Honda Insight Sports Modulo concept revealed in Tokyo

Leveraging the Honda Insight hybrid vehicle's advanced aerodynamic performance and fun, comfortable driving, the Honda Insight Sports Modulo Concept, exhibited at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, expresses the joy of driving with the theme of "Exciting Eco." With its advanced styling featuring chiseled lines, the Modulo concept vehicle demonstrates the new value that Sports Modulo customization has to offer a next-generation hybrid.

Source: NetCarShow.com

Honda Insight tuned by Tommy Kaira...

 

 

Following Mugen, KenStyle and Exclusive Zeus, now Tommy Kaira has also available parts for the Honda Insight.

Honda Insight by KenStyle

Owning a Hybrid car does not necessary means that you are not also interested in Style and Design. After all we all want to save the earth and give to our children a “bright” future, but we would prefer doing so in a “Nice Ride”… And this is exactly what KenStyle is offering for the Honda Insight with their ZE2 Aero Kit.

Sold either in a full “Kit” or either in “part”, KenStyle has definitively thought about everything and ready to get what you need.

Interested? Just contact KenStyle in Japan for more information.

Source: Nihon Car

In U.S. hybrid battle, Insight starts slowly while Prius gains steam

It's a good thing the redesigned Honda Insight is surpassing sales expectations in Japan, because its debut in the United States has been a disappointment.

Despite a major advertising campaign and the Insight's $2,000 price advantage over the redesigned Toyota Prius, U.S. consumers are not embracing Honda's new hybrid.

"Both are great cars [but] Prius is greenspeak for 'hybrid,'" said David Wilson, president of Wilson Automotive Group in Orange, Calif., which has both Honda and Toyota franchises.

Honda had hoped to sell 90,000 Insights a year in the United States, but the sour economy forced a revision at the time of the hybrid's March launch, to 60,000 units. So far Honda is off that pace, with only 7,524 sales through June. By contrast, Toyota sold 55,751 Priuses from January 1 through June.

TNS Compete, a marketing consulting firm in Boston, says it tracked 70,700 Prius shoppers in June and found that about 13,000 bought a Prius. Lincoln Merrihew, TNS' managing director, described the 18 percent conversion rate as healthy.

By contrast, TNS reported that about 40,000 Insight shoppers in June bought only 2,079 vehicles, a conversion rate of about 5 percent. Merrihew called that a typical ratio for a new-vehicle launch.

Wilson said: "Prius is also the most visually hybrid-looking of the two. If you are trying to make that environmentally conscious statement, Prius will be your first choice."

Another multiline dealer with Honda and Toyota stores said: "There is no cross-shop between Prius and Insight. Prius buyers come in on the Prius and buy a Prius. Honda buyers come in on Insight, find it a bit small and move to a Civic Hybrid. It will take time for Insight to catch up with the level of awareness and purchase intention that Prius has built up over several years."

Still, the dealer said, at least one of his Honda stores is "selling every Insight they get and needing more. I think relatively low gas prices and the low level of awareness are the biggest issues for Insight right now."

While the Insight is struggling to find its footing in the United States, its Japanese launch has gone well. The original Japanese sales target was 60,000 a year. But Koichi Kondo, an executive vice president at Honda Motor, said the Insight is on pace to reach 100,000 sales in the fiscal year that ends next March 31. Honda sold 36,457 Insights in Japan from its February 6 launch through June.

The third-generation Toyota Prius hit the Japanese market on May 18. Toyota sold 21,200 Priuses in June in Japan.

Honda Motor spokeswoman Yasuko Matsuura said the company is not deliberately holding back exports of the Japan-made Insight. She blamed disappointing U.S. demand on overall market conditions, not competition with the Prius.

Sage Marie, a spokesman for American Honda Motor, said it is too early to call the Insight a hit or a flop in the United States.

"We're still building awareness," Marie said. "We're just a few months into a launch of an all-new product. We still want to sell 90,000 Insights. Are we going to do this the first year? Probably not."

Source: Automotive News via The Car Tech blog

Exclusive Zeus makes the Honda Insight a little more appealing

Not impressed by the sportiness of your Honda Insight hybrid? Well, let Japan’s Exclusive Zeus help you out. The Japanese tuner is offering a body kit for the Insight that offers a lowered suspension, a new front apron, side skirts, a blacked out grille, a new rear apron and a diffuser.

You also get a set of new alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires.

No performance upgrades are being offered, so you’re stuck with your 98-hp 1.3L SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission. However, you’ll probably still enjoy 40/43 mpg (city/highway).

Source: egmCarTech

Insight sales down 25% since 2010 Prius release

It looks like the new Honda Insight is in for some hard times, sales-wise. Honda sales figures for June show that Insight sales dropped 25% from 2,780 units in May to 2,079 units in June. Over the same period the Prius' sales have risen from 10,091 units to 12,998. It's hard not to point out that the Prius' increase from May to June was greater than the number of Insights sold in June.

At this rate, it's going to be tough for Honda to reach their 90,000 sales goal by the end of the first model year.

Launched in April with great initial reviews, the Insight has been a tough sell with dealerships already offering discounts to move them off the lot. Reviewers have also come out considerably negative against the Insight including benchmark Consumer Reports who found it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time."

Source: PriusChat

Honda Insight tops the charts in Europe

Honda has today announced that its new Insight hybrid vehicle has sold more than any other hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle in Europe*.

The figures obtained from Jato Dynamics show that in its first full month of sales the Insight proved to be the most popular petrol-electric hybrid vehicle on the market. This achievement follows on from the success of the Insight in Japan where in April it was the first hybrid ever to be the number one selling passenger car.

The hybrid sector and alternative fuels sector, which features any passenger car not powered by petrol or diesel is set to grow further in the near future. At the same time the market will begin to segment, dividing the sector into a multitude of different types of cars - just like the traditional car market. In the future Honda will produce a hybrid version of the Jazz and a production car based on the CR-Z Concept, giving the consumer a wider choice of Honda hybrid models.

Third place in the table went to Honda's Civic Hybrid, which like the Insight is also a fuel efficient, low emission, full-parallel hybrid. Both cars can run on the electric motor alone in some medium to high speed conditions, giving near silent running and fuel efficiency benefits.

The Insight is currently being introduced across Europe, joining the Civic Hybrid in Honda's petrol-electric range. Honda Motor Europe, Senior Vice President, Ken Keir is delighted that the Insight has been so well received, commenting: "We introduced Europe to hybrids almost 10 years ago when we put the original Insight on sale. The Insight was the first hybrid to be sold in Europe and this sector is set to continue to expand and diversify."


* Data covers EU27 (except Malta), EFTA, plus Turkey, Russia and Israel.

Source: Honda European Media newsroom

Honda’s hybrid Insight may miss U.S. sales forecast

Honda Motor Co.’s Insight hybrid may fall 33 percent short of its U.S. sales goal as cheap fuel, the economic slump and competition from Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius undermine demand for the model.

First-year Sales of Honda’s gasoline-electric Insight, which debuted at U.S. dealerships in late March, may be between 50,000 and 60,000 units, John Mendel, the company’s U.S. executive vice president, said in a June 11 interview at Honda’s U.S. headquarters in Torrance. “I don’t think we’ll get to 90,000,” he said.

Gasoline prices in the U.S. have fallen 35 percent over the past year, eroding demand for fuel-efficient cars, even as the overall market has plunged 37 percent due to the recession. Toyota has cut the base price of the Prius by $1,000 to compete with the Insight

“Sales of hybrids have a strong correlation to gasoline prices, especially in the U.S. and Toyota’s Prius has had more customers in the past, so it’s a tough competition for Honda,” said Koji Endo, an analyst at Credit Suisse　Securities (Japan） Ltd.

The lower-than-expected demand in the U.S. contrasts with sales of the car in Japan where fuel prices are 78 percent higher than in the U.S. The Insight was the top-selling car in Japan in April and was overtaken by the Prius last month.

Honda fell 2 percent to 2,780 yen as of 1:44 p.m. in Tokyo. The shares have gained 46 percent so far this year.

Gas Prices

Retail prices for gasoline in Japan are $4.69 a gallon, the Tokyo-based Oil Information Center said on its Web site on June 10. By comparison, U.S. consumers paid an average of $2.64 for a gallon of gasoline on June 12, 35 percent less than a year ago, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

The Insight, rated by the U.S. as getting 41 miles per gallon in city and highway driving, is priced from $19,800 to $23,100. By comparison, Toyota’s 2010 Prius, which averages 50 mpg, sells for between $22,000 and $31,770.

Hybrid sales in the U.S. fell 38 percent through May to 100,337 units, just ahead of the market’s overall 37 percent drop, based on data compiled by Bloomberg News. Slack demand for fuel-saving models led General Motors Corp. to announce June 11 that it’s discontinuing the hybrid version of its Malibu sedan.

Toyota aims to sell 180,000 units of its new Prius in the car’s first 12 months, matching the model’s U.S. volume record reached in 2007. Prius sales this year through May fell 46 percent.

Demand for Insight should pick up later in the year as the recession eases and fuel prices increase, Mendel said.

U.S. dealer inventory of Japan-built Insights is “good” given current market conditions and sales could be as high as 4,000 units this month, up from 2,098 in May, he said.

Source: Bloomberg

Honda's new Insight gets mixed reviews

How are auto writers receiving Honda's Insight hybrid? Here are some snippets from early reviews.

"The Honda's petrol engine is a much-shaved, built-for-economy, low-friction 1.3 that, at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else's crying baby on an airliner. ... To get an idea of how awful it is, you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer."

-- Jeremy Clarkson, Timesonline.co.uk

"The Insight has two significant warts: Its backseat is considerably tighter than the Toyota's family-sedan-grade rear quarters, and there's plenty of Honda's trademark road noise at higher speeds. On the flip side, though, it has sensible gauges and a superior driving position. Given its impressive talents and attractive price, it's hard to fault the 2010 Honda Insight."

-- Edmunds.com

"It's hard to call 40 mpg disappointing, but in this case it is. The smaller, lighter Insight, using a smaller-displacement gasoline engine, seems to be an underachiever. Honda says that's partly because Insight's tuned for a little more punch, to make driving more fun, at the expense of fuel economy."

-- James R. Healey, USA Today

"Honda's goal in designing the 2010 Insight was to find the value sweet spot, and it looks like they've hit it. The Insight marks the best intersection yet of the plots for price, efficiency and practicality.

"Engineers accomplished this by designing a hybrid system with a priority on cost rather than maximum efficiency, scoring more bang for the buck than glittering technology showcases that no one can afford. They wrapped it in a five-door hatchback body that packs maximum cabin space into minimal physical size."

-- Dan Carney, MSNBC.com

Source: Automotive News via Car Tech

You can read also my impressions from the new Insight here

Jeremy Clarkson's Honda Insight review

Much has been written about the Insight, Honda’s new low-priced hybrid. We’ve been told how much carbon dioxide it produces, how its dashboard encourages frugal driving by glowing green when you’re easy on the throttle and how it is the dawn of all things. The beginning of days.

So far, though, you have not been told what it’s like as a car; as a tool for moving you, your friends and your things from place to place.

So here goes. It’s terrible. Biblically terrible. Possibly the worst new car money can buy. It’s the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it any more.

The biggest problem, and it’s taken me a while to work this out, because all the other problems are so vast and so cancerous, is the gearbox. For reasons known only to itself, Honda has fitted the Insight with something called constantly variable transmission (CVT).

It doesn’t work. Put your foot down in a normal car and the revs climb in tandem with the speed. In a CVT car, the revs spool up quickly and then the speed rises to match them. It feels like the clutch is slipping. It feels horrid.

And the sound is worse. The Honda’s petrol engine is a much-shaved, built-for-economy, low-friction 1.3 that, at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else’s crying baby on an airliner. It’s worse than the sound of your parachute failing to open. Really, to get an idea of how awful it is, you’d have to sit a dog on a ham slicer.

So you’re sitting there with the engine screaming its head off, and your ears bleeding, and you’re doing only 23mph because that’s about the top speed, and you’re thinking things can’t get any worse, and then they do because you run over a small piece of grit.

Because the Honda has two motors, one that runs on petrol and one that runs on batteries, it is more expensive to make than a car that has one. But since the whole point of this car is that it could be sold for less than Toyota’s Smugmobile, the engineers have plainly peeled the suspension components to the bone. The result is a ride that beggars belief.

There’s more. Normally, Hondas feel as though they have been screwed together by eye surgeons. This one, however, feels as if it’s been made from steel so thin, you could read through it. And the seats, finished in pleblon, are designed specifically, it seems, to ruin your skeleton. This is hairy-shirted eco-ism at its very worst.

However, as a result of all this, prices start at £15,490 — that’s £3,000 or so less than the cost of the Prius. But at least with the Toyota there is no indication that you’re driving a car with two motors. In the Insight you are constantly reminded, not only by the idiotic dashboard, which shows leaves growing on a tree when you ease off the throttle (pass the sick bucket), but by the noise and the ride and the seats. And also by the hybrid system Honda has fitted.

In a Prius the electric motor can, though almost never does, power the car on its own. In the Honda the electric motor is designed to “assist” the petrol engine, providing more get-up-and-go when the need arises. The net result is this: in a Prius the transformation from electricity to petrol is subtle. In the Honda there are all sorts of jerks and clunks.

And for what? For sure, you could get 60 or more mpg if you were careful. And that’s not bad for a spacious five-door hatchback. But for the same money you could have a Golf diesel, which

will be even more economical. And hasn’t been built out of rice paper to keep costs down.

Of course, I am well aware that there are a great many people in the world who believe that the burning of fossil fuels will one day kill all the Dutch and that something must be done.

They will see the poor ride, the woeful performance, the awful noise and the spine-bending seats as a price worth paying. But what about the eco-cost of building the car in the first place?

Honda has produced a graph that seems to suggest that making the Insight is only marginally more energy-hungry than making a normal car. And that the slight difference is more than negated by the resultant fuel savings.

Hmmm. I would not accuse Honda of telling porkies. That would be foolish. But I cannot see how making a car with two motors costs the same in terms of resources as making a car with one.

The nickel for the battery has to come from somewhere. Canada, usually. It has to be shipped to Japan, not on a sailing boat, I presume. And then it must be converted, not in a tree house, into a battery, and then that battery must be transported, not on an ox cart, to the Insight production plant in Suzuka. And then the finished car has to be shipped, not by Thor Heyerdahl, to Britain, where it can be transported, not by wind, to the home of a man with a beard who thinks he’s doing the world a favour.

Why doesn’t he just buy a Range Rover, which is made from local components, just down the road? No, really — weird-beards buy locally produced meat and vegetables for eco-reasons. So why not apply the same logic to cars?

At this point you will probably dismiss what I’m saying as the rantings of a petrolhead, and think that I have my head in the sand.

That’s not true. While I have yet to be convinced that man’s 3% contribution to the planet’s greenhouse gases affects the climate, I do recognise that oil is a finite resource and that as it becomes more scarce, the political ramifications could well be dire. I therefore absolutely accept the urgent need for alternative fuels.

But let me be clear that hybrid cars are designed solely to milk the guilt genes of the smug and the foolish. And that pure electric cars, such as the G-Wiz and the Tesla, don’t work at all because they are just too inconvenient.

Since about 1917 the car industry has not had a technological revolution — unlike, say, the world of communications or film. There has never been a 3G moment at Peugeot nor a need to embrace DVD at Nissan. There has been no VHS/Betamax battle between Fiat and Renault.

Car makers, then, have had nearly a century to develop and hone the principles of suck, squeeze, bang, blow. And they have become very good at it.

But now comes the need to throw away the heart of the beast, the internal combustion engine, and start again. And, critically, the first of the new cars with their new power systems must be better than the last of the old ones. Or no one will buy them. That’s a tall order. That’s like dragging Didier Drogba onto a cricket pitch and expecting him to be better than Ian Botham.

And here’s the kicker. That’s exactly what Honda has done with its other eco-car, the Clarity. Instead of using a petrol engine to charge up the electric motor’s batteries, as happens on the Insight, the Clarity uses hydrogen: the most abundant gas in the universe.

The only waste product is water. The car feels like a car. And, best of all, the power it produces is so enormous, it can be used by day to get you to 120mph and by night to run all the electrical appliances in your house. This is not science fiction. There is a fleet of Claritys running around California right now.

There are problems to be overcome. Making hydrogen is a fuel-hungry process, and there is no infrastructure. But Alexander Fleming didn’t look at his mould and think, “Oh dear, no one will put that in their mouth”, and give up.

I would have hoped, therefore, that Honda had diverted every penny it had into making hydrogen work rather than stopping off on the way to make a half-arsed halfway house for fools and madmen.

The only hope I have is that there are enough fools and madmen out there who will buy an Insight to look sanctimonious outside the school gates. And that the cash this generates can be used to develop something a bit more constructive.

Source: Times Online

Insight becomes first hybrid vehicle to rank as best-selling vehicle in Japan (インサイトがハイブリッド車として初めて登録車販売台数の第1位を獲得)

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced that Insight ranked as the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations* in Japan for the month of April 2009, with sales of 10,481 units (source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association). It is the first time in history for a hybrid model to be the industry's best selling vehicle in Japan for any monthly sales period.

Fit was the industry's best-selling car among new vehicle registrations in Japan for calendar year 2008 and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. Fit was also the industry's best-selling car for the month of March 2009, for the fourth consecutive month since December 2008, until it was displaced by Insight to become the industry's second best-selling car in April 2009, with sales of 9,443 units. It is the first time Honda has occupied the industry's top two best-selling car positions.

Since its introduction on February 6, 2009, the all-new Insight has been very well received by a wide range of customers due to its excellent environmental performance, easy-to-use packaging, light and comfortable driving and affordable pricing.

* excluding mini-vehicles - under 660cc

Insight sales in Japan (source: Japan Automobile Dealers Association)
Sales of Insight was announced February 5, 2009, and began February 6, 2009

Sales Results (since sales start)		Monthly ranking among new vehicle registrations in Japan
February 2009 Sales Result	4,906 units	10th
March 2009 Sales Result	4,088 units	21st
April 2009 Sales Result	10,481 units	1st

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Text in Japanese

「インサイト」の2009年4月度の販売台数が10,481台（自販連調べ）となり、登録車販売において第1位となった。ハイブリッド車が登録車の月間販 売台数で第1位となったのは初めてである。また、インサイトは2009年1月〜4月の累計販売台数でもハイブリッド車として第1位となった。

　2008年、2008年度で登録車販売台数第1位を獲得し、2008年12月から2009年3月まで4ヵ月連続で登録車販売台数第1位を維持してきた「フィット」は、9,443台で第2位となった。Honda車が登録車販売台数の1位と2位を独占するのは初めてとなる。

　また、低燃費運転を楽しんでいただくことを目的として、全国を走るインサイトのカーナビで記録された情報をもとに1日ごとの平均燃費^※1を競う「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」の最高燃費ランキングの登録ユーザー^※2が1,000名を超えた。この最高燃費ランキングは、「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」の会員向けホームページで提供しており、Hondaのホームページ^※3上でも一般に公開している。

　2009年2月6日に発売した新型インサイトは、優れた環境性能、使い勝手の良いパッケージング、軽快で気持ちの良い走り、189万円^※4からというお求めやすい価格、低燃費運転を支援するエコアシスト（エコロジカル・ドライブ・アシスト・システム）などにより、幅広い層のお客様にご好評をいただいている。

※1		ドライブ単位の平均燃費をもとに計算している。1ドライブ単位の平均燃費は、エンジンを掛けてから切るまでとし、エンジンを切ったときにカーナビに自動的に登録される
※2		「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」会員で、任意で「ランキング」にエントリーしているインサイトユーザー
※3		http://www.honda.co.jp/INSIGHT/ranking/
※4		Gタイプ 全国メーカー希望小売価格（消費税込み）

◆インサイト販売台数の推移（国内・自販連調べ）
	2009年2月5日発表、6日発売 発売後の販売台数 登録車販売台数 月間ランキング 2月度販売台数 4,906台 10位 3月度販売台数 4,088台 21位 4月度販売台数 10,481台 1位

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Source: Honda Media Web

...Honda Insight in real life!

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to check out the new Insight. I was a bit skeptical due to the lack of power and interior quality. Well, in real life, interior looked nice and although hard plastics have been used, it felt better than Jazz. Test drive wasn't possible and thus I cannot make any comments regarding handling and performance.

Rear visibility is not good, but this is due to the aerodynamic shape. The big problem however is the available space for rear passengers. Although legroom is not so bad, I tried to get at the back and I just could not fit (I am 1.87m tall). I reckon that in the rear, only people up to 1.8m tall can actually fit.

The second issue was the fact that the car has the same width as the Jazz. The interior felt crowded with all the switches etc and in real life is what you see in the photos, but squeezed. The armrest is also tiny and looks funny.

Until my visit to the Honda dealer, I was certain that I would go for it, but now I think I'll wait to check out the new Prius as well. Insight is an affordable hybrid car, but the problem is that it also feels like one. Perhaps it worths spending a few grand more for the new Prius as it definately looks more robust, has more room and it has more power. Downside is the absence of paddle shifts though...

Honda Insight off to a flying start in UK

Honda's all-new Insight hybrid is off to good start in Britain, but the fact that the Insight is a newer model than the Prius has to be considered. The third-gen Prius will be arriving on British shores in July 2009.

"With only a few days remaining in its first month of sales, the Honda Insight is outselling its competitors in the hybrid market.

Since the affordable hybrid car went on sale on 4 April, 229 Insights have been sold in the UK, ahead of its nearest rival the Toyota Prius (198 units). Together with Civic Hybrid (79 units), Honda (UK) has sold 308 hybrid family cars this month, despite April being known as one of the quietest months in the sales calendar.

“The Insight is proving a hit with cost-savvy consumers looking for a cleaner car that’s more affordable,” said John Kingston, Honda (UK)’s Environment and Government Affairs Manager. “More and more people want a car that makes sound financial sense, especially in the current economic climate and the Insight offers numerous running cost savings such as reduced road tax of £15 per year and great fuel economy.”

Insight customers will also benefit from high residual values of 44 per cent and exemption from the London Congestion Charge. Company car drivers and businesses can take advantage of the same benefits plus low benefit-in-kind tax, reduced national insurance payments and increased write down allowance.

Honda expects to sell around 7,000 Insights in the UK this year. The annual global sales target is approximately 200,000 units. The Insight 1.3-litre IMA SE costs £15,490 on-the-road."

Source: Honda UK media website

Honda, Toyota earning profits on hybrids

The Nikkei reports that Toyota and Honda are both making estimated profits of about ¥300,000 (about US$3,100) each on every hybrid they sell, similar to what they make on small, gasoline-engined vehicles.

If Honda sells 200,000 Insight hybrids worldwide in the first year of its release, the company would generate sales of more than 350 billion yen [US$3.6 billion]. Since it estimates a gross profit margin of more than 15% on the car—priced at under 2 million yen&mash;its gross profit on Insight sales is projected to hit around 60 billion yen [US$622 million] in the first year, or around 300,000 yen per unit.

The gross profit earned on the Insight is still low when factoring in the large R&D costs involved in its development. However, the profit margin on its hybrid operations has risen to the level where Honda can count on it to generate the fourth-largest revenue stream behind its luxury, midsize and small car operations.

The Nikkei report said that Toyota appears to have earned gross profits of around ¥100 billion yen (US$1 billion) on its sales of second-generation Prius hybrids last year. Toyota’s gross profit margin on the sales of the next-generation 2010 Prius are projected to be in the single digits in the first year.

Source: Green Car Congress

Fukui: Honda Insight will not enter price-war with Prius, new hybrid system for larger cars coming

Just two days ago (previous post), it was reported that Toyota will lower the price of the 2010 Prius in Japan to make the hybrid more competitive with the 2010 Honda Insight. Today, Honda’s CEO Takeo Fukui said that he will not lower the price on Insight anymore.

“I don’t think that would be meaningful to do so,” Fukui told Automotive News. ”I think that is something we can’t do right now,” he said. “We have to carefully examine the new Prius to know whether it is necessary for us to take certain measures.”

Dealers in Japan have said that the 2010 Prius will carry a starting price tag of 2.05 million yen ($20,750 USD).

Fukui also said that Honda is working on a hybrid drivetrain for larger cars and will abandon previous targets to rely on clean diesels in the large vehicle segment.

Next year Honda will also launch the CR-Z hybrid along with a hybrid version of the Jazz / Fit.

Source: eGMCarTech

Toyota will include low-price 2010 Prius model to compete with Honda

Toyota Motor Corp. says it will try to compete directly with rival Honda Motor Co.'s new Insight hybrid in the Japanese market by introducing a downscale base-model of its 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid priced at the U.S. equivalent of $20,750 - about the same as a mid-level 2010 Honda Insight.

The company has not made a formal announcement of the strategy, but has told Japan's Toyota dealers what to expect, according to a report in the trade journal Automotive News.

In the U.S., Toyota will launch the 2010 Prius in late May or early June without a base model, adding it sometime in the third quarter.

That model will let Toyota in the US replicate the Japanese strategy: it will have less standard equipment than other 2010 Prius models and is expected to be priced several thousand dollars less to compete with the smaller Insight.

Toyota hasn't announced U.S. pricing for the new Prius, but the "Level 2" model that will serve as the price-leader at launch is expected to come in at about $23,500-$24,000. Honda launched the 2010 Insight in the U.S. last month with a base price of $20,470, versus the 2009 Prius' base price of $22,720.

Toyota executives previously had maintained that they did not consider the Insight a direct competitor because the Honda hybrid, while also seating five, is a compact while the 5-passenger Prius is a mid-sized car. The Insight also delivers less fuel economy, with an EPA combined city-highway rating of 41 miles per gallon versus the 2010 Prius' 50 mpg rating.

Pressure from Toyota dealers who fear losing hybrid customers to Honda in is believed to have influenced the decision to add a cut-rate model to the Prius lineup.

In Japan - but not in the U.S. - Toyota also will continue selling the second-generation ('09) Prius, heavily stripped down, as an inexpensive, fuel-efficient car for commercial and government fleets.

Source: Automotive News via Green Car Advisor

Honda Insight sells 569 units in first week of US sales

The Honda 2010 Insight hybrid, which made its sales debut in the US in limited quantities on 24 March, posted sales of 569 units through the end of the month.

The Insight, which carries an EPA rating of 40/43/41 city/highway/combined miles per gallon, has an MSRP of $19,800, excluding tax, license, registration, destination charges and options.

Sales of the Insight in Japan, which began in February, have been brisk, and have helped the automaker weather the slump there. Last week, Honda said that it had received orders for 21,000 Insights in Japan. To keep up with the strong demand, the company’s Suzuka factory in Mie Prefecture has been producing 600 Insights a day. Honda is now dedicating 40% of the factory’s capacity to making the hybrid vehicles.

Source: Green Car Congress

In hybrid price war, new Prius battles Insight

OYAMA — Toyota’s chief engineer, Akihiko Otsuka, chose a curvy test-drive course near Mount Fuji to show off the smooth handling of the prototype of the remodeled Prius hybrid, set to reach showrooms in May.

He proudly told reporters about its outstanding mileage—50 miles per gallon—roof solar panel, collision safety features and how fun it was to drive.

But throughout the recent event at Fuji Speedway, Otsuka was just as intent on stressing how the Prius performed better than the new, hot-selling rival hybrid from Honda, the Insight. But he was surprised at the upstart’s price—$2,000 to $4,000 less than the current Prius model.

“It was lower than anything I had expected,” he said with a little laugh. “Honda has done a great job.”

Welcome to the new price war in hybrid vehicles.

Toyota’s Prius, the long-reigning hybrid king, faces its toughest competition yet in the Insight, whose sales have already topped 21,000 in just a month and a half in Japan—more than triple Honda Motor Co’s target.

The Insight starts at 1.89 million yen ($19,000) in Japan, and $19,800 in the U.S., where it arrives in showrooms this month.

The current model of the Prius now sells for $22,000 in the U.S. and 2.3 million yen ($23,000) in Japan. The remodeled third-generation Prius is a bigger car with a more powerful engine than the current Prius and would have otherwise been expected to bear a higher price tag.

A hybrid offers savings at the gas pump because of its superior mileage that comes from switching between a gasoline engine and an electric motor. But they tended to be more expensive because of the motor, battery and other extra parts—until the arrival of the Insight.

Otsuka said Toyota was considering pricing the new model lower than the current model, while declining to disclose the price. The stronger yen has made price-slashing difficult in the U.S. But he also said Toyota was well aware it wasn’t a wise idea to set the U.S. price too much higher than the Japan price.

For the longer term, Toyota is also developing a smaller hybrid that will compete more directly with the Insight, he said.

He did not give details but said it would be a “Vitz-class” vehicle, a subcompact like the Yaris in the U.S. He said that would make for a more affordable addition to Toyota’s lineup.

The Nikkei, Japan’s major business daily, reported recently that the planned model would underprice the Insight, costing no more than a comparable regular car, and is expected to go on sale in 2011. It did not cite sources, which is standard for Japanese media reports.

The world’s automakers have been working hard to develop hybrids although their appeal has subsided somewhat after oil prices have declined in recent months. Toyota’s Prius is the global top-seller in gas-electric hybrids at a cumulative 1.2 million sold around the world since its 1997 debut.

Ford Motor Co will soon release its Fusion hybrid, a midsize sedan. German automakers Daimler AG and BMW AG are also planning hybrids, although those models as luxury cars are likely to cost more than the humbler Prius and Insight.

The battle among hybrids comes amid a steep drop in auto demand that has hit Japan’s top brands hard. Toyota is expecting a 350 billion yen ($3.67 billion) loss for the fiscal year through March—its first such yearly red ink since 1950. Honda is forecasting an 87% fall in profit.

Still, there has been speculation in the Japanese media that Toyota would not only set the new Prius price lower than initially expected at about 2 million yen but that it will also continue to sell the current Prius, matching Insight’s price.

It would be an unusual move in the industry, where old models are discontinued. Toyota declined comment on the reports.

“The popularity of hybrids is going to pick up momentum very quickly because of their low prices,” said Yasuaki Iwamoto, analyst with Okasan Securities Co in Tokyo.

But the price war will also cut into profit margins from hybrids, already slimmer than those from regular vehicles, Iwamoto said.

Toyota has also cut costs required to make its hybrid system by about 20% to 35%, Otsuka said, while not giving specific numbers. To keep the starting price tag low, frills and perks for the new Prius will likely be offered as options, according to Toyota.

Norio Ano, a Honda official overseeing Insight’s development, said Wednesday that further cost-cutting and leaner production would be needed at Honda, if Prius is going to be priced close to the Insight.

“We will have to go back to scratch and review all our procedures from step one,” he said. “It’s hats off to Toyota if they can make it work as a business at the prices being reported.”

An ingenious feature of the Prius is the solar panel on the roof, which powers an air-ventillation fan that works automatically while the car is parked so you don’t have to get into an uncomfortably hot car.

Otsuka wasn’t shy about his determination not to get beaten by the Insight.

It’s no accident the marketing slogan for the new Prius is, “the only hybrid for the earth,” he said. He really believes Prius will continue to be the best in mileage, drivability and brand power.

The Insight gets 40 miles per gallon in city driving and 43 mpg on highways, not as good as the 48 mpg in city driving and 45 mph on highways for the Prius already on sale. The revamped Prius gets 50 mpg, according to Toyota.

“We almost gave up on reaching our goal for mileage but we stuck to it,” Otsuka said. “The Prius is the iconic hybrid.”

Source: Japan Today

【インサイト エコランチャレンジ】高速走行で好燃費を出すコツ

◆速度を落としすぎない

メディア対抗の「インサイト エコランチャレンジ」で東京・鈴鹿間27km/リットルという平均燃費を出したレスポンスチーム。エンジンに負担をかける高速走行はハイブリッドカーに不利というのが定説だが、走り方次第ではかなりの燃費が期待できることが分かった。

注意したいのは、「速度を落としすぎない」ということ。燃費を意識すると、アンビエントメーターの表示はエコ運転を示すグリーンで保ちたいのがドライバーの心理。だが、グリーン表示を維持しようとするあまり、上り坂にさしかかった際にスピードが思いのほか落ちてしまう。

人間の脳とは不思議なモノで、アンビエントメーター中にデジタルの速度表示があるにもかかわらず、それがほとんど目に入らず、メーターの表示色ばかり注意 が向いてしまうのだ。バックミラーの後続車がどんどん近づいてくるのに気づいて、元の速度に戻すためにあわててアクセルを踏むと、これが燃費に悪影響をお よぼしてしまう。また高速道路での過度な減速は流れを妨げ、後続車から追突される危険も生じる。

こうならないコツは、時にはバッテリーのアシストも積極的に活用することだ。上り坂にさしかかったら、アンビエントメーターが青になるのを覚悟で、ゆっくりとアクセルを踏み込む。


◆バッテリーのアシストも活用

インサイトの開発責任者（LPL）、関康成氏は「エンジンの効率が一番いいのはスロットル全開の一歩手前の領域」と説明するが、ここでいう「スロットル全開」とは、「アクセルベタ踏み」とは意味が異なる。

走行状況に応じてコンピュータが最適なスロットル開度を制御するドライブ・バイ・ワイヤ（DBW）を採用しているインサイトでは、上り坂にさしかかった時 にじわじわとアクセルを踏み込むことでエンジンの効率のいい領域を積極的に使おうとしてくれるからだ。ベタ踏みしてしまうと、クルマは急加速を必要として いると判断して、効率よりも加速のためにエンジン回転数を必要以上に上げてしまう。

開発陣によると、数ヶ月にわたってヨーロッパでインサイトの足回りを鍛えたという。じっさい今回、オドメーター8000km前後を示していたインサイトの 「L」グレードで東京 - 鈴鹿間を走った限りでは、70 - 80km/hでは足の固さが若干感じられたが、90km/h以上になるとよりフラットな乗り味に変化した。エコ性能だけでなく、元気のいい走りのポテン シャルもインサイトは秘めている。

ソース: Response

「インサイト」の最高燃費ランキング情報を Hondaのホームページ上で公開

　Hondaは、「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」の会員向けホームページで提供している新型ハイブリッドカー「インサイト」の全国での最高燃費ランキング情報を、4月1日（水）よりHondaのホームページ^※1上で一般公開を開始する。

　インサイトの最高燃費ランキングは、インサイトユーザー^※2が楽しみながら低燃費走行できることを目的とし、インターナビ情報センターにアップロードされた、全国を走るインサイトのカーナビで記録された情報をもとに1日単位の平均燃費^※3を 競う「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」のサービスである。これまでは、「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」会員のインサイトユーザーのみが閲覧できた情 報であったが、この情報をHondaのホームページ上で公開することにより、ドライバーの低燃費運転を支援するエコアシスト（エコロジカル・ドライブ・ア シスト・システム）の魅力やインサイトの実用燃費の良さを多くの方に知っていただくことを目的としている。

　なお、「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」では、3月28日（土）より開始される高速道路のETC割引に即日対応し、「インターナビ・ルート^※4」内の「ETC割引ルート」や会員向けホームページサービス「出発時刻アドバイザー」で最新の料金割引を活用したルート案内を提供していく。

※1		http://www.honda.co.jp/INSIGHT/ もしくは http://www.honda.co.jp/INSIGHT/assist-system/index.html
※2		「インターナビ・プレミアムクラブ」会員で、任意で「ランキング」にエントリーしているインサイトユーザー
※3		ドライブ単位の平均燃費をもとに計算している。1ドライブ単位の平均燃費は、エンジンを掛けてから切るまでとし、エンジンを切ったときにカーナビに自動的に登録される
※4		対応車種：レジェンド、オデッセイ、アコード、アコードツアラー

ソース: ホンダのWebサイト