Hybrid Owners Not Returning to Hybrids

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., - While the selection of hybrid models in the U.S. has more than doubled since 2007, only 35 percent of hybrid vehicle owners choose to purchase a hybrid again when returning to market in 2011, according to recent analysis by Polk (See Table A). If repurchase behavior among the high volume audience of Toyota Prius owners isn’t factored in, hybrid loyalty drops to under 25 percent.

However, hybrid owners appear to maintain brand loyalty when returning to the new car market. For example, in 2011, 60 percent of Toyota hybrid owners returned to the market to purchase another Toyota, according to Polk, while 41 percent of them purchased another hybrid from any brand. In the case of Honda hybrid owners, more than 52 percent of them stayed with the Honda brand, while just under 20 percent of this same owner group bought another hybrid vehicle from any brand.

“Having a hybrid in the product lineup can certainly give a brand a competitive edge when it comes to attracting new customers,” noted Brad Smith, director of Polk’s Loyalty Management Practice. “The repurchase rates of hybrid vehicles are an indication that consumers are continuing to seek alternative solutions to high fuel prices.”

Online cross-shopping data from Edmunds.com indicates that consumers are doing their due diligence to compare hybrids with similar gasoline-powered vehicles. As an example, the Honda Civic is the second most cross-shopped vehicle among both Toyota Prius and Honda Insight shoppers.

Hybrid vehicles represent just 2.4 percent of the overall new vehicle market in the U.S., according to Polk, down from a high of 2.9 percent in 2008.

“The lineup of alternate-drive vehicles and their premium price points just aren’t appealing enough to consumers to give the segment the momentum it once anticipated, especially given the growing strength of fuel economy among compact and midsize competitors,” according to Lacey Plache, Edmunds.com chief economist. “For EVs and PHEVs in particular, certain obstacles — including consumer unease with unfamiliar technology and the lack of an adequate recharging infrastructure — will need to be overcome before sales increase.”

Polk’s research also indicates that volatility in fuel prices between 2008 and 2011, which ranged from just under $2.00/gallon to nearly $4.00/gallon, had little impact on hybrid segment loyalty. As fuel prices continue to rise, Polk will be working closely with its customers to continue to analyze the impact.

Surprisingly, Polk also found that consumers in traditional eco-friendly markets in the U.S. (e.g. Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Ore. and Seattle) are no more loyal to hybrid vehicles than the nation at large. A list of the top 15 markets by hybrid loyalty is included in Table B.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/general-news/hybrid-owners-not-returning-to-hybrids

Honda Malaysia: Facelifted Honda Insight

Honda Malaysia has introduced the facelifted Insight hybrid, in its 1.3 litre form. Aside from some external revisions, the facelift – which made its debut in Frankfurt last year – promises to deliver better fuel economy along with a string of other refinements.

Kicking things off are new front and rear bumpers, and the headlights now wear a tint of blue highlight. Additionally, the new grille design features a blue reflector underneath. The tailgate spoiler has also been slimmed, and together with a modified tail gate garnish and a reduction in the size of the wiper motor unit, results in overall increased rear visibility.


Appearance aside, the aerodynamics of the car have also been improved, reducing the running resistance and thus resulting in better fuel economy. The 1.3 litre IMA system – with 88 PS and 121 Nm from the engine and 14 PS and 78 Nm from the motor – gets some powertrain efficiency improvements.

Revisions to the CVT and mill, the latter in the form of reduced engine friction, as well as alterations to the air conditioning system, all do their bit to contribute to lower fuel consumption.
The Insight also features a quieter ride, with the inclusion of added noise insulation materials for better NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) performance. Meanwhile, the seats are now upholstered with a new fabric, and rear passengers now enjoy an extra head clearance of 15mm, following adjustments to the shape of the roof lining and the hip point of the rear seats.

Still on dual airbags, but there’s Hill Start Assist (HSA) and VSA on this one, and the wave key has been changed to a more compact jack-knife version. Four exterior colours abound, and these are Platinum Aqua Metallic, Premium White Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl and Alabaster Silver Metallic.

The facelifted Insight goes for RM99,800 (on-the-road), and comes with a five-year or 140,000 km warranty on the IMA battery. The best part is that you don’t have to wait long for one, if you’ve been eyeing it – fully aware of the current demand of the new Insight, Honda Malaysia says the waiting period for an Insight is now less than two weeks. No indication as to when the 1.5 litre job will arrive.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/02/29/honda-insight-facelift-arrives-1-3l-variant-rm99800/

Honda Sells 800,000 Hybrids

As of the last few days of 2011, Honda has sold 800,000 units of hybrid vehicles across the world. This took them 12 years and 2 months, from the moment the first Insight was delivered in Japan back in November 1999.

In recent times, Honda has released the second generation Insight to challenge but not defeat the Prius back in 2009, and the complete hybrid range now includes six vehicles in total.

In 2011, the Japanese automaker sold 200,000 units, an increase of 30 percent over the previous year. And it’s the domestic market of Japan where Honda’s hybrids are in the highest demand, as 45% of all Hondas sold there we gas-electric in December.

We’d also care to mention that Honda is committed to development of fuel-cell vehicles as well, being among the leaders in the field.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/honda-sells-800000-hybrids-41971.html

Honda Jazz Hybrid HX: Road test

As I grew up, Honda was best known for the NSX, hot hatches such as the Civic Type R and its involvement in Formula one. However, times have changed along with concern for the climate and the Jazz is Honda's fourth hybrid.

Mechanically similar to its bigger brother, the Insight, is there any reason to go for the Jazz apart from it being cheaper? I spent a week with the £17,995 Jazz Hybrid HX to find out.

The current car dates back to 2008, but the introduction of this Hybrid model is part of a mild range re-fresh. At the front, there are new lights, a hybrid-specific grille and a more aerodynamic front bumper.

At the side, there are new alloy wheels with special aerodynamic brake calipers, with just a new set of distinctive clear rear light clusters and Hybrid badging at the back, completing the light face-lift.

The Jazz Hybrid is fitted with the same 87bhp 1.3-litre petrol engine that's fitted in the bigger Insight and has a clever stop-start sytem. With emissions of 104g/km and 62.8mpg fuel consumption figures, this Honda should prove to be very cost-effective to run, although it's not Congestion charge exempt and still costs £10 to tax.

The Jazz Hybrid's steering is over-light and lacks feel. Still, its small dimensions and good all-round visibility mean parking is a doddle.

With its low-rolling resistance tyres lacking grip and soft suspension, there's some body roll in corners. It's not that much fun to drive either, because it's only available with CVT transmission, which results in boomy acceleration even on light throttle. The Jazz's ride is composed for a supermini, but the green tyres mean more road noise.

Inside, our HX test car felt quite luxurious with the standard leather trim; build quality is first rate even if it's not quite up to German rivals.

The 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine seems much better suited to the smaller Jazz than the bigger Insight, feeling less raw and raucous. Revving it hard is the way to make the most of what performance is available, but it's not advised as the din the engine kicks up will hurt your ears and the Jazz's green intentions.

The Jazz Hybrid is not a fast car, but then again that's not the point; 62mph comes up in a less than impressive 12.3 seconds and the top speed is just 109mph.One of the Jazz's key selling points is its tardis-like, versatile cabin. Thankfully, despite the addition of the hybrid engine and its batteries, it's as spacious and practical as the standard car. There's plenty of room for a couple of adults in the back and there's the same 883 litres of boot space.

The RX test car had most of the equipment you'd ever need including big car features such as electric windows, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control, leather trim, heated front seat and a CD stereo with auxiliary socket.

The standard-fit, single-disc CD player sounds good and if that's not enough, there's a port to play your MP3 player through. A navigation system is available on the range-topping HX-T.

If you're keen to go green and must have a hybrid powered car, then the Jazz is the cheapest on sale. If more space isn't an issue, it makes its bigger and more expensive brother, the Insight, pointless as the Jazz is quicker and slightly better to drive. If I had the choice, I'd still rather have the standard petrol version though.

Source;
http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/10/31/honda-jazz-hybrid-hx-road-test/

Honda Targets Sales in Japan With Hybrid Freed, New Minivan

Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s third- largest carmaker, will start selling a hybrid version of its Freed minivan tomorrow as it seeks to boost sales among domestic consumers looking for more fuel-efficient cars.

The hybrid Freed will start from 2.18 million yen ($28,700), according to a statement by the Tokyo-based company today. The new gas-electric version has a fuel-economy rating of 24 kilometers per liter, compared with 17 kilometers per liter for the conventional gasoline model, according to Honda.

“With the new Freed, we hope to attract the increasing number of ‘downsizers’ in the Japanese market,” Sho Minekawa, a managing officer at Honda, said today at a press conference in Tokyo. “We expect to get half of our sales from hybrid models by the end of March next year.”

The company aims to sell 10,000 units of the Freed hybrid minivan a month, Minekawa said. Honda will begin selling a revamped Insight hybrid starting Nov. 11 from 1.9 million yen and a new minicar from mid-December called the “N Box.”

Honda shares rose 2.75 percent to 2,393 yen at the close of trading in Tokyo. The stock has slid 26 percent this year, compared with a 15 percent drop for the broader Topix index.

--Editors: Chua Kong Ho, Frank Longid

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-27/honda-targets-sales-in-japan-with-hybrid-freed-new-minivan.html

Carscoop: New Toyota Prius C: Leaked Brochure Reveals Standalone Small Hybrid Hatch

We got our first taste of the next member to join Toyota's growing family of Prius models with the Prius C concept study that made its debut alongside the Prius V minivan at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year.

But today, thanks to a tip from a Carscoop reader in Japan who goes by the nickname "i-Ryuji", we can show you the actual production version of the Prius C through a plethora of scanned images from a leaked brochure.

With a big stretch of imagination, you might see the resemblance between the concept study and the production variant of the Prius C that evolves the design language of the regular Prius liftback.

The interior styling is a bit funkier with a center-mounted dashboard and at least in Japan, the ability to customize the look of the cabin with different upholstery and colored trim accents.

You won’t be surprised to learn that the Japanese language is not our forte, but in one of the spec sheets, it appears that Toyota compares the Prius C with several rivals in Japan including the Mazda2 13-Skyactive.

On the same page, the first column (with the G, S and L trim designations) includes the basic specifications of the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Prius C.

The smallest member of the Prius family measures 3,995mm (157.3-in.) long, 1,695mm (66.7-in.) wide, and 1,445mm (56.9-in.) tall, and has a wheelbase length of 2,550mm (100.4-in.). This means it's barely bigger than the latest Yaris (153.5" long, 66.7" wide, 59.4" tall, with a 98.8" wheelbase).

The brochure also tells us that power will come from a hybrid unit that combines a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 74HP at 4,800 rpm and 111Nm (81.9 lb-ft) of torque at 4,800 rpm, and an electric motor producing up to 61-horses and 169Nm (125 lb-ft) with a CVT. The hybrid system's combined output (in JDM tune) is rated at 100HP.

Toyota estimates that the front-wheel drive hybrid will return a fuel consumption of 35.4 km/lt (equal to 83.3 mpg US or 2.8lt/100km) on the Japanese JC08 driving cycle and up to 40 km /lt (94 mpg US or 2.5lt/100 km) on the 10.15 mode driving cycle.

We would like to stress that the above fuel efficiency numbers should not be used for direct comparison as the Japanese driving cycles differ from the U.S. and European combined measurements. For example, in Japan, Toyota says that the regular Prius returns up to 38 km/lt, which is equal to 89.4mpg and 2.6lt/100km, while the U.S. model is rated at 50mpg combined.

So, when and where will we see the new Prius C making its debut? The JDM model will receive its world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show in December while Toyota recently revealed that the North American debut would take place in Detroit in January of 2012.

During the U.S. media presentation of the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid in California in mid-September, Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager, Bob Carter, mentioned the new Prius C in his speech:

"The Prius v will be followed by the Prius Plug-in next March, and the Prius c will follow in the Spring," said Carter. "The Prius c will offer expressive styling in a city-friendly vehicle that we believe will be the most fuel efficient hybrid without a plug in the U.S. While we showed you a “c Concept” at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, we will be debuting the production Prius c for the first time in Detroit this coming January."

Hat tip to i-Ryuji!
Story References: Ryuji

Source (with the full brochure pic's!);;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-toyota-prius-c-leaked-brochure.html

Subaru Hybrid For 2014 To Echo Honda, GM Mild-Hybrid Approach

Beyond the obvious Toyota, if any other make were to build hybrid cars, you might expect it to be Subaru.

The small Japanese company's cars are revered for durability and standard all-wheel drive, and their drivers are often assumed to be on the liberal side of center.

Subaru owners tend to cluster in mountainous enclaves of progressive politics, and data show their owners skew more Democratic than almost any other brand.

Now, at last, Subaru's hybrid plans are coming clear.

First hybrid in 2013
The company will launch its first hybrid vehicle in Japan within two years. That car will be a model of the Subaru Legacy mid-size sedan, most likely for the 2014 model year.

But according to a Subaru of America executive who briefed GreenCarReports on condition of anonymity, while development of the hybrid-electric drive technology is largely done, the company is still debating which vehicle will debut the hybrid system for the U.S. market.

Candidates include the popular Forester compact crossover utility vehicle, the equally popular Outback mid-size crossover, and perhaps the Legacy sedan as well.

Subaru could choose to put the system in its lowest-mileage vehicles (the larger Legacy and Outback), or increase the mileage of a more fuel efficient vehicle (the Impreza sedan or hatchback) to give the company a gas-mileage champion halo car.

Already the new 2012 Subaru Impreza will get 36 mpg on the highway, a substantial improvement over the 2011 model that gives it the highest gas mileage of any all-wheel drive car.

Mild hybrid a la Honda
The Subaru hybrid system, previewed in the Subaru B5 TPH Concept of 2005 and, at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, in the Subaru Hybrid Tourer concept, is a mild hybrid system very similar to Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) setup.

The General Motors eAssist system is conceptually similar, although the electric motor replaces the alternator rather than sitting between engine and transmission.

In the latest Subaru concept, a 10-kilowatt (13-horsepower) electric motor is sandwiched between a turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four engine and the company's Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).

A lithium-ion battery pack, derived from the one used in the now-discontinued Japanese-market Stella EV electric minicar, provides power to the motor, which also recharges the battery during regenerative braking.

But unlike full hybrid systems like those used by Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, and others, the hybrid system is not powerful enough to propel the car on electricity alone.

Instead, it restarts the engine when the car begins to move away from a stop, and it contributes torque to supplement engine power, reducing the load on the engine and hence the fuel it consumes.

Toyota tech? Not so much
Since 2005, when Toyota purchased the share of Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent company) previously owned by General Motors, industry analysts had assumed that the small company would adopt Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system--as Nissan did for its 2008-2011 Altima Hybrid, and Mazda plans to do.

But Subaru is a stubbornly independent company with a strong engineering culture. Aside from Porsche, it's the sole company offering horizontally opposed engines, which are smaller and give vehicles a lower center of gravity than inline engines.

Fitting Toyota's hybrid to a pancake engine might have posed its own challenges, but Subaru's engineers developed their hybrid system internally, along with the lithium-ion battery pack. And so the Subaru hybrid that will launch as a 2014 model will be a mild hybrid--a technology that Toyota doesn't offer.

The two companies are presently cooperating on a two-door sports coupe known as the FT-86. It will be sold as a Scion in the U.S., and the Subaru version--the brand's first rear-wheel drive car for the U.S. in almost 20 years--will be called the BRZ.

Source;
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066695_subaru-hybrid-for-2014-to-echo-honda-gm-mild-hybrid-approach

MotorTrend: Toyota Prius Sports Coupe in Pipeline

June 02, 2011
By Peter Lyon

Toyota has been hinting for years that it would be expanding its Prius model lineup, and the new Prius v we just took for a test drive is likely just the start of a bigger Prius family. Over the past two years, rumors of a minivan, a convertible, and even an SUV variant have been tossed about.

But the one derivative of the bunch that has enthusiasts interested is the American-inspired Prius Sports Coupe project. Our source tells us that without the strong push for this car from Toyota's U.S. arm, this project wouldn't have made it past first base. What you see here is one artist's impression of how the Sports Coupe will look when it debuts in late 2014, the same year the next-generation Prius is expected to surface.

Our insider explains that with development of the Lexus LFA supercar scaling down, and R&D funds and personnel being re-routed, we can expect to see a proliferation of more fun-to-drive hybrid cars over the next three to five years. It seems part-time race car driver and full-time Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda is having some influence on the automaker's car development program.

One of the highlights of this coupe will be the option of a manual transmission that Toyota is developing for hybrids at the Higashi-Fuji proving ground near Mt. Fuji. That manual gearbox will be bolted to the company's next-generation hybrid system with plug-in capability, a system that will be completely new and not inherited from the Prius. Our spies tell us that the sports coupe will employ a rear-drive platform and will incorporate the plug-in hybrid unit with lightweight Li-ion batteries that generate significantly more power than the current Prius, but maintain class-leading mileage and CO2 emissions.

This is just the beginning. Come 2015, our source tells us the company will officially roll out its long-rumored "Prius brand," from which we can expect all future Toyota hybrid models, as well as a hydrogen-powered sedan that reportedly is in development. And the flagship for the new brand will be the Sports Coupe.

Source;
http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1105_toyota_prius_sports_coupe_in_pipeline/index.html

Gas prices increase car buyers' hybrid sales

Here we go again....
As gas prices hit an average $3.51 a gallon nationwide on Monday, automakers and dealers are starting to see an uptick in sales of their most-fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrids and electrics.

Toyota's Prius, which has a commanding lead in market share among hybrids, saw a 69.9% sales increase in February compared with February last year, Autodata reported. Among others, Honda's Civic hybrid had a 53.8% sales increase, and sales of Ford's Fusion hybrid were up 11.7%.

Dealers say they believe customers are starting to take notice of gas prices in making their buying decisions, though numbers still are small.

"It's just starting," says Adam Lee, chairman of 20-dealership Lee Auto Malls in Maine. "We are not seeing a dramatic increase in sales (of hybrids and small cars), but we will."

The number of potential car buyers researching hybrids at the Edmunds.com with the gas price run-up.

"We've had kind of a slow, steady increase in prices" that has helped automakers prepare, says Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com senior analyst.

Four out of five consumers in a Kelley Blue Book survey say that gas prices are influencing vehicle choices, up 11 percentage points from January.

Automakers say they are far more ready with fuel-efficient traditional cars, in addition to alternative-power vehicles, to handle soaring gas prices than they were in 2008, when average prices peaked at $4.11 a gallon.

"We are fairly well positioned for it," says Al Castignetti, vice president for Nissan in the U.S. With small cars, plus a bevy of new, smaller crossovers, "I have such a broad array of product offerings."

Ford Motor points to now having four models that get more than 40 miles per gallon.
Demand for four-cylinder engines has risen dramatically, says General Motors spokesman Tom Henderson, and GM is selling every one of the Volt extended-range electric cars that it can produce.

For now, most automakers aren't making big changes at factories to shift to more small or hybrid cars or making big ad buys to tout them. Says Honda spokesman Kurt Antonius, "People already perceive Honda's cars and trucks as fuel efficient, so we don't need to develop a special ad campaign during these challenging times at the pump."

Most car buyers won't make dramatic changes until gas prices pass $4 a gallon nationally, predicts Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the country's largest new car dealership chain.

By Chris Woodyard, USA Today

Source;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2011-03-08-ecocars08_ST_N.htm#

The future's hybrid say Honda and Toyota

4 March 2011
-Five Toyota hybrids by 2012
-Honda CR-V and FR-V replacements could be hybrids
-More powerful, sporty Honda hybrid considered

Honda and Toyota continue to vie for supremacy in the world of hybrids, and have big plans to expand the number of models they sell in Europe, based on the architectures and concept models on show at the title="Geneva motor show report"Geneva motor show.

Toyota showed off the Prius+, a seven-seat version of the Prius V it revealed at the Detroit motor in January, plus a hybrid version of the next Yaris supermini, badged Yaris HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) Concept. Both will become production reality in 2012 aongside a plug-in version of the current Prius which we have already title="Toyota Plug-in Prius driven"driven.

Honda had its new twin-motor hybrid platform, also first seen at Detroit, which it'll use to underpin a range of mid-range vehicles.

Although Honda isn't saying what these will be, research and develoment chief Tomohiko Kawanabe would not deny that the CR-V crossover and a replacement for the FR-V compact MPV were the sort of cars that might benefit from it.

However, he also said that the company is looking at other ways of expanding its hybrid range, and a more powerful version of the sporty petrol-electric CR-Z coupe could not be ruled out.

Hybrid demand is growing
By the end of 2012 Toyota will have five hybrids on sale in Europe - Auris, Prius, Prius plug-in, Prius+ and Yaris. Some will retain today's nickel-metal hydride battery system, while others will have the more efficient, smaller but more expensive lithium-ion set-up being trialled in the Prius plug-in .

'Lithium-ion has merits in terms of compactness and energy storage, and it is needed to give a longer range on battery power alone,' said Guillaume Gerondeau, the vice-president in charge of product for Toyota Motor Europe.

While today's Prius has a maximum range of only two miles on pure battery power, future plug-in models will be able to manage six times that.'The Yaris hybrid will have lithium-ion batteries and its use of space (packaging) has been optimised around this', said Gerondeau. 'Until now, cost and packaging were the two big negatives of small hybrids,' he said, 'but now we have appropriate solutions.' He is unperturbed about electrifying a car that is already economical with petrol or diesel power, claiming that CO2 will be even lower (less than the 89g/km of today's Prius) while other emissions will also be reduced.

'Demand for hybrids is growing,' he said. 'More and more customers are putting powertrain technology as their first priority. According to our research, in 2006 it was 4%; in 2008 it grew to 8% and in 2010 it was 16%.' Toyota will add even more hybrids when new-generation models start to appear after 2013, and has pledged to have a hybrid version of every car it sells by 2020.

Kawanabe says the new Honda twin-motor hybrid system is designed to overcome the limits of the company's current IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) fitted to the CR-Z, Insight and Jazz. 'It is designed to achieve better fuel efficiency with a smaller battery than IMA. We will have a range of 10 miles in EV [electric vehicle] mode and start extending this as the battery becomes bigger.'

Kawanabe says the twin-motor set-up will give the performance of a 2.5-litre conventional engine with lower fuel consumption and emissions. It is likely to be too big for use in an uprated CR-Z, but he believes it would be 'a good idea' to increase the power of the hybrid sports car and admitted that Honda is 'seriously thinking about' how it could be done.

Source;
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/the-future-s-hybrid-say-honda-and-toyota/255718#

Globe and Mail: Honda’s sport hybrid a precursor of future “sporty” cars

BOB ENGLISH
Globe and Mail Update

Driving through a bend delicately balanced on the keening knife edge of tire adhesion is always a neat thing to do, whether in the latest Porsche Turbo S or something like Honda’s new “sport hybrid” CR-Z.

The only real differences are the vastly faster cornering speeds and g-force generated by Porsche’s prodigious grip, and their very intimate correlation with the pucker factor you experience and the consequences you hope you don’t.

Obviously the CR-Z, even with its little electric motor whirring away helpfully, can’t come close to matching the Porsche’s acceleration, or its comparatively tiny discs the massive stopping force of the German car’s brakes. Or the sheer thrill of driving something as truly potent.
But it turned out the CR-Z, which I had the unique opportunity to drive back-to-back with the Porsche on a track recently, has a nice enough balance of (adequate) power and (capable) handling to validate its “sporty” claim.

What I found most interesting was seeing it as a harbinger of the direction mainstream, lower order “sporty” cars – the kind most of us can afford – seem to be evolving in as more car makers explore adding a jolt of voltage to keep the performance spark bright as fossil fuels fade from the scene.

The trend to using hybrid and pure electric power systems to improve performance has already begun, of course. The recent Honda Accord hybrid, Lexus GS450h and BMW X6 hybrid and the Tesla sports car come to mind. And the pace seems to be amping up with high-end makes – Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Audi and Porsche – revealing electrification projects in the past year. But Mitsubishi, Subaru and Mazda, among others, have also revealed they’re accelerating down this road.

The CR-Z isn’t Honda’s first save-the-planet two-seater sold here. That honour goes to the CR-X of the early 1980s, fondly remembered as a little pocket road rocket, but originally pitched as an econo-car. It was followed by the less fondly recalled early-1990s Del Sol.
Honda’s third two-seater was the Insight hybrid of 2000, the first modern hybrid sold in North America, which introduced the integrated motor assist system employed by the CR-Z, which tests the consumer waters in another hybrid niche.

Honda describes the $23,490 CR-Z as a driver-focused vehicle offering efficient and fun performance. If you include looking cool in the “driver-focused” element, then the CR-Z has half the equation handily covered with its stand-out-in-any-crowd exterior styling.

And the other half with an interior a cut above most others in the mid-$20,000 price range with its nifty bright-blue three-D instruments and pod-like protrusions from each side that put commonly used controls close to the driver’s hands. A two-tone colour treatment and nickel-like trim are also nice touches.

The only thing that might warrant serious criticism is the fact there are only two seats, which while emphasizing its sporty personality, limit its practicality, although you can cram a fair whack of stuff (711 litres) in the back.

Equipment includes automatic climate control, power mirrors, locks, etc., tilt/telescope wheel, audio system with all the appropriate places to plug things in and steering wheel controls, Bluetooth connectivity, stability control and a hill holder feature with the manual gearbox.

The 122 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque generated by its 1.5-litre, rev-y, gasoline-fuelled four-cylinder in combination with the Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system obviously isn’t a lot, but it only has 1,205 kg to propel. The manual gearbox version still takes a rather drawn-out 9.8 seconds to get to 100 km/h though, so don’t sit next to somebody at the light revving your engine.

Once under way, it feels lively enough if “Sport” is selected from the three-mode drive system, which kicks in the electric boost earlier and quickens up the electric steering. Normal and econo would seem redundant as fuel economy is pretty phenomenal in Sport and the other two settings dull down the driving experience.

Suspension is econo-car-conventional with MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam axle under the back, with under-achieving 195/55R16 tires that deliver better mileage than stick and steering sharpness. Braking is fair, but a few laps on the track are all you can ask of them before they get a bit hot and bothered.

In reality, the CR-Z offers more a pretence of “performance” than the real thing, which might make it a precursor of the “sporty” cars we’ll be driving in the future.

Source;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/reviews/hondas-sport-hybrid-a-precursor-of-future-sporty-cars/article1873669/

Canadian Driver: First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

I am very curious to see how the Volt will perform in a winter, this is a great read....
Review and photos by Grant Yoxon

Detroit, Michigan – While driving silently through Detroit on a cold day in January, I am reminded of a comic book quote from my childhood, “It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Superman!”
In this case, the Chevrolet Volt is neither a bird nor a plane. It is not a hybrid, although it does have both an electric drive unit and a gasoline engine. But it is not a battery electric vehicle either because it does have that gasoline engine on board.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended range, meaning it is propelled by an all-electric drive unit, but with the assistance of a gasoline engine that generates electricity for the electric drive system, can be driven without a recharge or fill up for up to 610 kilometres. Amongst electric vehicles, it truly is Superman.

The Chevrolet Volt is powered by GM’s unique Voltec propulsion system which, in simple terms (for a more detailed explanation, see the accompanying feature, “Deeper into the technology: the Voltec electric drive system”) consists of a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 149-hp electric drive unit that propels the car exclusively on electricity for up to 80 kilometres, depending on terrain, driving style and climate. When the car’s battery reaches a minimum charge, a 1.4-litre gasoline engine starts up to maintain the minimum charge of the battery enabling the Volt to continue on its way for an additional 530 kilometres, give or take.

On this blustery winter day, we drove approximately 40 kilometres before the driving mode graphic in the driver’s display indicated we had switched from pure electric to extended driving range mode. Not until we came to a stop light, however, did we hear the engine.

Once tuned into the sound of the engine, you realize that it seems to operate with a life of its own. Unlike a gasoline powered car or a hybrid, the rise and fall of the engine speed is not related to the action of your right foot. RPMs increase or decrease according to the needs of the battery pack. It is an unusual feeling to be sitting at the same stop light and hear the engine accelerate while the car is sitting still!

While driving exclusively in electric mode, the driver’s display indicates that we are achieving 250+ miles per gallon (the display can be easily switched to metric) or infinity in other words, but once the car switches to extended driving mode, the fuel consumption figure begins to drop. Over a full 610 kilometre drive, it is expected that the Volt will achieve, according to the US EPA, 37 mpg (6.3 L/100 km) in extended range mode and 60 mpg (3.9 L/100 km) in combined electric and extended range modes. However, if used locally and charged regularly, the Volt will use little to no fuel at all.

The Volt can be charged using either a household 120-volt plug in or a dedicated 240-volt charging station. The Volt comes equipped for the former with a 20-foot charging cord stowed in the back. Charging time takes 10-12 hours on 120V, but only four hours on 240V. Owners can schedule immediate charging or coordinate the charging for their departure time or to take advantage of lower-cost off-peak electric rates. If the vehicle is plugged in, recharging can be controlled remotely using an OnStar mobile app for iPhones and Android smart phones or by accessing an application at MyVolt.com.

While the Volt may not be range limited, our time in the Volt was, with about an hour and a half inside the car, so naturally our driving impressions are somewhat limited. Our drive took us on Detroit’s freeways and suburban streets on our way to GM’s Hamtramck Assembly Plant where the Volt is built along side the Cadillac STS and the Buick Lucerne (although it shares nothing in common with these two).

The Volt has three drive modes – ‘normal’, ‘sport’ and ‘mountain’. The latter, which limits electric range and maximum drive output – the Volt has a maximum speed of about 160 km/h – ensures the Volt has the power to drive up sustained grades. ‘Sport’ mode reconfigures the accelerator settings to provide quicker accelerator response, with zero to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) estimated to be less than nine seconds. Although maximum output is unaffected, the Volt feels more powerful and accelerates quicker. Call this the ‘fun’ mode.

The transmission has a ‘low’ setting, which is not low in the conventional sense of selecting a lower gear for descending steep grades. It is no different than the normal ‘drive’ setting with one exception – regenerative braking, where electrical power is captured and stored in the battery, is dramatically increased. The car decelerates rapidly when the accelerator is released. When combined with ‘sport’ mode, it is the perfect combination for stop-and-go driving.

On the freeways and streets we drove on, the Volt performed no differently, although much more quietly, than any other mid-sized sedan. Power is excellent, although, the more rapidly you accelerate, the more quickly the battery will deplete. Driving style is one factor that affects electric range. (kinda figured that)

The driver is presented with a full range of information and functionality displayed on two seven-inch screens, one behind the steering wheel, the other mounted on the centre stack. A full-colour, high resolution display replaces the speedometer and other gauges found in conventional vehicles and provides information on the battery state of charge and electric range, speedometer, fuel level and extended mode range, driving efficiency, trip information, tire pressure, oil life, and vehicle system messages. The second screen is the primary interface for infotainment, climate controls and efficiency. This latter function is multi-faceted including information on energy usage and energy efficiency, power flow and charging routines. Through this screen the owner can select a charging mode – immediate, delayed departure time and delayed rate and departure time mode, in which the Volt calculates the charging start time based on utility rates, rate preference and the programmed departure time. In this mode, the Volt will charge during the least expensive rate periods.

Surrounding the centre stack screen is a variety of touch-sensitive redundant controls for infotainment and climate, selecting drive modes, programmable charge modes, power door lock and unlock and the electric parking brake actuation and release.

The Volt’s advanced technology is not simply under the hood, but evident throughout the vehicle. Touch-sensitive controls, full-colour graphic displays, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation radio with 60-GB hard drive (30 GB for music storage), AM/FM/DVD-ROM/MP3 playback capability, voice recognition, XM satellite radio with XM NavTraffic/Weather, premium energy saving Bose sound system with six speakers and sub-woofer is the kind of technology one would expect in a premium, near luxury sedan.

The Volt is equipped with standard Jet Black premium cloth seats with Ceramic White accents, but can be ordered with leather seating and heated front seats. Only two option packages are available – a rear camera and park assist package and a premium trim package consisting of leather seating, premium door trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated front seats.

In the US, the Volt starts at $41,695, not unexpected for a premium sedan. The rear camera option is priced at $695 while the premium trim package can be added for $1,395. While the Volt is available now in select U.S. markets, it will not be released in Canada until mid-summer 2011. Canadian pricing will be announced closer to its release, but expect a base MSRP in the mid-forties.

Some may balk at that kind of pricing, but the Volt is not a compact battery electric commuter or just a well-equipped hybrid. It is an extended range electric vehicle that is also a premium sedan, one that you will use 365 days of the year, a vehicle that you will drive to work or to a city 400 miles away, that is equipped with luxury appointments and the latest information and entertainment technology as well as the only range extending electric powertrain available on the planet.

If the battery electric vehicle is the bird and the hybrid is the plane, the Volt really is Superman.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2011/01/17/first-drive-2011-chevrolet-volt.htm?page=all

Car Advice: Honda Insight VTi-L v Toyota Prius: hybrid car comparison

Here is probably the most comprehensive comparison between these two Hybrids that I've ever seen....
http://www.caradvice.com.au/96626/honda-insight-vti-l-vs-toyota-prius-hybrid-comparison/

Conclusion

The 2011 Honda Insight VTi-L is the car for you if:
-You want a safe compact car with an impressive standard features list
-You don’t have a burning desire to drive in fully electric mode
-You think you’ll get a kick out of driving efficiently and growing digital dashboard trees
-You want to pay for the vehicle now and are not considering financing it

The 2011 Toyota Prius is the car for you if:
-You have fuel efficiency and low emissions among your top priorities
-You would prefer a little extra space and performance
-You can live without satellite navigation, a USB port and other practical gadgets
-You are planning to finance it

Peugeot EX1 Concept EV Breaks It’s Own Records In China

Well, this is my first official post with regards to anything Peugeot....
At the 2010 Paris Motor Show French automaker, Peugeot, revealed it’s EX1 concept car in celebration of it’s 200th anniversary. Now the 250 kilowatt car, powered by two electric motors (one per axle) which produces 340 horsepower is breaking records again. Records already set by the EX1 in France back in September.

Chinese blogger, Han Han, and French explorer, Nicolas Vanier, whom set the initial records, were each behind the wheel at China’s Chengdu military airport in the province of Sichuan. But it was Han Han whom broke the September records with new times of 7.0862 seconds in the eighth-mile sprint and 12.6754 seconds in the quarter-mile run.

The EX1 also established an unofficial time of 3.49 seconds in the sprint from 0-to-100 kilometers per hour (0-62 miles per hour). Both record times set by Han Han have been certified and will be reportedly approved by the Chinese Auto Sports Federation, which assures accuracy of the measurements.

The EX1 has come to be a record setting EV.

Toyota is developing magnesium-sulfur battery at Michigan technical center

According to Bloomberg report, Toyota is had at work developing a magnesium battery for their future hybrid models. The magnesium-sulfar alternative to lithium models is being developed at the carmaker’s technical center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while the Toyota research centres in Japan work on other ideas for powering electric cars and hybrids

Going from nickel-metal hydride to lithium ion, you essentially double the energy capacity. Lithium ion theoretically, under ideal conditions, has a capacity of about 2,000 kilowatt hours. That’s still not enough to really make a very competitive battery that’s necessary for future plug-in, electric and hybrid-electric vehicles,” said Jeffrey Makarewicz, the engineer managing the U.S. project.

We shouldn’t expect the new tech to arrive any time soon - lithium-ion batteries aren’t going anywhere as magnesium battery powered vehicles are still a good decade away, Makarewicz said.

Toyota has been the pack leader when it comes to hybrid cars for a long time, but it’s lacking a fully electric model in the range. Nissan and GM have both launched rechargeable vehicles that use lithium-ion packs in the past few months. But Toyota wants its batteries to offer twice as much juice as their competitors.

In the meantime the company is hedging its bets with hybrid models, as Toyota expects “much more modest” demand for battery-only vehicles during the next few years because of power-pack limitations, said Bob Carter, US group vice president. In the same time period Nissan is targeting global annual sales of at least 500,000 battery-powered LEAFs and models from affiliate Renault.

Source;

http://www.autoevolution.com/news/toyota-developing-magnesium-batteries-as-alternative-to-lithium-29613.html

Honda CRZ Japans Car of the Year Award Winner, Memorial Edition

The Honda CR-Z got a lukewarm welcome in the international automotive media, or should I write confused welcome : cool and lame in equal proportions, nice to look at, entertaining on the inside, almost fun to drive… but not quite : it is not easy to give it thumbs up, or thumbs down.

The Japanese press, on the other hand, likes it much. So much that it gave it the coveted Japanese Car Of The Year 2010. That made Honda feel proud, and they decided to make a CR-Z “α Japanese Car Of The Year Memorial Award Edition” which is also a good way to put the CR-Z back in the news as the sales are slowing somewhat.

Besides winning the 7Tune award of the longest model name of the year, this CR-Z features a special “Pearl Deep Sapphire” color and special 16 inches alloys.

In the cockpit the changes are limited to a set of aluminum pedals… and the obligatory commemorative plate, as well as a uprated satnav with hands free calling, and that’s pretty much it.

1000 cars will be produced and sold between January and March of next year, available as a 6 speed manual or CVT transmission, at the hefty price of 2,794,000 yen. It might look a little steep for a slab of blue paint and a self-congratulating plate, but you also get the super-connected top of the range navigation system that a lot of customers put in anyway, so I guess Honda know what they are doing.

What was your Japanese car of the year ?

7tune – The Ultimate JDM Experience
Words – Pierre-Laurent RibaultSource and Photos – Honda

Source;

http://www.7tune.com/news-honda-cr-z-jcoty-memorial-edition/

Honda has Prius in sight

HONDA is embarking on a four-car hybrid program with a range of new petrol/electric models scheduled for launch here before the end of 2012. They started this week with the five-door Insight and continue next year with the CRZ hybrid sports coupe, Jazz hybrid and then the new generation Civic hybrid some time in 2012.

All will feature a similar parallel hybrid powertrain based around a 1.3 or 1.5-litre single cam, petrol four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing coupled to an electric motor for what Honda calls integrated motor assist.

Essentially Honda hybrids run on their petrol engine with assistance when accelerating from an electric motor fed by a battery pack and electric control unit between the rear wheels.

Honda Insight is a direct competitor for Toyota’s slightly larger Prius which has a 1.8-litre petrol engine hooked up to an electric motor. The Prius has 100kW whereas the Insight has 72kW.

It drives the front wheels via a constantly variable transmission and uses regenerative braking and deceleration to charge the battery pack which, in the Insight’s case, is optimized for size and weight tipping the scales at a mere 38kg complete with the electronic control module. Honda says Insight is 37 per cent more economical than a conventional petrol-powered car of similar size generating considerably less emissions rated at 109g/km of carbon dioxide. Insight gets 4.6 litres/100km fuel consumption Honda’s most frugal vehicle.

It’s designed for smooth aerodynamics outside and convenience inside with a family Honda look to the controls based around a convex dash and Civic type wheel.

Seats for five are provided inside with a good size load space expandable after folding the rear seats. The spare is a space saver.

Honda fits Insight with an economy assist system that “coaches” the driver to drive economically through the use of a multi-coloured speedo and a “reward” system. The car can also be set-up for maximum fuel efficiency and low emissions.

Used carefully, up to 20 per cent fuel savings are possible.

Apart from the hybrid powertrain Insight is fairly conventional underneath with a strut front suspension, simple torsion beam rear and electric power steering. The chassis is optimized for strength and crash protection. Insight’s nickel metal hydride battery is designed to last 15 years or 240,000km and a replacement, if needed, costs $1850.

Two models are available; the VTi at $29,990 and the VTi-L at $33,990.

The base model is well equipped, and so is the high grade version which gains auto wipers, 16-inch alloys, fog lights, satellite navigation, rear view camera and other goodies.

Both have a five-star Australasian new car assessment program crash rating and are manufactured in Japan.

On the road, Insight is a bit like driving your average 1.6-litre hatch except that is has start/stop at idle and hardly makes the fuel gauge move. Dynamics are quite sporty so the drive experience is rewarding with reasonable acceleration.

It’s comfortable over a longish time and makes minimal noise or vibration.

Though it’s noble to be “green”, we think Insight buyers are going to appreciate the car’s fuel economy above all else and the fact that it’s many thousands of dollars less than Toyota Prius.

Source;
http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/honda-has-prius-in-sight/

BorgWarner to supply EFR turbochargers to Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid race car

Looks nice!
The EFR turbochargers for three of Honda Performance Development (HPD)’s projects will be supplied by BorgWarner. These projects are the following: the 2011 ALMS LMP2 engine, the CR-Z Racer and the CR-Z hybrid R concept car. With BorgWarner's technology, the cars’ performance will surely be improved but Honda seeks to keep its fuel consumption at a low level. In a statement, BorgWarner revealed that its new turbochargers use last-generation components, including Gamma TiAl (titanium aluminide) turbine wheels, ceramic ball bearings, stainless steel turbine housings and internal wastegates activated by BorgWarner's compact brushless actuator.

The company revealed that twin EFR turbochargers will be fitted on the 2.8-liter V6 LMP2 engine that will make it to the 2011 American Le Mans Series, European Le Mans Series, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Intercontinental Cup competitions. In addition, an EFR turbocharger will be installed by BorgWarner and Honda on a race version of the CR-Z equipped with a 1.5-liter engine.But Honda clarified that it will still attempt to maintain fuel efficiency. BorgWarner believes that the overall power can be boosted by 50%, without any support from the hybrid function. If you want to see this for yourself, the final project can be viewed live in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill from December 3 to 5.

"BorgWarner's EFR turbocharging technology delivers increased thrust capacity, quicker boost response, greater efficiency and improved durability—everything professional race car drivers desire," said Roger Wood, Executive Vice President, BorgWarner. "BorgWarner is pleased to collaborate with Honda Performance Development to put our advanced technologies to the test in the one of the most challenging environments: on the race track."

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/borgwarner-to-supply-efr-turbochargers-to-3-honda-performance-devt-projects/

Honda’s CR-Z hybrid named ‘Car of the Year’

Honda’s newest hybrid model, the CR-Z has been been voted Japan’s Car of the Year by a panel of the country’s top motoring journalists.

Priced from £16,999 in the UK, Honda took the award for its sporty coupe model which has been widely praised for showing a fun side to hybrids and matching performance with economy. The world’s first ‘sports hybrid coupe’ wins the 2010-11 award, having narrowly missed out last year to the Toyota Prius.

The model beat off competition from the BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XJ, Mazda Premacy, Suzuki Swift and Volkswagen Polo among others to claim the prize. Launched earlier this year, the CR-Z combines hybrid technology and stop-start function to achieve impressive fuel economy of 56.5 mpg on a combined cycle while producing just 117g/km of CO2.

Takanobu Ito, President of Honda commented: "We are very proud that the CR-Z has been selected from the strong contenders of new models as the Car of the Year Japan 2010-2011.

“This award shows that the public has accepted Honda’s aspiration to supply exceptional environmental performance in a fun-to-drive hybrid car at an affordable price, as well as Honda’s desire to spread the joy of owning and driving a car."

Source;
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2010/11/11/hondas-cr-z-hybrid-named-car-of-the-year/

Honda Motor to produce gasoline-electric hybrid cars in China

Nov. 8, 2010 (China Knowledge) - Honda Motor Co, a major Japanese car maker, announced last Friday that it plans to start producing gasoline-electric hybrid cars in China in the future, sources reported.

This move is part of the company's plans to explore the Chinese hybrid car market, said Seiji Kuraishi, head of Honda's China operation while attending a groundbreaking ceremony of its fifth joint-venture plant in China. He did not disclose the model of the hybrid cars and the schedule of production.

The Tokyo-based automaker expects its overall annual production capacity in China to reach 890,000 units by 2013.

The new plant, located in Wuhan, Hubei Province, is owned by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co Ltd, a 50:50 joint venture between Honda Motor Co Ltd and China's Dongfeng Motor Groupa class="red" href="http://www.chinaknowledge.com/Finance/StockChart.aspx?Type=HKG&StockCode=0489" target="_blank">0489>, is planned to put into operation in 2012, and will have annual production capacity to 100,000 units in the initial phase, said executives in Honda.

Honda has already started selling the hybrid version of Honda Civic compact car in China that is imported from Japan. The company announced earlier this year that it will launch two hybrid models, the Insight and CR-Z, in China in 2012, and the two models will also be imported from Japan.

Source;
http://www.chinaknowledge.com/Newswires/News_Detail.aspx?type=1&cat=RND&NewsID=%2038463