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  • 2010 North American Car Of The Year Short List Announced

    2010 North American Car Of The Year Short List Announced October 1st, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, October 1st, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    2010 North American Car Of The Year Short List Announced

    Car show season and time to pick the best vehicles of the year is upon us again, and in the midst of the rush, a select handful of automotive journalists--including our own Executive Editor Marty Padgett--are somehow supposed to find the time to meditate on the essential greatness of every vehicle on the 2010 North American Car of the Year list. That job just got a little easier today, as the panel narrowed the candidates down to just 15 cars and 10 trucks.

    Perhaps as interesting as the cars that did make the list below are the cars that didn't make it past the nominee stage. Few of these cars would be kicked out of any garage.

    But the list...

    Car show season and time to pick the best vehicles of the year is upon us again, and in the midst of the rush, a select handful of automotive journalists--including our own Executive Editor Marty Padgett--are somehow supposed to find the time to meditate on the essential greatness of every vehicle on the 2010 North American Car of the Year list. That job just got a little easier today, as the panel narrowed the candidates down to just 15 cars and 10 trucks. Perhaps as interesting as the cars that did make the list below are the cars that didn't make it past the nominee stage. Few of these cars would be kicked out of any garage. But the list of cars and trucks that did make it reads like a "who's who" of the industry in 2010. Notable for appearing three times on the list for the Fusion and its hybrid version, the Taurus and the Transit Connect is Ford, the one U.S. carmaker that didn't plumb the depths of bankruptcy this year. Among the more luxury-oriented carmakers, Cadillac is in a strong position with the CTS and SRX both on the short list. After that, no other luxury carmaker managed to put more than one vehicle on the list. Stay tuned for the latest developments as they happen, and jump in with your own ideas on which car or truck should take the title for 2010. Go to http://www.highgearmedia.com/iwanttowrite and post your choice and you could win fun car swag including t-shirts, books, hats and more. Cars that didn't make the cut: Audi S4 BMW Z4 BMW 5-series GT Ford Mustang/GT500 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Hyundai Elantra Touring Jaguar XFR Kia Forte Lexus HS 250h Lexus IS 250/350 C Nissan Cube Nissan 370Z Trucks that didn't make the cut: BMW X5 xDrive35d Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid GMC Terrain GMC Sierra Hybrid Lexus RX350/450h Toyota 4Runner Volkswagen Touareg V-6 TDI The 2010 North American Car of the Year Short List: BMW 335d Buick LaCrosse Cadillac CTS Chevrolet Camaro Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid Ford Taurus Honda Insight Kia Soul Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Porsche Panamera Subaru Legacy Suzuki Kizashi Toyota Prius Volkswagen Golf/GTI The 2010 North American Truck of the Year Short List: Acura ZDX Audi Q5 Cadillac SRX Chevrolet Equinox Ford Transit Connect Honda Crosstour Land Rover LR4 Lincoln MKT Subaru Outback Volvo XC60 Read More

  • GM pitching Volt as sporty, green alternative to Prius, Insight

    GM pitching Volt as sporty, green alternative to Prius, Insight June 29th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, June 29th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 0 Comments

    GM pitching Volt as sporty, green alternative to Prius, Insight At first glance, there's very little to differentiate the main contenders for your hybrid sedan dollar - the new Insight looks remarkably like the Prius. For that matter, so does the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Aerodynamic necessity is a harsh master. But General Motors is planning to set the Volt apart from the crowd on its sporty demeanor.

    Sporty is definitely not an adjective that can fairly be applied to either the 2010 Honda Insight or the 2010 Toyota Prius, though both are efficient and fun in their own way. Chevrolet is hoping its torquey electric-drive vehicle will shine with a superior chassis and more dynamic driving experience,... At first glance, there's very little to differentiate the main contenders for your hybrid sedan dollar - the new Insight looks remarkably like the Prius. For that matter, so does the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. Aerodynamic necessity is a harsh master. But General Motors is planning to set the Volt apart from the crowd on its sporty demeanor. Sporty is definitely not an adjective that can fairly be applied to either the 2010 Honda Insight or the 2010 Toyota Prius, though both are efficient and fun in their own way. Chevrolet is hoping its torquey electric-drive vehicle will shine with a superior chassis and more dynamic driving experience, however, reports Edmunds. If that angle does play out successfully for GM, it will be a huge move, as the Volt is expected to out-do the Prius and Insight on fuel economy too, as its range-extended electric vehicle (engineers are quick to point out it's not a hybrid) architecture will allow for 40mi (64km) of electric-only driving. Just last week, the first integration prototypes were officially christened for testing, and work on the car is moving ahead on schedule for a late 2010 launch. Check out some of our previous coverage for more details on the upcoming Volt.2011 Chevrolet Volt pre-production prototype Read More

  • Toyota launches new build-your-own Prius configurator

    Toyota launches new build-your-own Prius configurator May 13th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, May 13th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 2 Comments

    Toyota launches new build-your-own Prius configurator Toyota may have just sold its millionth hybrid vehicle in the United States last month, but that hasn't stopped the industry giant from getting trounced in its home market of Japan when it comes to hybrid sales. Last month the company has released official pricing for the 2010 Prius, starting at $21,000, or about $1,200 over the Honda Insight, and today the Prius has launched its own mini-site where you can build your own, and see what it'll really cost.

    Starting with the Prius II, which is expected to be the most popular model, the $22,000 base price grows to $25,674 with the addition of just the leather interior upgrade (including... Toyota may have just sold its millionth hybrid vehicle in the United States last month, but that hasn't stopped the industry giant from getting trounced in its home market of Japan when it comes to hybrid sales. Last month the company has released official pricing for the 2010 Prius, starting at $21,000, or about $1,200 over the Honda Insight, and today the Prius has launched its own mini-site where you can build your own, and see what it'll really cost. Starting with the Prius II, which is expected to be the most popular model, the $22,000 base price grows to $25,674 with the addition of just the leather interior upgrade (including leather-faced seats) and the Vehicle Stability package, which adds a smart key system, stability control, a backup camera, auxiliary audio input and MP3/WMA playback - all core features for most buyers. And that's without any options like cargo nets ($51), carpet mats ($199), wheel locks ($67), or an XM satellite radio receiver ($449). While the Prius remains popular around the world, in Japan the cheaper second-generation Honda Insight hybrid is achieving triple its monthly sales targets despite the doom and gloom surrounding the global economy. Furthermore, with a starting price of just $19,800 in the U.S., analysts are expecting the Insight to perform similarly in local showrooms. To combat the Insight - at least in Japan - Toyota is selling the current Prius alongside the third-generation model as a cut-priced model. The company has also slashed prices on its new, improved and more feature-packed new 2010 Prius to nearly match that of the Insight. Prices start at $21,000, though the model expected to prove most popular, the Prius II, starts at $22,000. The configurator doesn't yet allow you to price out your own bargain-basement Prius I. "The 2010 Prius delivers outstanding mileage, performance and advanced technology at a great price," said Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota Division. "This [$22,000] model provides more than $2,000 added value, including the features most buyers want, at the same price as the current base model," he said. Five trim levels are available, Prius I through Prius V. The Prius I is the $21,000 model and offers a minimalist - but still unannounced - feature set, while the Prius II starts at $22,000 and adds a host of features including electronically adjustable driver's seat, keyless entry and more. Prius III bumps base pricing by another $1,000, and the Prius IV adds $2,800, starting at $25,800. The top-end Prius V starts at $27,200 and includes 17in alloys and foglamps, but navigation is still an optional extra available for $1,800 on the Prius III and higher.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid2010 Toyota Prius Read More

  • Honda's Insight first hybrid to rank as best-seller in Japan

    Honda's Insight first hybrid to rank as best-seller in Japan May 11th, 2009 ByRalph Hanson Ralph Hanson, Author, May 11th, 2009 Ralph Hanson 0 Comments

    Honda's Insight first hybrid to rank as best-seller in Japan As forward-looking and advanced in technology as the Japanese are perceived to be, they haven't been huge adopters of hybrid technology. But this month marked a tipping point, with the Honda Insight hybrid taking the top sales rank - the first time a hybrid has ever done so in Japan.

    The Insight sold 10,481 units in April - an increase of 256% over March sales, and more than double sales during its debut month of February. Honda also pulled down the #2 sales spot, the first time that Honda has taken both #1 and #2 at the same time.

    The Fit was the second-best selling car in Japan in April, riding a four-month streak at the top of the... As forward-looking and advanced in technology as the Japanese are perceived to be, they haven't been huge adopters of hybrid technology. But this month marked a tipping point, with the Honda Insight hybrid taking the top sales rank - the first time a hybrid has ever done so in Japan. The Insight sold 10,481 units in April - an increase of 256% over March sales, and more than double sales during its debut month of February. Honda also pulled down the #2 sales spot, the first time that Honda has taken both #1 and #2 at the same time. The Fit was the second-best selling car in Japan in April, riding a four-month streak at the top of the charts only to be bumped by the Insight. It was still a close issue, with the Fit selling 9,443 units. Whether the dominance of the Insight in Japan will translate into strong sales elsewhere in the world has yet to be seen. The slightly larger yet equally fuel efficient Toyota Prius could be a major threat to the Insight's sales, though until the Prius I is released, the Insight has a definite price advantage.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Read More

  • Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March

    Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March May 5th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, May 5th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 3 Comments

    Hybrid sales crash 45% in April, but up against March It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago.

    But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against March 2009 according to Edmunds, and are at their highest level since October 2008. That could hint at a turnaround in the market, though there are other potential factors to consider, including new model arrivals and heavy incentives.

    The parade of bad news continues at Toyota, down 62.8% in hybrid sales compared to April 2008, with the Prius... It's no secret that hybrid and small car sales have been among the hardest hit in the ongoing market downturn. They've fallen at rates well beyond the total market's decline and continue to do so, dropping 45.5% in April against the same time a year ago. But total hybrid sales are up 1.4% against March 2009 according to Edmunds, and are at their highest level since October 2008. That could hint at a turnaround in the market, though there are other potential factors to consider, including new model arrivals and heavy incentives. The parade of bad news continues at Toyota, down 62.8% in hybrid sales compared to April 2008, with the Prius down 61.5% and the Camry Hybrid down 67.1%. The Prius's drop can be explained in part by the impending release of the new 2010 Prius, with buyers holding off on new purchases to get the latest vehicle. The Camry Hybrid, on the other hand, dropped more than twice as fast as the standard Camry. Despite these dismal sales levels, the Prius remained the top hybrid seller in the U.S., followed by the deeply discounted 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid and the Camry Hybrid in third. The car to watch in the coming months will be the new 2010 Honda Insight, which saw sales triple in April to 2,096 units, and it's only been on the market since March. The Insight slotted into fourth place in U.S. hybrid totals. Luxury hybrids aren't doing much better than their economy-focused counterparts. The RX400h is down 59.7% while the conventional RX actually rose 1% in sales for April. Lexus's other hybrids were all down heavily as well, though their standard-engine counterparts were too. The past 12 months have seen an incredible roller coaster ride for hybrid sales, going from their best month ever to their worst and everywhere in between.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid2010 Toyota Prius first drive Read More

  • Honda CEO puts price floor on Insight, has no plans for large diesels

    Honda CEO puts price floor on Insight, has no plans for large diesels April 3rd, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, April 3rd, 2009 Kenneth Hall 2 Comments

    Honda CEO puts price floor on Insight, has no plans for large diesels Earlier this year, Honda won a lot of attention with its 'cheapest hybrid in America' pricing on the new 2010 Insight. But now Takeo Fukui, the company's CEO, says he won't be engaging Toyota in a price war for the title.

    The 2010 Insight starts at just $19,800 before delivery fees and taxes, and when t aken in conjunction with likely eligibility for federal tax credits, it's downright affordable. But Toyota is expected to be saving a special cut-rate Prius to slip under the Insight's price tag, and it will be eligible for the same incentives.

    "I don't think that would be meaningful to do so," Fukui told Automotive News in an interview... Earlier this year, Honda won a lot of attention with its 'cheapest hybrid in America' pricing on the new 2010 Insight. But now Takeo Fukui, the company's CEO, says he won't be engaging Toyota in a price war for the title. The 2010 Insight starts at just $19,800 before delivery fees and taxes, and when t aken in conjunction with likely eligibility for federal tax credits, it's downright affordable. But Toyota is expected to be saving a special cut-rate Prius to slip under the Insight's price tag, and it will be eligible for the same incentives. "I don't think that would be meaningful to do so," Fukui told Automotive News in an interview today. "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." Honda's stance on using hybrids for small cars and leaving large cars to standard gasoline engines was modified today as well, with Fukui saying there are no plans for a full-size Honda diesel car, but there will be a large-car hybrid in the works. Previously Honda had said that hybrids only made sense on small cars, and that such technology not only wouldn't help larger cars, but didn't make sense either. The reversal may reflect a shift from an engineering-based decision to a market-based plan. "For larger vehicles, we think we might have to change the hybrid system so as to improve their efficiency. R&d is working hard on this," said Fukui. But diesels are off the table for emissions reasons - it's just too expensive to make them clean enough to meet U.S. and Japanese standards. That decision is likely to impact Honda's previous plans to bring V6 diesels to the U.S. by 2010 in its larger cars and SUVs.2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Read More

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