Honda readies a new hybrid car

jkash · 01-08-2007, 10:04 PM

Honda Primes the Pump
Taking aim at Toyota, Honda readies a new hybrid car for the mainstream market.

Falling gas prices have taken some of the steam out of hybrid car sales lately. But you wouldn’t know that from all the buzz about hybrids at the opening day of the Detroit Auto Show. First, GM introduced its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid concept. And then Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed in an interview with NEWSWEEK that his company is developing an all-new small hybrid car that he described as a five-passenger version of its quirky two-seater, the Insight gas-electric car. But unlike the Insight, which sells in small numbers to die-hard greenies, Fukui says this new Honda hybrid will be aimed at mainstream car buyers when it hits the road in two or three years. “Hybrid technology is very strong and proven technology for improving fuel economy,” he says. “And we won’t relent in our efforts.”

Read more.

Godiva · 01-08-2007, 10:38 PM

Five passenger version of the Insight? Now you're talking. It's too bad they couldn't keep the Insight in production since the new car won't be ready until 2009-10.

And like the Prius, it will be built from the ground up. Now that's the way to build a hybrid.

**TonyPSchaefer** · 01-08-2007, 11:28 PM

Add another mid sized, every-man hybrid to the population. It will take time, but eventually there will be as many hybrid sedans on the road as there are ICE.

burritos · 01-08-2007, 11:53 PM

pictures?

**Tideland Prius** · 01-09-2007, 12:57 AM

Ahh, so Honda finally (and officially) mention the new hybrid. Now, is it still going to be Fit-sized as originally rumoured?

Godiva · 01-09-2007, 02:00 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jan 9 2007, 12:57 AM) [snapback]372930[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Ahh, so Honda finally (and officially) mention the new hybrid. Now, is it still going to be Fit-sized as originally rumoured?
[/b]

Yes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TonyPSchaefer @ Jan 8 2007, 11:28 PM) [snapback]372895[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Add another mid sized, every-man hybrid to the population. It will take time, but eventually there will be as many hybrid sedans on the road as there are ICE.
[/b]

If you had read the article:

"How low will the price be? Honda won’t say. But the company offers a clue in how it describes the car. Code-named “Global Small Hybrid,” Honda’s new car will be about the size of its tiny Fit model, which is positioned just below the subcompact Civic in size and price. The Fit starts just under $14,000. So even with the $3,000 or $4,000 premium you pay for a hybrid, this new Honda could be priced below $20,000, potentially making it the least expensive hybrid on the market."

So, no. Not another mid-sized everyman hybrid. A small econo-hybrid. How you'll fit five adults into it, I'm not sure. Maybe they need to work for Barnum and Bailey.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-09-2007, 02:48 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jan 8 2007, 11:00 PM) [snapback]372941[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Yes.
If you had read the article:

"How low will the price be? Honda won’t say. But the company offers a clue in how it describes the car. Code-named “Global Small Hybrid,” Honda’s new car will be about the size of its tiny Fit model, which is positioned just below the subcompact Civic in size and price. The Fit starts just under $14,000. So even with the $3,000 or $4,000 premium you pay for a hybrid, this new Honda could be priced below $20,000, potentially making it the least expensive hybrid on the market."

So, no. Not another mid-sized everyman hybrid. A small econo-hybrid. How you'll fit five adults into it, I'm not sure. Maybe they need to work for Barnum and Bailey.
[/b]

Ahh...

Well, the Honda Fit can fit 5 rather comfortably, I thought.

TimBikes · 01-09-2007, 04:19 AM

I think they will have to make it a bit larger than the "Fit" if they want to achieve widespread success in the US. Something Prius-sized at a minimum to say 5-10% larger maximum.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-09-2007, 03:22 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TimBikes @ Jan 9 2007, 01:19 AM) [snapback]372953[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I think they will have to make it a bit larger than the "Fit" if they want to achieve widespread success in the US. Something Prius-sized at a minimum to say 5-10% larger maximum.
[/b]

I don't know. A lot of people liked the size of the original Prius. It's very manoeuvrable and compact yet fairly roomy inside.

Godiva · 01-09-2007, 03:27 PM

They describe it as just below subcompact.

How can this be the same as mid -sized. Isn't mid-sized how the Prius is described?

01-08-2007, 10:04 PM	#1
jkash Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: West Hills, CA Posts: 857 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Honda Primes the Pump Taking aim at Toyota, Honda readies a new hybrid car for the mainstream market. Falling gas prices have taken some of the steam out of hybrid car sales lately. But you wouldn’t know that from all the buzz about hybrids at the opening day of the Detroit Auto Show. First, GM introduced its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid concept. And then Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed in an interview with NEWSWEEK that his company is developing an all-new small hybrid car that he described as a five-passenger version of its quirky two-seater, the Insight gas-electric car. But unlike the Insight, which sells in small numbers to die-hard greenies, Fukui says this new Honda hybrid will be aimed at mainstream car buyers when it hits the road in two or three years. “Hybrid technology is very strong and proven technology for improving fuel economy,” he says. “And we won’t relent in our efforts.” Read more. __________________ Jeff Mr. Kash's Prius Page

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01-08-2007, 10:38 PM	#2
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,946 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	Five passenger version of the Insight? Now you're talking. It's too bad they couldn't keep the Insight in production since the new car won't be ready until 2009-10. And like the Prius, it will be built from the ground up. Now that's the way to build a hybrid.

01-08-2007, 11:28 PM	#3
TonyPSchaefer Ruler of Omicron Persei 8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 8,341 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 4 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 15	Add another mid sized, every-man hybrid to the population. It will take time, but eventually there will be as many hybrid sedans on the road as there are ICE.

01-08-2007, 11:53 PM	#4
burritos Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: California Posts: 2,859 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	pictures?

01-09-2007, 12:57 AM	#5
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Ahh, so Honda finally (and officially) mention the new hybrid. Now, is it still going to be Fit-sized as originally rumoured?

01-09-2007, 04:19 AM	#8
TimBikes Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: WA Posts: 1,287 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I think they will have to make it a bit larger than the "Fit" if they want to achieve widespread success in the US. Something Prius-sized at a minimum to say 5-10% larger maximum.

01-09-2007, 03:27 PM	#10
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 9,946 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 3 Times in 2 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 6	They describe it as just below subcompact. How can this be the same as mid -sized. Isn't mid-sized how the Prius is described?