Automobile News

The new Honda Insight seems to rival the Toyota Prius. To make it more attractive than the original Insight, Honda has incorporated some innovative features, such as an Eco Assist and a five-door hatchback. However, to know the accurate price, we will have to wait till its launch in April. Since it is a Prius fighter, we can assume the price to be below that of the Prius.

If you compare it with the original Honda Insight of 2000-2006, this one is also a hybrid model but it does have more seats. Yes, instead of two seats there are five of them. Just like its competitor Prius, it has also offers the comfort of folding seats and a hatchback too. In fact, Insight is specifically planned to accommodate a different need. It is designed to house its various electronic components, a gas tank as well as a high-voltage battery.

In case of mileage, it is estimated that the Insight will give a 40/43 mpg, which is lower than the 48/45 mpg of Prius. However, some reports suggest that this estimated EPA is just a minimum evaluation. So you can expect more….which is very good, especially since even with lowered petrol prices, mpg has become one of the most important features of a car; far more important than having the latest in-car navigation or entertainment system like the Kenwood KVT-522. As a good point, the Insight has the calibre to depend on the electric power for a distance up to 30 mph and even 50 mph for the downhill driving. All these features definitely give it a “sporty” image.

The Insight will be available in an EX and a LX trim levels: EX offers more functional features and is appropriate for the consumers interested in innovative characters.

Tags for this article: 2009, hybrid, toyota prius

PSA Peugeot Citroën and Robert Bosch GmbH have entered into an important strategic partnership to build and market diesel hybrid technology. Under the agreement, Bosch is now responsible to co-develop, industrialise and supply electric motors and power electronics for its partner’s four-wheel-drive diesel hybrid powertrain project.

This innovative and futuristic diesel hybrid technology was unveiled at the recently concluded Paris Motor Show on the Peugeot Prologue and Citroën Hypnos concept cars, and will be an integral part of the participating companies’ vehicles starting in 2011.

The decision to build diesel hybrid technology signifies the importance bestowed by PSA Peugeot Citroen to embrace technologies that will take into account the various environmental hazards. Environment friendly and fuel efficient cars are becoming essential in today’s modern world, and generally of more importance than other factors, such as having an in-car DVD player, or nice rims. In fact, the hybrid technology rates highly in the company’s environmental strategy. With this innovative collaboration, PSA Peugeot Citroën has really set the momentum for the rapid introduction of hybrid diesel vehicles in Europe. Meanwhile, Bosch, the world’s leading automobile equipment manufacturer, also has an important role to enact as the supplier of the various component parts to build the system.

Bosch is bound by the agreement to supply the rear electric motor, the front-mounted high voltage alternator and the power electronics that will control them. Further, Bosch will also provide PSA Peugeot Citroën specifications other important components like an interface between the electronic components, an antilock braking system (ABS), and an energy recovery enhancer in the form of electronic stability programme (ESP).

The collaboration, which will involve brainstorming sessions among the designers and engineers of the two parties, is expected to optimise the hybrid powertrain’s operation with the simultaneous acceleration of acquisition of mutual expertise in this area.

Tags for this article: citroen, diesel, hybrid, peugeot

Mercedes-Benz has decided to give a definitive thrust to their insatiable experimentation on different models with their decision to unleash the company’s first hybrid version, the S-Class flagship sedan early next year.

The model, identified by the name S400 BlueHYBRID, will be powered by a modified version of the 3.5-liter V6 that has been in vogue in the standard S350 European-market sedan. The modified version, according to company sources, has proved to be a great asset in the final analysis as it has remarkably improved the engine’s efficiency. Moreover, it has been connected with an electric motor, the necessary control equipment, in addition to a compact lithium ion battery. All of the above is more than sufficient for powering any onboard gps navigation, in car entertainment, or car speaker stereo systems as well.  The arrangement thus more or less resembles a conventional S-class as seating and cargo capacity are left untouched.

The hybrid version has some innate advantages over its contemporaries as for instance, in the case of say the big Benz, it captures braking energy and provides additional boost, apart from providing a substantial amount of instantly available torque. The car lacks on an electric-only mode, but nevertheless has a stop/start system which by default will kill the petrol engine when the car is rolling to a stop, and not turn it on again until it gets back underway.

Performance wise the model has managed many a rave reviews, especially for its environment friendly traits. Statistically, it emits CO2 at a rate of 190 g/km which is a significant drop of 20% from the standard, petrol-only S350. It also gives you the benefit of better mileage, as it consumes gas at a rate of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometers.

While we have long been used to exorbitant petrol prices in the UK, Americans spoiled by super cheap petrol are starting to cringe in the face of runaway prices. 80 percent of consumers in the US expect petrol prices to only continue to rise. In light of this development hybrid vehicles have become especially interesting and attractive.

According to a study by the consulting company J.D. Power, around 62 percent of drivers are considering purchasing a fuel saving hybrid for their next car. A year ago this number was only at 50 percent. The interest in ethanol powered vehicles has also increased during the same period from 43 percent to 47 percent.

So it comes as no surprise, that out of the 30 most environmentally friendly cars in the US determined by a new study, hybrid cars took up eight spots. Four of these hybrids stem from Toyota alone: the Prius, the Camry Hybrid, as well as the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus RX 400h. Toyota manages to have a total of seven cars on the environmentally friendly list. Nissan, Chevrolet, and Honda follow with four models each. Interest in hybrid cars in the UK has also been increasing as of late, although many people are put off by the higher expense and believe diesel is more environmentally friendly.