesday, 17th June, 2009. World bestseller Fiat Grande Punto launched with three engine options, 1.4-litre FIRE Petrol, 1.2-litre petrol and the 1.3-litre MultiJet diesel engines.Grande Punto will be available with four variants Active, Dynamic, Emotion and fully-loaded Emotion PK with a very competetive price ranging from Rs. 3.99 Lakhs to 6.11 Lakhs. Fiat Grande Punto will give very tough competition to Skoda Fabia, Maruti Swift, Hyundai i20 and recently launched Honda Jazz.Fiat Grande Punto Price:Fiat Grande Punto Exteriors:Fiat...

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