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

EPA reveals top 10 most fuel-efficient cars since 1984, original Honda Insight takes top honors

Best overall REAL WORLD Gas mileage vehicles since 1984....

Best Overall EPA Rated Gas Mileage vehicles since 1984....

Fuel efficiency has increased dramatically in the last decade, or at least that's what we've been told. So it might come as a surprise to find out that six of the Top Ten EPA-rated Fuel Sippers from 1984 to present were built prior to 2000. Don't believe it? We didn't either, but this info comes straight from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, the authoritative source on this fuel efficiency stuff.

While some current vehicles, such as the 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Honda Insight and the 2006-2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, garnered a spot on the top ten list, it's really older lightweight models like the 1986 Chevy Sprint ER or 1990-1994 Geo Metro XFI that make it obvious efficiency hasn't come as far as we'd like to think. Overall, Honda holds top honors for automakers with five models present on the list, while Toyota's Prius made its mark twice. All of the vehicles on the list run with either 3- or 4-cylinder engines and five out of the top ten rely on hybrid motivation.

The overall winner, the 2000 Honda Insight (pictured above), scores a combined rating of 53 miles per gallon, a number that exceeds even the modern-day Prius by three mpg. In many cases, we've been mistakenly led to believe that buying a new car equates to increased efficiency, but this list clearly shows that many of the relics from days gone by can easily hold their own with the most efficient vehicles made today. However, finding a running example of some of these old fuel sippers may prove impossible and we'd venture to guess that many of them are far from safe to drive by today's standards.

Source

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/epa-announces-top-10-most-fuel-efficient-cars-insight-takes-top/

So You Think Buying Electric Over Gas Will Save You Money? Think Again!

Interesting look at the Cost of Ownership from a different view....
One of the common beliefs surrounding Electric cars is that you don't need to buy fuel anymore and that very quickly negates any added costs to the vehicle. Thus making purchasing an electric car both an emotionally appealing purchase and an economically sensible purchase as well.

Well, why don't we have a look at the numbers and see exactly how long it will take to reimburse these costs.

First, some assumptions
-Gas cost is $3/gallon
-Electricity cost is $0.08/kWh
-Recharging Batteries is 80% efficient

Now the vehicles and their quick specs.
Nissan Leaf $32,750 -> Corrected to $25,280 thanks to the American tax payer
24kWh battery
100 miles per charge
$2200 Quick Charger

Chevrolet Volt~$40,000 -> Corrected to $32,500 again thanks to the American tax payer
16kWh battery -> Run at 8.8kWh to ensure battery life
40 miles per charge
~$2000 Quick Charger (note, prices not revealed, but since it has to store less of a charge I allotted a smaller price tag.)

Tesla Model S$57,400 -> Corrected to $49,900
90kWh battery
300 miles per charge
~$5000 Quick Charger, (price not released but the thing is gonna be massive to store enough energy to charge a ~90kWh battery)

And their competition...

Toyota Prius (Hybrid Competitor)$22,800
50mpg Combined

Ford Fiesta (Economy Car Competitor)$13,320
33mpg Combined

BMW 5 Series (Model S's luxury Competitor)$45,950
25mpg Combined

Now for the calculations...

Nissan Leaf
24kWh/(80% charge efficiency)=30kWh to charge30kWh*($0.08/kWh)=$2.40 Per Charge$2.40/(100 miles)=$0.024 Per Mile

Chevrolet Volt8.8kWh/(80% charge efficiency)=11kWh to charge11kWh*($0.08/kWh)=$0.88 Per Charge$0.44/(40 miles)=$0.022 Per Mile

Tesla Model S90kWh/(80% charge efficiency)=112.5kWh to charge112.5kWh*($0.08/kWh)=$9 Per Charge$9/(300 miles)=$0.030 Per Mile

Toyota Prius($3/gallon)/(50miles/gallon)=$0.060 Per Mile

Ford Fiesta($3/gallon)/(33miles/gallon)=$0.091 Per Mile

BMW 5 Series($3/gallon)/(25miles/gallon)=$0.12 Per Mile

Clearly the Electric cars do hold an advantage for every mile they drive, but how long will it take to get their fuel economy advantage back?

Check The Graph Abovre.

Things to note from it
-The quickest payback is the Tesla when compared to the 5 series, but this only happens after a whopping 100,000 miles.
-The Nissan Leaf beats the Prius in monetary terms after about 140,000 miles.
-Then the Nissan Leaf beats the Fiesta after a about 250,000 miles.
-The Chevy Volt, Ford Fiesta, and Toyota Prius, all hit the same cost to own just over 300,000 miles.

Unfortunately, the jury is still out on the lifespan of these new batteries. But from my perspective, electric cars are feasible this day and age, but they still haven't beaten good old fashioned gasoline.

Source;
http://www.autospies.com/news/So-You-Think-Buying-Electric-Over-Gas-Will-Save-You-Money-Think-Again-55024/

Honda Boss: Next Insight Will Beat Prius MPG

Takanobu Ito, Honda’s president, said last week that the company has grown “complacent,” and specifically pointed to its poor performance with hybrids as a key sign of the problem. To correct the situation, Ito is pushing his engineers to have the next-generation Honda Insight beat the Toyota Prius’s fuel economy numbers—and to deliver it as soon as possible.

"I'm not satisfied," Ito told Automotive News. In the first quarter of 2010, Honda’s share of the US market fell to 10.1 percent—from 10.5 percent a year earlier.

In concept, the Honda Insight was intended to compete as a more affordable alternative to Toyota Prius. But the price of the Insight, typically in the low $20,000s, is not the much cheaper than a Prius—and the fuel economy is considerably lower. The Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, compared with the Insight's 40/43. The copycat shape of the Insight added to the negative comparison with the Toyota Prius, which has outsold the Insight by about 5 to 1.

In addition to trying to beat the mileage of the Prius, Ito wants to roll out a new two-motor hybrid technical design—one motor employed to increase engine power and another to solely charge the battery. The new system is also likely to switch to lithium ion batteries from the nickel metal hydride technology currently in use. Honda will apply its new hybrid approach to a minivan and in Acura models. A rework of Honda's hybrid system could potentially create a technology pathway to plug-in hybrids.

More Lessons to be Learned
Honda’s new and improved hybrids are not expected until about 2012. Meanwhile, the company will introduce the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe this summer. Unfortunately, the small hybrid could be another case of neither-here-nor-there, at least according to Graham at Fifth Gear, the British television show. The CR-Z looks sporty enough, but at 122 horsepower, it's “not blessed with red-blooded speed,” said Graham. At the same time, the fuel economy averaging at 37 mpg is only “reasonable” and “doesn’t sound that good next to a Prius.”

Yet, Honda engineers and designers should take heed to Fifth Gear’s positive feedback on features that could be applied to future hybrids. Graham calls the interior “mad and brilliant,” and praises the availability of a six-speed manual gearbox—a first for hybrids. Given the CR-Z’s moderate level of high-speed handling and cool interactive dashboard features, the reviewer said, “You can’t accuse it of being dull.” Pricing in the US for the CR-Z has not yet been announced.

Source;
http://www.hybridcars.com/news/honda-boss-next-generation-insight-will-beat-prius-mpg-27839.html

Honda Plans Lithium-Ion Civic to Narrow Toyota’s Lead

March 18 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest carmaker, plans to introduce lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid cars as it struggles to narrow Toyota Motor Corp.’s lead in sales of gasoline-electric cars.

Honda plans to use lithium-ion batteries in its Civic compact “within the next two to three years,” as well as in its Acura luxury cars and other models, Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo said in an interview.

Honda has failed to match Toyota’s success with hybrids, led by the top-selling Prius. Lithium-ion batteries can store as much as twice the energy of nickel-metal hydride batteries that currently power the Prius and Honda’s Civic, Insight and CR-Z hybrid models, said Takeshi Miyao, a supply-chain analyst for auto consultant Carnorama in Tokyo.

“Lithium will become a lot more prevalent,” Kondo said in a March 16 interview at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo. The lithium-ion batteries will be produced with Honda’s joint- venture partner, Kyoto-based GS Yuasa Corp., starting in the second half of this year, he said. The venture is 49 percent owned by Honda.

Honda fell 1.5 percent to close at 3,200 yen in Tokyo trading.

“With lithium-ion being used in upcoming electric cars, Honda may be switching to the new technology to compete,” said Mitsuru Kurokawa, an analyst at consulting company IHS Global Insight in Tokyo.

Insight Misses
Honda’s Insight hybrid fell short of the company’s global sales target of 200,000 units in the first year after its February 2009 debut. Deliveries totaled 143,015 as of last month.

Toyota’s third-generation Prius replaced the Insight as the best-selling car in Japan after its release last year. Toyota sold 27,008 Priuses in February, compared with Honda’s 3,517 Insight deliveries.

In the U.S., Toyota sold 7,968 Prius cars last month, compared with Honda’s 2,014 Insights. The hybrid version of the Civic sold 346 units. The larger Prius is more fuel-efficient than Honda’s hybrids, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.

Honda Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito said in July the carmaker is developing a new hybrid system to be installed in mid- to large-size vehicles. The company will also add a hybrid version of its Fit subcompact later this year.

Cost Savings
While similarly sized lithium-ion batteries may cost 30 percent more than nickel-metal hydride cells, carmakers may be able to find savings by using smaller packs because of their higher energy density, Miyao at Carnorama said.

Lithium-ion costs will also decline as technical advances are made and production increases, according to research company Fuji Keizai Group.

Nissan Motor Co. will roll out its first lithium-ion battery-powered car, the Leaf, this year in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn predicts electric vehicles will account for 10 percent of global car sales by 2020.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.’s Subaru unit and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. introduced electric vehicles last year. Mitsubishi will start delivering its 4.6 million yen ($51,000) i-MiEV to retail customers next month.

Toyota plans to begin retail sales of a lithium-ion powered plug-in Prius in two years. The company will also start selling a short-distance all-electric car in 2012.

Separately, Honda’s Kondo said he expects overall vehicle demand in the U.S. to rise to between 11 million and 12 million units this year from 10.4 million in 2009. That’s still lower than the 13.2 million sold in 2008.

Honda’s U.S. sales in the first 10 days of March were up almost 20 percent from a year earlier, Kondo said. For the full month, sales will likely exceed the 13 percent growth posted in February, he said.

Source;
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-18/honda-plans-lithium-ion-civic-to-narrow-toyota-s-lead-update1-.html

Report: Honda's large-car hybrid system getting closer

Honda hasn't shared similar success with its various hybrid automobiles as cross-town rival Toyota, despite the fact that the two Japanese automakers introduced their first gasoline/electric models around the same time. The reasons for the sales disparity are many and varied, and at least due in part to the design of Honda Integrated Motor Assist drivetrain, which doesn't quite match the level of sophistication and fuel mileage of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive.

Still, Honda is pushing forward with the next generation of its IMA system, and it will be added to larger, thirstier models within the next three years or so. The last time Honda put a hybrid powertrain in a larger car, the results were more than a little disappointing with the Accord Hybrid failing to meet sales or efficiency expectations. As such, it will be interesting to see how Honda improves the upsized hybrid system and whether it will be enough to compete with the likes of Toyota, Ford and General Motors.

In somewhat related news, Honda is apparently still working on diesel engines, though apparently not for the U.S. market. According to Tomohiko Kawanabe, chief operating officer of automobile research and development at Honda, "If you want to compete in markets like India, and also Europe, (a small diesel engine) is necessary."

Source;

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/19/report-hondas-large-car-hybrid-system-getting-closer/

Auto Tech: What is a Hybrid?

Here's a interesting read....
With all the interest in electric, plug-in electric, hybrid electric and hybrid vehicles, perhaps it is time to take a step back and just look what all these names mean. They are not all the same, yet some different technologies share the same names and sometimes similar technologies use different names. A lot of it seems to depend on the marketing the manufacturers are using for a vehicle, so let’s try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding types of systems and terminology when it comes to alternate energy sources for vehicles.

First, the term Hybrid can have several meanings. It could even be a conventional engine that uses two different types of fuel such as gasoline and natural gas, although popular use lately has been referring to these as bi-fuel vehicles. When most people hear “hybrid”, they think of gasoline/electric combined powertrains – Toyota’s Prius is the most recognizable symbol of this technology.

You may here the term “mild hybrid”. This was made popular with the introduction of the Saturn Vue hybrid and is now used on the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. This system uses an electric motor/generator that bolts onto the engine in place of the conventional charging system. During acceleration, the unit adds power to the conventional gas engine and during deceleration, the unit becomes a drivetrain-driven generator to recharge the auxiliary battery pack. Much of the fuel economy savings from any hybrid system come from the energy during vehicle deceleration by the generator unit.

Another major feature of hybrids is their ability to stop the gasoline engine while the vehicle is sitting at a stop light and then restart it again instantly when the driver wants to move the vehicle. Even the mild hybrids have this capability to save fuel.

Some vehicles use what may be called a “medium” hybrid system, such as the Honda Civic or Insight, although you won’t hear Honda referring to it with that term. Honda calls it an Integrated Motor Assist, where the electric motor is used in place of the flywheel in a conventional transmission. This electric motor can assist the gas engine during acceleration and recharge the battery pack during deceleration just like the mild hybrids but does so much more efficiently and provides more power. Honda has made many improvements on the system since it was first introduced over a decade ago and when combined with intelligent valve control systems, is now almost equal to what we traditionally call a “full hybrid.”

Toyota’s Prius is the best known example of a “full hybrid,” a vehicle that can operate on electric power alone for some distance. It does this with a transmission that contains two motor/generator units. The design of this transmission allows the engine to remain off while one electric motor moves the vehicle. If you need more power or the battery charge is low, the gas engine will also start up to work in combination with the electric motors. Today several vehicles use a hybrid system that will operate on electric power by itself. Toyota has the Prius, Camry and Highlander, while Lexus has a full range of hybrids. Ford has the Escape and Fusion Hybrids, while GM and Dodge are using a similar system in rear wheel drive configuration in their hybrid sport utilities. GM also is using it in pickup models.

The yet to be produced Chevy Volt is also a hybrid but with a different concept. This vehicle operates on electric power all the time. When the battery pack becomes discharged, a small gas engine turns on to operate a generator, which recharges the battery pack. The gas engine never directly powers the wheels, yet this vehicle is also considered a hybrid.

Plug-in Hybrid is a new term, where the vehicle can be recharged by plugging it in to either 110-volt of 220-volt electrical outlets. This type of vehicle will operate on electric power most of the time but could still use a gas engine to supply energy for extended trips.

Electric vehicles are just what the name sounds like. They operate on Electric power only. Golf carts are a popular example, but several manufacturers are introducing electric passenger vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Toyota has announced plans for a fully electric small car similar to the FT-EV2 concept car will go on sale in 2012. Recharging these vehicles at home or work will become common practice, although already MacDonalds has announce they will offer free-to-use charging stations at some facilities and already opened the first one this past July in the U.S. In Japan, they are already working on infrastructure for electric car battery swap stations, where you pull in and exchange your leased battery for another in less time than it takes to fill a conventional car with gasoline.

While conventional gasoline powered vehicles will still dominate the marketplace for a long time, there are alternatives on the marketplace, and that is good for the future of the automobile.

Jim Kerr is a master automotive mechanic and teaches automotive technology. He has been writing automotive articles for fifteen years for newspapers and magazines in Canada and the United States, and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/01/27/auto-tech-what-is-a-hybrid.htm

Report: Honda will develop a hybrid that bests Prius' mpg rating

Honda is planning on taking on the Toyota Prius. Again. Even though sales figures for 2009 proved that people liked Toyota's hybrid more than Honda's, the company is not going to just roll over. There's a new ad campaign for the Insight planned, but Honda is looking a bit further down the line for revenge. CEO Takanobu Ito reportedly told his research and development team to come up with a hybrid that has a better miles per gallon rating than the world's most popular hybrid. Whether this is a next-gen Insight or a totally different hybrid has not yet been decided, but it's going to need a major boost to knock the leader off its perch.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/24/report-honda-will-develop-a-hybrid-that-bests-prius-mpg-rating/

Silent But Deadly: The Next Generation JDM Hybrids

The next generation of hybrid cars are officially out and as expected the Japanese tuning scene is already hard at work to stylize and tune them! The lead off image features my favorite design of the bunch by Exclusive Zeus. I really like how the painted the grill and center area of the bumper in black, it really helps give an aggressive front profile. Check out the rear under spoiler, its pretty damn nice! Very sporty for an Insight! The usual acts are getting back into the game as well. Kenstyle has two new kits coming out, one for the Insight and one for the Prius. Continue reading at the Real JDM.

Source;
http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/07/31/silent-but-deadly-the-next-generation-jdm-hybrids/

Honda throws down green car gauntlet

Honda Motor is stepping up its “green car” challenge to Toyota, adding two petrol-electric hybrid vehicles to its line-up next year, including a hybrid version of its top-selling Fit sub-compact.

Takanobu Ito, Honda’s chief executive, said the Japanese carmaker was also developing a more powerful hybrid drive for larger vehicles that will use two electric motors alongside its petrol engine, the same configuration used in Toyota’s dominant Prius hybrid.

Honda has emerged this year as Toyota’s most serious rival in low-emission vehicles. Its Insight hybrid, revived after a three-year production hiatus, has been a hit, particularly in Japan, where it was briefly the best-selling full-sized car before being eclipsed by the newest version of the Prius.

Honda’s decision to launch a hybrid version of the Fit extends its strategy of competing primarily on price.

The car, which is called the Jazz in Europe and some other regions, will use the Insight’s single-motor hybrid drive, which is cheaper to build but less powerful or fuel-efficient than Toyota’s two-motor system.

The Fit is likely to be the most affordable hybrid yet, a distinction now held by the Y1.89m ($20,400) Insight. Mr Ito said Honda would begin selling the car in Japan by the end of next year, but did not give a timetable for an international roll-out.

Honda’s other planned hybrid offering, the small CR-Z concept sports car, is to go on sale domestically in February and will also use the single-motor drive.

Honda is hoping to increase hybrid sales to 500,000 hybrid cars a year early in the next decade, equivalent to 15 per cent of its current sales volume.

“We want to transfer the Insight’s affordable hybrid technology to other models as quickly as possible,” said Mr Ito, who took over as Honda chief executive last month.

Toyota plans to launch four new hybrids in Japan and three overseas next March, and has said it wants to offer hybrid versions of all its cars by 2020.

Honda has also been working on “clean diesel” systems and has built a prototype hydrogen fuel-cell car, the FCX Clarity, which it began leasing to a handful of customers in California last year.
Mr Ito suggested Honda was now more firmly focused on hybrids, saying it was “struggling” to make heavy diesel engines cheaply and that the infrastructure needed to process and distribute hydrogen “isn’t moving forward”.

He said he wanted to turn Honda, whose earnings have held up better than most carmakers’ during the slump, into an even leaner and more flexible operation. Honda will use more locally made parts in cars it sells in China, India and other emerging markets, he said, in order to keep costs down and compete with local rivals, and will reduce the number of domestic-only models it sells in Japan.

Source;
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/42f0aa7a-6f99-11de-bfc5-00144feabdc0.html

Prius vs. Insight: A clash of corporate cultures

TOKYO--Few cars better embody the wide divergence in the corporate cultures of Toyota and Honda than these two hybrids.

In one corner is the Honda Insight--a case study in utilitarian expedience. It's powered by a simplified four-banger with an electric motor adding just enough oomph to cut down on trips to the pump. It sports a plasticy, no-frills interior and poaches parts from sister models.
In the other corner is the redesigned Toyota Prius--a paragon of engineering excellence. It pushes the envelope with an ingenious planetary gear transmission, outstanding fuel economy and snazzy options such as solar panels. The car that made hybrids famous carries a first-class sticker price to match.

For better and worse, the redesigned Prius and Insight exude the distinct corporate identities that gave them birth. The result is as much a battle of the automakers' business philosophies as a two-car rivalry.

Faultless Toyota Motors reached new technological heights but drifted into cost creep, a risky trend in a recession. Penny-pinching Honda Motors did a lot with a little, churning out a low-budget hybrid that can't match its rival's specifications.

Pricing policies
The redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius goes on sale in the United States in late May with a base price of $22,750, including freight. The price of the top-trim Prius will be $28,020. Later this year, a stripped-down base model will be offered for $21,750.

The Insight, by contrast, starts at $20,470 and climbs to $23,000, fully loaded. Toyota's aggressive pricing of the third-generation Prius may pressure margins again. Says Takaki Nakanishi, an auto industry analyst at JPMorgan: "It will be difficult to make a profit at the lower grades."

Honda and Toyota share a reverence for the principles of kaizen--or continuous improvement--and just-in-time manufacturing. But their subtle differences are best summed in Honda's pragmatism versus Toyota's perfectionism.

Pragmatism versus perfectionism
"Honda always has to prioritize what they can and can't do because they just don't have the resources of Toyota," says Tatsuo Yoshida, an auto analyst with UBS Securities in Tokyo. "If they tried to follow Toyota on development, it would be like committing suicide."
Take mileage. Honda was satisfied with a respectable EPA rating of 40 mpg city/43 highway for the Insight. But the Prius reached for and attained an eye-popping 51/48.

Honda got there by simplifying an existing 1.3-liter engine to two modes of variable valve timing, instead of three. It chose a one-clutch drivetrain instead of a two-clutch version. That reduced the efficiency of regenerative braking but was cheaper.

The lowest trim-level Insight lacks such staples as cruise control and stability control.
In aerodynamics, the Insight has a 0.28 drag coefficient. Good, but not even as good as the Honda Civic's. Yasunari Seki, the chief engineer, was ordered to poach body structure from the Honda Fit compact, a move that limited aerodynamic improvements and also resulted in ho-hum styling. In fact, attention to styling is such an afterthought at Honda that the company doesn't have a companywide design chief.

The pursuit of expedience is echoed in Honda's aversion to full-sized trucks and V-8 Acura offerings. Honda can't be all things to all people so it compromises with the car-based Honda Ridgeline and a V-6 Acura. They may not be best-in-class, but they leverage Honda's strengths.
"We believe it fits with the culture of our company, where we want to build environmentally friendly cars that get good gas mileage," says Dick Colliver, who retired recently as executive vice president of sales at American Honda Motors "You don't have to have a V-8 engine to be Tier 1."

High-tech luxury
Meanwhile, Akihiko Otsuka, Toyota's chief engineer, was striving to make his Prius the world's greenest car. The solution was cutting-edge.

Otsuka used a bigger engine to get better mileage at high speeds. He eliminated drive belts for the air conditioning compressor and water pump, making them electric. He devised an exhaust-heat recapture system to help keep the engine operating at optimal efficiency.

Otsuka also improved drag to 0.25, from 0.26. The new Prius was the world's slickest production car until Mercedes unveiled its new E-class coupe at 0.24.

The Prius brims with luxury features, most famously the gimmicky solar panels whose sole task is to run a ventilation system to cool the cabin when the car is parked in the sun.

Toyota's approach mirrors the whole-hog ambition that thrust it into the full-sized pickup segment with the Toyota Tundra and into premium sedans with the Lexus lineup.

"It's part of Toyota culture to always improve on what it's already done," says Chris Richter, of CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. "It wants to position itself as higher end."

Honda re-engineered the Insight's hybrid system to cost 40 percent less than the previous-generation hybrid drivetrain, used in the current Civic Hybrid. Toyota was able to shave 35 percent off the costs of the current generation. But Otsuka missed the internal target of halving the cost.

(Source: Automotive News)

UK Honda Insight 'a hit'

The Honda Insight is outselling its competitors in the green car market, according to its makers.

The vehicle went on sale earlier this month and has shifted 229 units in Britain.

Meanwhile, in the same time, Toyota has sold 198 of its Prius models, while Honda’s Civic Hybrid has been snapped up by 79 buyers.

John Kingston, the company’s environmental and government affairs manager, comments that the car is "a hit with cost-savvy consumers looking for a cleaner car that’s more affordable".

He adds: "More and more people want a car that makes sound financial sense, especially in the current economic climate, and the Insight offers numerous running cost savings."

Mr Kingston explains that these benefits include reduced road tax and greater fuel economy.

Source;
http://www.eta.co.uk/node/12061

Hybrid War Heats Up in Japan

Honda's new Insight went on sale in hits homeland about a week ago, and already it's under attack. Before it hit the market, there were rumors that it would be much cheaper than the Toyota Prius. Toyota, however, has other ideas. The Insight is 1.89 million yen ($18,853 USD) in Japan, which is the same price as the current Prius. Toyota then priced the coming third generation Prius at 2.05 million yen ($20,437 USD) to keep it close to the Insight. Then Toyota said it would keep the second-generation Prius on sale in Japan, and there have been rumors that Toyota is also working on a cheaper Prius costing around 30% less than the current one. That would pit three Prius models against one Insight, all similarly priced.

In response, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui said Honda will not lower the price of the Insight. Said Fukui, "I think that is something we can't do right now. We have to carefully examine the new Prius to know whether it is necessary for us to take certain measures. We have to think about the balance between cost and effectiveness." If Toyota does come out with three Japan-market Priuses, Honda will be thinking long and hard about those issues.

Unlike Toyota, though, Honda does have the CR-Z hybrid coming, which could give Honda some sporting hybrid credentials that Toyota doesn't yet have. Honda also said it is expanding its research and hybrid push into large sedans instead of counting on clean diesels for its bigger cars. Fukui feels that clean diesels are too expensive to develop be practical.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/03/honda-ceo-says-insight-price-wont-be-reduced-further/

Honda: Would Mull Counter Measures Vs Cheaper Toyota Prius

SUZUKA, Japan (Dow Jones)--Honda Motor Co. (7267.TO) would have to consider counter measures if Toyota Motor Corp. (7203.TO) sets competitive prices for its Prius hybrid as recently reported, a company executive said Wednesday.

Honda launched its new Insight hybrid in February in Japan and is rolling out the model in the U.S. and other overseas countries.

The company has received orders that were more than triple the hybrid's monthly sales target a month after its Feb. 6 launch in Japan as the prices, which are lower than those of the current Prius, attracted customers looking for cheaper gas-sipping car amid the economic slump.

Yasuhiro Wada, a Honda general manager, said the company continues to receive solid orders for the Insight. As of Monday, orders for the new hybrid totaled more than 21,000 in Japan, more than four times the model's monthly sales target of 5,000.

Honda set the lower limit on Insight's prices at Y1.89 million, about 20% cheaper than the bottom price of the current Prius.

The Nikkei recently reported that Toyota will set the prices of the new Prius at Y2.05 million-Y2.50 million, lower than the current Y2.33 million-Y3.34 million and when it launches the new model it will also continue to sell the current one by lowering the bottom price to Y1.89 million to compete with the Insight.

"If they could do that, it would be a threat," Norio Ano, the head of the Insight product project, said at a press conference.

"We would have to consider something" to stay competitive, he said.
He added that Honda executives would order Ano and his team members to further cut costs if the report is true.

Toyota has said nothing has been decided on the prices of the new Prius and whether to continue to sell the current Prius.

-By Yoshio Takahashi, Dow Jones Newswires; 813-5255-2929; yoshio.takahashi@dowjones.com

Source;
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090325-704087.html

MotorTrend: Comparison: 2010 Honda Insight vs 2010 Toyota Prius

Here's a little snipet of the article, btw, it's a really good read even if you're not thinking of buying one.

"But which is the more important hybrid? That leads us back to the issue of price. Although the Prius will eventually entail such far-reaching technologies as lithium batteries and possibly plug-in capability, that's in the future. Not now. And when these two go on sale, the price spread is likely to be at least $3000.

Starting at just over $20,000, the 41-mpg Insight is the first hybrid that's simultaneously within the reach of just about every pocketbook and also a solid business proposition for its builder. Amazingly, it delivers nearly identical mileage as the current Prius at about 85 percent of the price. The incremental value of 50 mpg versus 41 mpg -- whether you judge it by gasoline cost, greater national security, or CO2 reduction -- seems dwarfed by the benefit of its potential sales volume. It's a milestone that can't go unnoticed.

1ST PLACE HONDA INSIGHT

An imperfect car, loud and coarse-riding, and also perhaps the most important hybrid ever built.

2ND PLACE TOYOTA PRIUS

The world's best hybrid has become more solid and refined, yet has somehow upped its fuel economy as well. It's an engineering triumph for the textbooks.

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0905_2010_honda_insight_vs_2010_toyota_prius_comparison_test/index.html

Toyota Stages MR2 Comeback As The Prius Coupe But Can It Rekindle The Spirit?

Still having problems loading images right now. New MR2? That would be nice!

Toyota is developing an exciting performance hybrid which would revive the much loved sports car and rival Honda’s upcoming CR-Z. It’s set to swap its predecessor’s roadster shape for that of a compact coupé. Under the skin will be a rear-wheel-drive chassis, a paddleshift gearbox and a specially developed version of the Prius’s hybrid powertrain.

The new model will boast an amazing blend of performance, economy and low emissions, all wrapped up in a stunning body. It would be a fitting successor to the MR2, which ceased production in 2007.

Follow the link for a picture;
http://www.autospies.com/news/Toyota-Stages-MR2-Comeback-As-The-Prius-Coupe-But-Can-It-Rekindle-The-Spirit-42058/

Honda says to raise Insight output as orders climb

TOKYO, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co plans to produce more of its new Insight hybrid cars from April, having received orders for almost three times its monthly sales target for the gasoline-electric model it launched on Feb. 6 in Japan, a top official said on Tuesday.

Honda plans to launch the Insight, its first attempt at a low-cost, high-volume hybrid, in Europe and the United States over the next two months.

Japan's No.2 automaker is targeting global sales of 200,000 Insights a year, with half of that in North America and 60,000 in Japan, hoping to rival Toyota Motor Corp as a leader in the hybrid segment.

"The response has been overwhelming," Hiroshi Kobayashi, deputy chief operating officer for Honda's domestic operations, told a small group of reporters at a test-drive event in Tokyo.

"We will have to increase production plans," he said. But he stopped short of saying how much it could expand output given possible supply limits for hybrid components.

Customers in Japan will have to wait at least one month for an Insight if they ordered one today, he said.
Honda is positioning the Insight as its fifth "global car" alongside the Civic, Accord, Fit and CR-V cars, which collectively make up about two-thirds of its car sales.

Kobayashi said half of the Insight sales so far were to customers switching from other brands, including premium import brands and Toyota's hybrid leader, the Prius. The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen ($19,980) in Japan.

"What's unique about the Insight is that we're attracting a broad range of drivers, from (660cc) minivehicles to sedans to minivans," Kobayashi said.

While cautioning that the Japanese car market remained tough -- total vehicle sales in January fell 20 percent from the year before -- Kobayashi said Honda aimed to sell as many cars in the business year from April as the 570,000 to 580,000 units he expected it to sell in the 12 months to March 31.

Toyota is due to launch its third-generation Prius in May, pricing it slightly higher than the current version, which starts at 2.3 million yen in Japan. Local media have reported widely that Toyota would take the unusual step of selling the current model at a discount alongside the new version to compete with Honda's Insight.

A Toyota spokeswoman said the company had made no such decision yet. ($1=94.59 Yen) (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Hugh Lawson)

Source;
http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUKT37087520090224?sp=true

Honda Insight handily outselling projections in Japan

So far, all indications are that Honda has got a hit on its corporate hands in the form of its new Insight hybrid hatchback. The automaker had been hoping to get 5,000 orders per month in its home market of Japan for the new Insight, but that sales target was eclipsed after just over a week on the market. According to Honda, there were already 5,000 advance requests for the car before it was even available to order.

This early sales success may bode well for Honda, which will be launching the new Insight in Europe in March and in the United States in April. When it finally does reach dealerships, the Insight will cost well under $20K, undercutting its primary competitor, the Toyota Prius, by a few thousand dollars.

It's no secret that we're in a tough market and it could have been a case of very bad timing to launch a brand new global vehicle line. Fortunately for Honda, this seems like the right car at the right time. It will certainly be interesting to watch Toyota roll out its new 2010 Prius hybrid later this year.

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/17/honda-insight-handily-outselling-projections-in-japan/

National Post Comparison: Honda Fit vs. Toyota Prius

Here's an odd comparison, but I guess it is fitting, considering the FIT VS the Civic Hybrid has been done....
Fun, fuel-efficient foes
Patricia Cancilla, National Post
Published: Friday, February 06, 2009

I must admit I was amazed by the fuel efficiency of the Toyota Prius: After nearly 600 kilometres of mostly city driving, I averaged an incredible 4.1 litres per 100 km, just less fuel efficient than the 4.0 L/100 km city fuel economy Transport Canada lists for the hybrid

It's not that I doubted the numbers; I just didn't think I could manage such a feat based on my conversations with my colleagues -- and my inability to drive very, ahem, fuel efficiently. One colleague warned me that I would have to stay at a speed limit of around 50 kilometres an hour, necessary, he said, to keep the engine from switching from electric to gas. Another bet I couldn't do it --and he was right for the most part.

My hypermiling ways lasted all of one day. I hate being the slowest person on the road (although, believe me, in Toronto, I wasn't the slowest --but that's another story). It's just not in my nature to drive conservatively. So, I was quite surprised that, after more than 100 km of lead-footing it around the city, I still managed to keep all the little white squares on the fuel gauge intact. Same thing at 200. It wasn't until I was well past the 300-km mark that the squares started disappearing. Still, after driving the Prius for close to 600 km at my normal speed (translation: just fast enough not to get caught), I managed to use only half a tank of gas

I thought I could get decent fuel economy with the Honda Fit, since it, too, has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder gas engine, and I did. Of course, it wasn't even close to the Prius's numbers, given that the Fit does not have an additional electric motor, but I still got a respectable 7.5 L/100 km.

The thing is I enjoyed driving the Fit a lot more than the Prius. I have nothing against the Prius -- it's an extremely fuel-efficient car and perfect for my mostly city driving requirements. Like the Fit, it's a roomy hatch with tons of storage space -- the Prius has 16.1 cubic feet; the Fit 21 cu. ft. Unlike the Fit, the Prius has a backup camera, which made it very easy to park on narrow city streets and crowded parking lots. With a combined output of 110 horsepower, it's not a rocket -- but neither is the 117-hp Fit. But the Prius lacked a certain fun factor compared with the Fit. Like yet another colleague said to me: "You don't drive the Prius; the Prius drives you." It's a very apt description of my experience.

Granted, I'm sure some of the clunkiness in the handling and cornering departments was due to the Prius's electric motor and battery, which make the hybrid almost 200 kilograms heavier than the Fit Sport (1,335 kg compared with 1,147 kg).

I admit I may also have driven a little slower in the Prius not because I was hypermiling but because I was transfixed by the fuel economy/ engine usage gauge. I enjoyed watching the electric motor in action and I used the regenerative braking on hills and, perhaps, as a result, I did stay within the speed limit, if not intentionally. That nifty gauge spoiled me for other hybrids because I expected the same thing in the Honda Civic Hybrid I drove next; I was disappointed when it wasn't there.

I was also a little more relaxed in the Prius than in the Fit, which may have contributed to the softer pressure on the accelerator. The cynic in me might say it was the lack of excitement in the Prius compared with the Fit that led to my calmness. The tree hugger in me would say it was the self-satisfaction I felt from doing my part to help save the planet that contributed to my docile demean-our. But the realist in me admits it was simply the peace and quiet that soothed me, even when some idiot cut me off or proceeded to drive directly beside me to get a better look at the hybrid.

Even when running on gas, the Prius is completely silent. For the first few days after I picked it up, I had to keep checking to make sure I had turned off the engine because I couldn't tell the difference between when it was on or off. And because I used the push-button start (which comes standard), I remained unconvinced even with the keys in my hand. It was a little disconcerting at first, but I learned to enjoy the silence and even drove with the radio off, which was even more relaxing.

So, on the Prius's plus side, we have incredible fuel economy, a silent ride, a small carbon footprint (a reduction in smog-forming emissions of up to 70% compared with a conventionally powered vehicle, according to Toyota), plenty of room for the driver, passengers and cargo, a fun-to-look-at fuel economy and gas/electric motor usage display, a backup camera, a comfortable ride and a long list of safety features. On the downside, it still looks a little funny, even though it's not as weird-looking as when it first came out in 1997. It also feels a little heavy when cornering and isn't sporty at all. At a base price of $29,500, it's also on the expensive side, as most hybrids tend to be.

On the Fit's plus side, we have respectable fuel economy, a smallish carbon footprint, a lot of room for the driver, passengers and cargo, a comfortable ride, a long list of safety features and an attractive design, which I like better than the original Fit's boxy look. It also feels sporty and is a lot of fun to drive. And, of course, there's the price--$14,980. One could buy two Fits for the price of one Prius. And, considering the tough economic times and the cheapest gas prices we've seen in a while, the Fit makes a lot of sense.

If you're looking for outstanding fuel economy, the Prius wins hands down. If you want a fun ride at a cheap price, the Fit is your top choice. It was mine.

Source;
http://www.nationalpost.com/cars/story.html?id=1258570

Honda Insight VS Toyota Prius; Jalopnik's Survey

Here's a snapshot of the results as of Oct. 02, 2008 AM.

"OK folks, now that the new Prius-fighter from Honda has officially seen the sheet dropped at the Paris Motor Show early this morning, it's time to ask the important question — which one will win? In one corner, you've got the long-time champion of the hybrid arena. In the other, the pugnacious new Honda Insight, determined to beat the Prius in at least one chart — price. With that, here's the question:" (See the above picture)

Now, before all of us Honda fans get too excited, this is only a survey, there have been many a war won on paper and lost on the battle field - both cars are good/going to be good.

Here's a link to the survey, if you'd like to partake;

http://jalopnik.com/5058334/jalopnik-paris-pissing-match-honda-insight-vs-toyota-prius