L.A. Auto Show: Honda Insight -- a cheaper shade of green
From the dawn of the hybrid age –- figure 2003, when the second-generation Toyota Prius appeared –- naysayers played the “hybrid premium” parlor game: Comparing the difference between the price of a hybrid vehicle and a conventionally powered model and calculating how long before you would recoup in fuel savings what you laid out for the fancy hybrid powertrain.
The coming-soon Honda Insight puts an end to all that. Priced perhaps “significantly below” a Civic Hybrid ($23,550) says a company spokesman, the Insight pretty much zeroes out the hybrid premium and returns combined fuel economy of about 45 mpg. Honda calls it a five-door – sure, whatever – and no, you’re eyes do not deceive you. It looks a lot like a Prius.
Also borrowed from the Toyota was the notion of a real-time feedback mechanism that encourages drivers to drive more efficiently. Honda’s Eco Assist instrument display glows a warm, chlorophyll-like green when drivers are driving efficiently. But during hard acceleration and braking (less efficient) the instrument backlight changes to blue. How sad.
-- Dan Neil
Just to set the record straight, the "dawn" of the hybrid age in the US was 1999 with the first generation Honda Insight.
Too many people are brainwashed with the Prius.. jeez.
Posted by: tonyE | November 25, 2008 at 07:54 AM
I've read that the new Ford Fusion Hybrid and its Mercury sibling also have a real-time driver feedback display that grows a green vine with leaves in the corner of the high def LCD instrument cluster in response to fuel efficient driving. It appears that Ford has put a unique spin on that kind of technology. As I understand it, the Fusion display also offers various levels of data about fuel consumption and battery drain. Very cool stuff. Glad to see a domestic doing this kind of thing.
Posted by: Kris Spencer | November 25, 2008 at 07:59 AM
The 'dawn' of our current hybrid movement was in the early 90's. US Government incentives spurred Detroit to pursue the technology... they did... scared Honda & Toyota into beginning their own programs and then, characteristically, dropped the ball. And so - here we are.
Posted by: PulSamsara | November 25, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Is there a hybrid convertible on the market?
And why not? (And I don't mean the one that's
going to retails for over 100 gs.)
If not, is there one announced?
Posted by: Bpb Klein | November 25, 2008 at 01:14 PM
The original Honda Insight came well before the Prius ever started showing up in your neighbors driveway
Posted by: Nick C | November 26, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Bpb--I don't think there are any hybrid convertibles. the problem convertibles is that they are much heavier than hard-top cars because the sides are reinforced with more steel to keep the frame from twisting. The heavier the car, the less fuel efficient it is. With hybrids, the goal is to be as fuel efficient as possible. Until hybrids get much, much better or electric cars get much, much better, I don't think we'll see a hybrid convertible that is worth buying.
Posted by: tmvu13 | November 26, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Really makes good sense, but we never thought of it... thanks for the info....
Posted by: Honda Car Deals | November 28, 2008 at 07:03 AM
" It looks a lot like a Prius."
Please, Prius is a copy of the Civic 2 door (back window is a CRX copy)
Since I was selling Civic Hybirds YEARS BEFORE A PRIUS WAS MADE, I must say you are incorrect. Since Honda has always been first, with a hybrid, with the Insight, with hydrogen cars, Toyota's Prius is just like ALL of Toyotas, a bad copy of a Honda. Look at the Odyssey and tell me Toyota has not copied that van with their version, but then anything is better than the 1 star safety rating the Toyota Deathtrap/the Previa.
Posted by: hpg | December 02, 2008 at 08:54 AM