Right Lane Cruiser
04-28-2009, 08:13 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Japanese_Flag_30x22.jpg Honda concluded from the Prius's success that it too needs a five-seater, purpose-built hybrid. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124087442785561261.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Honda_Insight-II.jpgJoseph B. White - The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com) - April 28, 2009
It isn't wise to underestimate Honda. ;) --Ed.
Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are about to go head to head in a high-mileage hybrid smackdown.
In one corner, we have the new 2010 Toyota Prius, the third generation of the most successful gas-electric hybrid on the market by far. Classed as a midsize car because of its interior space, the new Prius weighs in with an EPA fuel-economy rating of 51 miles per gallon city, 48 mpg highway. It's got 24 more horses under the hood than the outgoing model -- combining the 98 horsepower four-cylinder gasoline motor and the equivalent of 36 horsepower from the battery-powered electric-drive system.
In the other corner stands the challenger, the new Honda Insight. The Insight is a smaller car -- it's classified as a compact -- and has a smaller, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It gets its "hybrid" designation thanks to a system Honda calls "Integrated Motor Assist," which uses an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission to give a helping hand to the four-cylinder gas engine. Compared with the hardware-intensive Prius system, this is Hybrid Lite. The Insight's mileage is rated by the EPA at 40 mpg city, 43 mpg highway.
Game over. Toyota wins, right? Not so fast.
Rattling the Champ
Honda has already rattled the champ, and the first round hasn't really begun. Honda priced its new Insight at a shade under $20,000, about $2,000 less than the outgoing Prius base model. In response, Toyota is scrambling to offer a new base-base-model 2010 Prius that will start at $21,000, and held the price of its most popular Prius model at $22,000. The El Cheapo Prius won't arrive until... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124087442785561261.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Honda_Insight-II.jpgJoseph B. White - The Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com) - April 28, 2009
It isn't wise to underestimate Honda. ;) --Ed.
Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are about to go head to head in a high-mileage hybrid smackdown.
In one corner, we have the new 2010 Toyota Prius, the third generation of the most successful gas-electric hybrid on the market by far. Classed as a midsize car because of its interior space, the new Prius weighs in with an EPA fuel-economy rating of 51 miles per gallon city, 48 mpg highway. It's got 24 more horses under the hood than the outgoing model -- combining the 98 horsepower four-cylinder gasoline motor and the equivalent of 36 horsepower from the battery-powered electric-drive system.
In the other corner stands the challenger, the new Honda Insight. The Insight is a smaller car -- it's classified as a compact -- and has a smaller, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. It gets its "hybrid" designation thanks to a system Honda calls "Integrated Motor Assist," which uses an electric motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission to give a helping hand to the four-cylinder gas engine. Compared with the hardware-intensive Prius system, this is Hybrid Lite. The Insight's mileage is rated by the EPA at 40 mpg city, 43 mpg highway.
Game over. Toyota wins, right? Not so fast.
Rattling the Champ
Honda has already rattled the champ, and the first round hasn't really begun. Honda priced its new Insight at a shade under $20,000, about $2,000 less than the outgoing Prius base model. In response, Toyota is scrambling to offer a new base-base-model 2010 Prius that will start at $21,000, and held the price of its most popular Prius model at $22,000. The El Cheapo Prius won't arrive until... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124087442785561261.html