Motor Authority - blog Tag: Eco-conscious

The production Honda Insight hybrid vehicle made its world debut last week at the Detroit Auto Show but the car on display was the version designed specifically for sale in North America. Honda has now released full details and images for its European-spec Insight hybrid, revealing that its average fuel-economy will come in at 53.4mpg (4.4L/100km) for the mixed cycle.

In contrast, the EPA fuel-economy rating for U.S.-spec models is 40mpg in the city and 43mpg on the highway. No independent testing of the European model has been conducted as yet.

Europe will be a very important market for the new hybrid, so much so that Honda even designed... The production Honda Insight hybrid vehicle made its world debut last week at the Detroit Auto Show but the car on display was the version designed specifically for sale in North America. Honda has now released full details and images for its European-spec Insight hybrid, revealing that its average fuel-economy will come in at 53.4mpg (4.4L/100km) for the mixed cycle. In contrast, the EPA fuel-economy rating for U.S.-spec models is 40mpg in the city and 43mpg on the highway. No independent testing of the European model has been conducted as yet. Europe will be a very important market for the new hybrid, so much so that Honda even designed the car as a five-door hatch. "The reason we chose a five-door hatchback was that we wanted the car to be popular in Europe," project leader Yasunari Seki explained. "American Honda - the biggest market - asked us to build a car with a boot, but we decided on a five-door design because to compete with other green cars and sell more in Europe, it had to be a five-door hatchback. Of course, aerodynamically it is also a more favorable shape." The European Insight also adopts slim, projector-style headlights in a four-light cluster. The headlight's low beam has blue detailing, and the indicators are located in the lower bumper face. At the rear, the car uses LEDs for the taillights and stop lamps. There will be eight exterior paint colours and seven-spoke alloy wheel designs, and like U.S. versions the car’s interior will feature Honda’s new Ecological Drive Assist System. Furthermore, the Insight also features an ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), engine and related powertrain components to further improve vehicle fuel efficiency. Power comes from a 1.3L SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine and CVT, along with a new generation of Honda’s IMA hybrid system. On its own, the internal combustion engine produces 88hp and 121Nm of torque. The IMA incorporates a 13hp (10kW) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) – recapturing and storing kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration and supplying additional power for acceleration when needed. The end result is a 0-100km/h time of 12.6 seconds and a top speed of 186km/h. Honda aims to sell 200,000 Insights globally, per year. The hatchback will be the first of a new family of Honda hybrids, followed by a production version of the CR-Z concept sports car, and a Jazz hybrid.2008 Honda Insight hybrid concept2009 Honda Insight Hybrid2010 Honda Insight European-spec Read More

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, ending several weeks of image leaks and specifications conjecture. Utilizing the latest generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight will provide consumers with an affordable option for eco-friendly driving.

The EPA fuel-economy rating for the vehicle is 40mpg in the city and 43mpg on the highway, and to ensure owners realize the full benefits of the hybrid technology, it will come with a special Ecological Drive Assist System. Furthermore, the... The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, ending several weeks of image leaks and specifications conjecture. Utilizing the latest generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight will provide consumers with an affordable option for eco-friendly driving. The EPA fuel-economy rating for the vehicle is 40mpg in the city and 43mpg on the highway, and to ensure owners realize the full benefits of the hybrid technology, it will come with a special Ecological Drive Assist System. Furthermore, the Insight also features an ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), engine and related powertrain components to further improve vehicle fuel efficiency. Power comes from a 1.3L SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine and CVT, along with a new generation of Honda’s IMA hybrid system. The IMA incorporates a 13hp (10kW) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) – recapturing and storing kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration and supplying additional power for acceleration when needed. The advanced drive system has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed driving conditions. It also provides for cylinder deactivation within the gasoline engine during deceleration and for engine shutoff when the vehicle is stopped. With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range in excess of 400 miles. Standard features include 60/40 split and fold-down rear seatbacks, a two-tier digital instrument panel, automatic climate control, power windows, mirrors and door locks, a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, and a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 audio playback, an auxiliary audio input jack and speed-sensitive volume control. Upgrade to the EX and you get alloy wheels, cruise control, a six-speaker audio system with USB audio interface, steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters, stability control and satellite navigation. The new Insight will go on sale in the U.S. this April and will be priced below the Civic Hybrid.2008 Honda Insight hybrid concept2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Read More

Honda has revealed its new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology, which will appear in the next-generation Insight Hybrid vehicle next year. The new technology is called Eco Assist and it combines a number features that helps drivers adjust their driving habits to be the most economical.

Some of the features include the driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), engine and related powertrain components to conserve fuel, as well as a feedback function that uses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving.

... Honda has revealed its new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology, which will appear in the next-generation Insight Hybrid vehicle next year. The new technology is called Eco Assist and it combines a number features that helps drivers adjust their driving habits to be the most economical. Some of the features include the driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission (CVT), engine and related powertrain components to conserve fuel, as well as a feedback function that uses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving. The ECON mode also adjusts air conditioner operation, increases the potential for engaging the idle stop feature sooner and increase battery charging during regenerative braking. There is also a scoring function that provides cumulative feedback through graphic 'leaves,' which grow over time as drivers learn and implement driving practices that increase fuel economy. This appears to be a popular theme as Ford uses a similar display in its new Fusion and Milan hybrid vehicles. The Honda system also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. Going on sale in North America next spring, the all-new, purpose-built Insight will come to market at a price significantly below that of hybrids available today, tipped to priced less than $20,000. Click here for more details about the latest Insight Hybrid concept vehicle, which was first revealed at last month’s Paris Motor Show.2008 Honda Insight hybrid concept Read More