Honda CEO vows next generation Insight will beat Prius in FE

Chuck · #1 05-03-2010, 10:54 AM

Honda is not waiting until 2014 to scrap the I.M.A. for a two-mode hybrid replacement.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II_stars_in_Let_it_Shine.jpg

Colum Wood - AUTOGUIDE - Mar 3, 2010

It looks like Honda is finally committed to a full-hybrid system. --Ed.

Honda’s newish Insight hybrid had a lot of buzz when it first launched, but in just a year it has since faded into oblivion. Sure it undercut the Prius in price, but it didn’t get near the mpgs, and wasn’t the sort of dynamic drive that people have come to expect from a Honda. We didn’t hate the car, but we did find it to be lacking in the sort of engineering prowess Honda prides itself in. Our feelings were echoed by the industry and consumers, who opted for Toyota’s more efficient (if more expensive) Prius at a 5 to 1 rate.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito has recognized this issue and an overall complacency at the Japanese automaker and has vowed to do something about it. Stating quite frankly that he’s not “satisfied,” with the efforts of the company, he has vowed that the next generation Insight will top the Prius in fuel economy. ... [Read More]

Right Lane Cruiser · #2 05-03-2010, 11:12 AM

Oh boy!! This could get really interesting quickly!

PaleMelanesian · #3 05-03-2010, 11:21 AM

"overall complacency at Honda"

That sounds about right, and I hope they can turn it around. I have liked Honda in the past but not so much lately.

Chuck · #4 05-03-2010, 11:26 AM

I'm guessing the Insight III will may be out in 2012 or 2013.

It will be interesting what a Honda full hybrid system will be like....I'm sure they could offer nice improvements, but Toyota by then will have 15 years head start.

Right Lane Cruiser · #5 05-03-2010, 11:29 AM

It may not be quite so bad as that, Chuck. Think of the tech they've got in the FCX Clarity and then imagine what they might do with that (minus the FC stack) in a new hybrid. I don't think think they are all that far back on tech... but they will definitely be playing catch up when it comes to "wheels on the road" experience.

PaleMelanesian · #6 05-03-2010, 11:31 AM

Not to mention the marketing aspect. To the general public, hybrid = Prius.

Chuck · #7 05-03-2010, 11:38 AM

I'll be pulling for Honda

Butterfly Mage · #8 05-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Seeing that I am already getting 54 MPG combined city/highway, a full-hybrid from Honda would probably be capable of upper-60s in the hands of a competent hypermiler? I suppose it depends on the engine the car is mated to. Hopefully they will resist putting in a 3.0L V6 or something crazy like that.

JusBringIt · #9 05-03-2010, 12:02 PM

I'm sick of "we will", where is, "we did"? This is a very political approach. I wont be waiting or counting on them whether they deliver or not. This is such a GM move.
Wait, did I just compared Honda to politics and GM at the same time? I guess I did as it seem it took a while for them to realize the I -II was not making an impact.

Chuck · #10 05-03-2010, 12:10 PM

Ricardo,

I will give Honda some slack because they have had a long history of FE vehicles and still have faith they will comeback. I might lose my faith if Honda slides another five years.

GM is another story. Their last mileage buster - the GEO Metro was imported from South Korea. Domestic vehicles with decent FE...Vega and Corvair - they had issues.