ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight, 63.4 mpg!

2010 Honda Insight 2009 is shaping up to be a big year for hybrids as Ford launches the Fusion and Milan hybrids, Toyota brings us the third generation Prius and the new Lexus HS250h and Honda revives the Insight brand. The original Insight was the first hybrid to make it to the US market but it was never very commercially successful. Honda only managed to sell about 18,000 Insights worldwide over 6 years. The new Insight is a whole different story. This time around, Honda has created a five seat hatchback that it says will be the most affordable hybrid in the world. Honda is targeting world wide sales of 200,000 Insights a year with half of those going to North America. AutoblogGreen spent a day driving the new Insight in and around Carefree AZ just before the holidays. Unlike the Prius which is efficient but has never been particularly appealing to drive, the Insight makes good use of its Fit based chassis for fun steering and handling and still manages to get outstanding fuel efficiency. ABG managed to achieve an average 63.4 mpg on an efficiency drive and 44 mpg on a mountain road pleasure drive. Read all about the new Insight at AutoblogGreen. Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. [Source: AutoblogGreen]

 

Production Honda Insight hybrid debuts in Detroit

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut today at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, ending several weeks of image leaks and specifications conjecture. Utilizing the latest generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight will provide consumers with an affordable option for eco-friendly driving. The EPA fuel-economy rating for the vehicle is 40mpg in the city and 43mpg on the highway, and to ensure owners realize the full benefits of the hybrid technology, it will come with a special Ecological Drive Assist System. 2008 Honda Insight hybrid concept

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Honda shows concept lineup for Tokyo Auto Salon 2009

Honda Access Corp. has released details and images of the concepts it will show at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon later this week. Honda Access will feature two new Modlulo 2 concept - one based on the Honda S2000 convertible roadster and one based on the Fit RS. Both models represent the new value that Sports Modulo customization has to offer with a new exterior styling features chiseled lines, with a more driver-focused interior. Honda Access will also show Life and Crossroad Styling Study Models, a Racing Modulo Civic Type R competition vehicle and other automobiles and motorcycles featuring Honda's most advanced equipment. Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery. Honda - Tokyo Auto Salon 2009:

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Honda is reconsidering S2000 successor, CR-Z Coupe, V8 and RWD for Acura

Honda recently announced that it has shelved the NSX program to concentrate more on increasing sales and affordable products that consumers are interested in buying. It seems like the NSX isn't the only thing Honda is pulling the plug on. According to AutoCar, Honda is also reconsidering a range of rear-wheel-drive vehicles for Acura along with a proposed V8 engine. It is also rethinking the next-generation Honda S2000 and the upcoming CR-Z Coupe. Sources say that Acura will be hit the hardest by the changes. Adding onto the cancelation NSX, the loss of the rear-wheel-drive platform and a V8 engine will cause Acura to be even less competitive amongst other luxury Japanese, German and American brands. AutoCar says that Honda will also be making other changes like a single Honda Accord that will sell globally instead of the pair of Accords that exist now - one for the U.S. and one for the rest of the world. Source: AutoCar

 

Report: Honda cancels next-gen S2000, V8 program and CR-Z convertible

Tough times in terms of sales and profits are hitting the entire industry hard, but Honda appears to be taking it particularly badly if the latest report from Japan proves true. News of the cancellation of Honda's V8 program, its CR-Z convertible, and perhaps most lamentably, its next-gen S2000 roadster, has emerged today. The report indicates that Honda's drastic reshaping of its future product lineup is being done with an eye to a leaner, greener brand image, according to AutoWeek. These factors would certainly toll the death knell of a planned RWD Acura V8 - possibly a heavily redesigned RL due around 2015, just as the V10-powered NSX has met its demise. 2008 Honda OSM Roadster concept

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Honda previews 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon concepts

While U.S. carmakers prepare for the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Honda is readying a range of concepts to show off at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon, which celebrates Japan's modified vehicles. The headline concepts are a pair of Sports Modulo cars based on the S2000 and Fit (Jazz). Modulo is Honda's Japanese-market factory customization, and the Sports Modulo S2000 Concept and Sports Modulo Fit Concept are intended to show what could be in the works for future customization packages. The aggressive and flamboyant exterior styling is matched inside both cars with upgraded materials and finishes. Honda at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon

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Honda reportedly kills S2000 replacement, V8 program, RWD Acuras

Honda's attempt to right-size its development schedule and cope with the economic downturn apparently extends beyond the cancellation of the next NSX. According to Autocar, HoMoCo is right-sizing its plans for the next two years, and that includes rethinking the development of a range of rear-wheel-drive Acuras, a new V8, a convertible based on the CR-Z and the S2000's successor. Acura seems to be carrying the weight of the bad news, with its RWD 7-series rival, originally due out in 2015, cancelled indefinitely, along with development of a V8 engine that would allow the brand to compete with the best and brightest from Germany. The Euro-market Legend could also be on the block and there's a chance that Honda will stop developing two separate Accord models for sale in the U.S. and abroad, instead opting for one mid-size sedan to be sold worldwide. Unfortunately, the development cease-fire also extends to Honda's smaller offerings. Honda planned to release a drop-top version of its CR-Z after the hybrid goes on sale next year, but that model has been nixed. Even more disturbingly, 2009 will be the last year of production for the S2000, with no heir apparent waiting in the wings. We're hoping to get more details on the cut-backs as the week progresses, but needless to say, there's more than enough disappointment to go around. [Source: Autocar]

 

Leakage: Euro-spec 2009 Honda Insight

Euro-spec 2009 Honda Insight We're still six days away from the official unveiling of the 2009 Honda Insight at the Detroit Auto Show, but the crew at Carscoop just couldn't wait to release images of the European-spec hybrid ahead of its debut. The Euro model shown here won't differ too much from the U.S. version (we like our steering wheels on the right-hand side), but the stylistic differences between the production version and its conceptual predecessor are obvious at first glance. As we've seen before, the front fascia carries over largely unchanged, although the technorific LED headlamps, deeply recessed fog lamps/air intakes and gaudy brightwork are all left on the designer's desk. The side mirrors have grown in proportion to the door handles, and the C-pillar is noticeably thicker than the concept that bowed in Paris. The rear has also been smoothed over, with the Prius-esque (or is that CRX-inspired?) hatch losing a bit of glass, along with the contoured cut-out for the license plate, which is now mounted lower on the bumper, with a prominent "H" badge floating on a body-colored panel. Although the interior hasn't been revealed in full, we get a brief glimpse of the central-mounted tach, "eco" gauges and second tier speedo, which benefits from a backlight that transitions from green to blue when the driver mashes the accelerator and unleashes the full fury of the small-displacement engine through the CVT gearbox. Sales will begin in the U.S. and abroad this spring, with a starting price rumored to hover around $20,000. Gallery: 2009 Honda Insight (Euro) [Source: Carscoop]

 

eBay Find of the Day: World's fastest Honda Civic

Driving around the streets of Los Angeles, it is easy to spot a plethora of Honda Civics attempting to achieve the appearance of the world's fastest economy car. Huge shopping cart wings, monster tachometers and racing stripes often highlight the package. Legitimate world record speed isn't achieved on any city street, however, and not with any aerodynamic packages reminiscent of shopping. It is achieved on the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah. The latest records indicate that there is only one car with the claim to the title of World's Fastest Honda Civic. That car happens to belong to automotive writer Richard Holdener and it is currently available for sale on eBay. Richard's Lucas Oil sponsored 1999 Honda Civic Si ran a top speed of 227.7 mph back in August of this year. Despite the Civic's ability to produce 728 hp at 29 psi of boost, the record was achieved with only 15.2 psi. Inherently weak stock Honda CV joints were apparently the hold-up in laying down the full power band. It certainly wasn't due to any failure of the engine components, since the parts list reads like a roll call of some of the best names in the American Honda tuning game. Any small-displacement four cylinder engine tuned to output in excess of 700 ponies has to be stocked to the gills with improvements. The cost to own this piece of history, and the potential to make some of your own, starts at $21,777.77. The car's located in Las Vegas, Nevada, so those must be some lucky 7's in the price. Thanks for the tip Srihari! Gallery: World's Fastest Civic [Source: eBay Motors]

 

The show ain’t over until Honda says it’s over: Honda NSX concept coming to Detroit?

It was recently reported by AutoExpress that Honda has shelved plans to build the Acura/Honda NSX supercar. Honda made no comment on the report that said Honda pulled the plug on the 600-hp supercar due to the economic slowdown. Well, Autotelegraaf is now saying that Honda will bring the final NSX concept to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month. The report says that the concept will be very close to the final production version which will make its debut at the end of 2009 in Tokyo and 2010 in Europe. The news comes a couple days after Toyota announced that it will still bring the Lexus LF-A to the market by 2011 despite the current economic situation.   Source: Autotelegraaf