Honda officially kills the Accord Hybrid

**Danny** · 06-05-2007, 10:42 AM

Just about 5 months after I posted the rumor, it's official: The Accord Hybrid is dead.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/05/auto...opping_hybrid/

So, basically Honda is acknowledging that they made a huge mistake by coming out with a power-hungry Accord Hybrid.

Hybrids accounted for 14 percent of Camrys sold last month, but just 1.4 percent of Accords

I remember talking about the Accord Hybrid with my father-in-law when it first came out and what a huge mistake Honda was making. He has hated the way Honda has approached the hybrid game and was very happy when they came out with the Fit and the soon to be Fit-ish hybrid.

SomervillePrius · 06-05-2007, 11:11 AM

Too bad for Honda but good for us consumers. It shows that just saying "hybrid" is not enough to sell, you also need to build a great (commuter) car not based on the old "horse power" stigma.

I hope Honda find success with their honda fit (sized) hybrid. I also hope they have a new hybrid system (or battery system) in the works that will not only work on light-weight cars. Their current hybrid system was to large extent a weight reduction exercise.

I'm positively surprised that we consumers also show the manufacturers that we're now seriously interested in fuel economy and pollution and that the importance of horse power is starting to fade. We're also educated enough not to simply buy any car with the word "hybrid" stamped on it.

From what I have seen only the fuel efficient hybrids seem to sell; the accord failed, the highlander sell mostly because it's the only medium sized SUV on the market (to me the upcoming new Saturn Vue hybrid could compete with the highlander). The Ford Escape had/has interesting technology but Ford picked a bad model to compete with. GM's current "hybrids" seem to be rightfully ignored.

This will give Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and everyone else motivation to produce fuel efficient hybrids. There are still large holes in Toyota's hybrid line-up where a fuel efficient hybrid could enter (like small cars, station wagons, mini-vans and SUVs). Question is who will enter where? Seems like Honda and GM are our best bets but that Toyota can respond relatively quickly.

I don't think anyone can today seriously deny the success of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive is having. Other hybrid models (might) fail but the Prius and Camry hybrid sales are strong and getting stronger. I also think that this fast growing hybrid market is too large to ignore or conceding to Toyota. At least I hope so or I will have to buy another Toyota.

PA · 06-05-2007, 11:34 AM

"We have seen that what interests hybrid consumers is ultimate fuel economy," Naughton said.

Well, Duh!

I agree with all of the above. I was very disappointed when I heard that the Accord Hybrid would be designed with "fuel efficiency" somewhere down the list, below "performance anxiety".

SomervillePrius · 06-05-2007, 11:57 AM

I actually don't think fuel economy is what ultimately interests hybrid consumers.

To me the car first has to be "green", this means that current diesels don't fulfill that criteria. Once they pollute as little as possible then I will look at gas mileage.

I'm not convinced that next generation diesels will be clean enough (but I haven't researched). Can they really reach the PZEV status of the PRius? If they are then I will buy one, if not I will buy another hybrid.

To me, it seems clear that electric drive, is the best propulsion system no mather what as it frees up how we generate the power to propel the car; be it on-board ultra-clean diesel engines (running at a constant RPM), a small clean gas engine; having enough batteries on-board to charge it at home; using compressed air as the generating system or (what to me seems the hardest alternative) hydrogen and I'm sure many other crazy ideas.

I hope/think battery technology will be the best option for most commuter cars and this is the effort I will try to support when buying my next car.

jbullard · 06-05-2007, 12:31 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SomervillePrius @ Jun 5 2007, 08:57 AM) [snapback]455710[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I actually don't think fuel economy is what ultimately interests hybrid consumers.
[/b]

I'm pretty sure fuel economy is what initially interests some hybrid vehicle drivers, but definitely not all of us. I, like you, was seeking a car with cleaner emissions / more advanced technology than the standard internal combustion engine. After test driving the Prius, I felt it was the best choice. Only after that point did I realize how many other benefits and blessings come with owning a hybrid such as the Prius. Fuel economy is only one slice of the whole pie.

MSantos · 06-05-2007, 02:48 PM

To be fair, we have to remember that Honda had a secondary mission for the Accord when it first came out. At the time, hybrid technology was perceived as inflexible and suited ONLY for fuel economy purposes. As a result of that, most folks considered a typical hybrid vehicle, a gutless and lame performer unsuited for North American tastes. The Accord basically slapped that notion around by proving that hybrid technology is adaptable to its main mission wether fuel economy, performance or both (the Accord clearly failed on the third one).

Second, Honda never possessed the manufaturing capacity to produce the Accord Hybrid in large numbers. Heck, they are already hurting by just trying to keep up with the Civic Hybrid production. Granted, there was never a surplus of unsold HCH's like there has been with the Accord for the last couple of years and that is a confirmation of what so many have said, that the design philosophy of hybrid performance is not a sustainable one going forward. Just look at the Lexus hybrid sales performance- that should be quite a parallel.

Cheers;

MSantos

MSantos · 06-05-2007, 02:52 PM

deleted double post

**Tideland Prius** · 06-05-2007, 03:14 PM

Indeed. Ditto the HiHy. They came out at a time when hybrids were thought as gutless, FE weenermobiles. The thought of a 268hp hybrid was... well unthinkable really.

jimmylozza · 06-05-2007, 04:34 PM

They tanked (pun intended) because most Accord buyers are too "practical" to pay more for hybrid technology. My parents would be a good example. They bought an Accord as a reliable second vehicle to an SUV. The target market for the Accord is just not interested.

Miss_Taz · 06-05-2007, 04:44 PM

One of the main problems I have always had with Honda's hybrids (excluding the Insight) was that they look JUST LIKE the non-hybrid versions.

If I'm going to buy new exciting technology, I want it to look new and exciting! I want everyone to know I'm doing something good for me and the Earth.

Honda just made them look too damn boring/similar...

(It's also a complaint I have about the Camry hybrid, but at least the Prius is beautiful and unique! :-) )

06-05-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 4,600 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 26 Times in 8 Posts TOTM Awards: 1 Friends: 25	Just about 5 months after I posted the rumor, it's official: The Accord Hybrid is dead. http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/05/auto...opping_hybrid/ So, basically Honda is acknowledging that they made a huge mistake by coming out with a power-hungry Accord Hybrid. Hybrids accounted for 14 percent of Camrys sold last month, but just 1.4 percent of Accords I remember talking about the Accord Hybrid with my father-in-law when it first came out and what a huge mistake Honda was making. He has hated the way Honda has approached the hybrid game and was very happy when they came out with the Fit and the soon to be Fit-ish hybrid. __________________ PriusChat Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $990 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875 : HeatShield SunShades : BT Tech Stiffening Plate : All other Prius Accessories

06-05-2007, 11:11 AM	#2
SomervillePrius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 946 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Too bad for Honda but good for us consumers. It shows that just saying "hybrid" is not enough to sell, you also need to build a great (commuter) car not based on the old "horse power" stigma. I hope Honda find success with their honda fit (sized) hybrid. I also hope they have a new hybrid system (or battery system) in the works that will not only work on light-weight cars. Their current hybrid system was to large extent a weight reduction exercise. I'm positively surprised that we consumers also show the manufacturers that we're now seriously interested in fuel economy and pollution and that the importance of horse power is starting to fade. We're also educated enough not to simply buy any car with the word "hybrid" stamped on it. From what I have seen only the fuel efficient hybrids seem to sell; the accord failed, the highlander sell mostly because it's the only medium sized SUV on the market (to me the upcoming new Saturn Vue hybrid could compete with the highlander). The Ford Escape had/has interesting technology but Ford picked a bad model to compete with. GM's current "hybrids" seem to be rightfully ignored. This will give Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and everyone else motivation to produce fuel efficient hybrids. There are still large holes in Toyota's hybrid line-up where a fuel efficient hybrid could enter (like small cars, station wagons, mini-vans and SUVs). Question is who will enter where? Seems like Honda and GM are our best bets but that Toyota can respond relatively quickly. I don't think anyone can today seriously deny the success of Toyota's hybrid synergy drive is having. Other hybrid models (might) fail but the Prius and Camry hybrid sales are strong and getting stronger. I also think that this fast growing hybrid market is too large to ignore or conceding to Toyota. At least I hope so or I will have to buy another Toyota. __________________ help start a revolution! Demand PLUG IN Hybrids to be built today!

06-05-2007, 02:48 PM	#6
MSantos Skeptical Accelerometrist Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 235 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	To be fair, we have to remember that Honda had a secondary mission for the Accord when it first came out. At the time, hybrid technology was perceived as inflexible and suited ONLY for fuel economy purposes. As a result of that, most folks considered a typical hybrid vehicle, a gutless and lame performer unsuited for North American tastes. The Accord basically slapped that notion around by proving that hybrid technology is adaptable to its main mission wether fuel economy, performance or both (the Accord clearly failed on the third one). Second, Honda never possessed the manufaturing capacity to produce the Accord Hybrid in large numbers. Heck, they are already hurting by just trying to keep up with the Civic Hybrid production. Granted, there was never a surplus of unsold HCH's like there has been with the Accord for the last couple of years and that is a confirmation of what so many have said, that the design philosophy of hybrid performance is not a sustainable one going forward. Just look at the Lexus hybrid sales performance- that should be quite a parallel. Cheers; MSantos __________________

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06-05-2007, 11:34 AM	#3
PA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 396 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	"We have seen that what interests hybrid consumers is ultimate fuel economy," Naughton said. Well, Duh! I agree with all of the above. I was very disappointed when I heard that the Accord Hybrid would be designed with "fuel efficiency" somewhere down the list, below "performance anxiety".

06-05-2007, 11:57 AM	#4
SomervillePrius Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 946 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #9 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I actually don't think fuel economy is what ultimately interests hybrid consumers. To me the car first has to be "green", this means that current diesels don't fulfill that criteria. Once they pollute as little as possible then I will look at gas mileage. I'm not convinced that next generation diesels will be clean enough (but I haven't researched). Can they really reach the PZEV status of the PRius? If they are then I will buy one, if not I will buy another hybrid. To me, it seems clear that electric drive, is the best propulsion system no mather what as it frees up how we generate the power to propel the car; be it on-board ultra-clean diesel engines (running at a constant RPM), a small clean gas engine; having enough batteries on-board to charge it at home; using compressed air as the generating system or (what to me seems the hardest alternative) hydrogen and I'm sure many other crazy ideas. I hope/think battery technology will be the best option for most commuter cars and this is the effort I will try to support when buying my next car.

06-05-2007, 02:52 PM	#7
MSantos Skeptical Accelerometrist Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 235 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	deleted double post

06-05-2007, 03:14 PM	#8
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,932 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Indeed. Ditto the HiHy. They came out at a time when hybrids were thought as gutless, FE weenermobiles. The thought of a 268hp hybrid was... well unthinkable really.

06-05-2007, 04:34 PM	#9
jimmylozza Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 140 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	They tanked (pun intended) because most Accord buyers are too "practical" to pay more for hybrid technology. My parents would be a good example. They bought an Accord as a reliable second vehicle to an SUV. The target market for the Accord is just not interested.

06-05-2007, 04:44 PM	#10
Miss_Taz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 142 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	One of the main problems I have always had with Honda's hybrids (excluding the Insight) was that they look JUST LIKE the non-hybrid versions. If I'm going to buy new exciting technology, I want it to look new and exciting! I want everyone to know I'm doing something good for me and the Earth. Honda just made them look too damn boring/similar... (It's also a complaint I have about the Camry hybrid, but at least the Prius is beautiful and unique! :-) )