2009 Honda hybrid system cost to be cut in half!
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Apathy Kills
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 60,714
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From: The Left Lane
2009 Honda hybrid system cost to be cut in half!
Filed under: Hybrid, Honda
Looking like a cross between the FCX Clarity fuel cell car and the Toyota Prius, Honda's upcoming dedicated hybrid model should come in at a cost a bit lower than current hybrid models. Part of that lower price is due to the fact that Honda has literally cut the cost of its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology in half when compared to the system currently being used in the Civic Hybrid. Apparently, Honda's engineers have managed to simplify the IMA's complicated mechanicals, making it smaller and easier to package in the process.
All of these detail changes add up to a new hybrid contender with an expected base price of just $18,580. Honda so far has had notably less success with its hybrids than rival Toyota, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that the original Insight could seat only two people and the Civic and Accord hybrid models differed too little from their non-hybrid siblings. All of these issues are being resolved with its newest hybrid, which has us awfully excited about the as-yet unnamed (we vote for Insight) Prius-fighter.
Gallery: Spy Shots: Honda Hybrid-only model
[Source: Nikkei]
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Looking like a cross between the FCX Clarity fuel cell car and the Toyota Prius, Honda's upcoming dedicated hybrid model should come in at a cost a bit lower than current hybrid models. Part of that lower price is due to the fact that Honda has literally cut the cost of its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology in half when compared to the system currently being used in the Civic Hybrid. Apparently, Honda's engineers have managed to simplify the IMA's complicated mechanicals, making it smaller and easier to package in the process.
All of these detail changes add up to a new hybrid contender with an expected base price of just $18,580. Honda so far has had notably less success with its hybrids than rival Toyota, but much of that can be attributed to the fact that the original Insight could seat only two people and the Civic and Accord hybrid models differed too little from their non-hybrid siblings. All of these issues are being resolved with its newest hybrid, which has us awfully excited about the as-yet unnamed (we vote for Insight) Prius-fighter.
Gallery: Spy Shots: Honda Hybrid-only model
[Source: Nikkei]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Geese!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 453
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From: Plainfleld
thats a pretty wild strut brace in the engine bay. Looks clean with an engine that appears to barely fit lol. I'm all up for another honda hybrid. I dont want one but its cool to know they are trying to invent new technology or improve on it.
Relevance is irrelevant
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,079
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From: Honolulu, HI
I wish Honda engineers would make the IMA more powerful as well as cheaper and less complicated. I drove a Civic Hybrid the other day and when I could feel the assist kicking in the super smooth torque was awesome.
I think people would pay a little more for a little more power.
I think people would pay a little more for a little more power.