5 in 1 MONTH what's with that? any other manufacture would kill the line in one second. People claim the Prius is sold for less than cost, that doesn't even justify starting the line up. What some companies will do to have the "best fuel economy" rating.

So, possible theories on Honda and hybrids in the future:

Honda is very resource limited compared to Toyota. Hybrid development is a real strain on them. That's why they said they were going to re-assess the Hybrid market after the Accord.

It makes good sense to have bragging rights about the highest mileage car available.

with marketing moves like the Insight, they will continue to have limited resources. i cant believe that they are continuing nothing basically.

is their sales any better anywhere else? or is it the same in every country. how many do they sell in japan?

its funny that what Toyota sells in 3 days matches the year total for the insight...

whats even funnier is that if Toyota had the supply they could probably beat honda's yearly total in one day.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"61478)</div>

Well, Honda doesn't really need to worry so much about emissions, as they do have the cleanest fleet in the US...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"61486)</div>

Yeah, that Civic passed without a catalytic converter, which is fairly amazing.

Even today, they're still #1, and have held on to that #1 spot for quite a while. I don't see Toyota moving up from #2 (or #3, depending on which source you read) while they're selling vehicles like the Sequoia and 4Runner.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/cars_...cfm?pageID=1567
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/top/story/0,4...6,79257,00.html

Honda is too good of a company to let technology stop them.

IMHO, the Accord hybrid is just wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too complicated (meaning GM & D/C's system is even crazier) but Honda will wait to see if they can improve on their current process. This will also give them time to prove if the HSD system withstands the test of time, short as it is. Why spend millions on a system that wont work as well when automotive suppliers will develop parts to help you compete.

If the HSD system continues to sell and perform, Toyota may have simply invented a new industry standard which if adopted brand wide, would offer uncountable economic and environmental benefits. That, in anyone's book, is pretty cool.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bill60546\";p=\"61494)</div>

Other than the oddball A/C system, what's wayyyyyyy too complicated about Honda's current system? IMA is a model of simplicity, really.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"61530)</div>

Maybe, but VCM != IMA. It's just another way to save fuel throw into the mix. VCM is available on non-hybrid Honda's as well.

Another thing that people tend to have minor heart attacks over is the active noise cancellation system that Honda uses in their VCM equipped models. It's not just Honda, a lot of the higher end auto manufacturers use the same sort of system to make their cars quieter.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"61534)</div>

True... altho at freeway speeds the Prius gets a bit noisy. I'm sure a HSD equipped Camry or the like wouldn't be quite as bad.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA\";p=\"61439)</div>

That is a really interesting question, and one I've never seen discussed.

Anyone know how the hybrid market is divided in Japan?

It would be more complex than it is in the U.S. -- I understand Toyota has a number of hybrid models that are sold only in Japan. Perhaps the same is true of Honda?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26\";p=\"61425)</div>

I think you're right that IMA would be easier to adapt to other cars; and thus I guess it would be a simpler system. Come to think of it, GM could say that the "hybrid fuel pump" they put in their monster truck is even simpler.

However, both provide fewer benefits in terms of emissions and gas savings. The Honda IMA, however, provides real benefits and is a real hybrid solution; while the GM fuel pump is a spin doctor creation thought up by Chevy marketing executives, hopped up on hookers and gin.

To me, there is no greater elegance in automobiles today than the planetary gears of the Toyota HSD system. When it came down to the 04 Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid, I was initially leaning towards the Civic, after 18 years with a wonderful Civic hatchback.

However, the Toyota HSD system dazzled the engineer in me; and the rest, as they say, is history.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bookrats\";p=\"61547)</div>

The Ford system also uses a planetary gear system, and it's nearly as compact as IMA. The entire unit is just slightly larger than a conventional transmission. Amazing bit of engineering...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26\";p=\"61549)</div>

Agreed -- I am really impressed with what Ford managed to do in a short amount of time.

I'll be interested to read an analysis of the Ford system, and a comparison with the Toyota HSD, from a car-tech or engineering magazine -- it'd be facinating.