Honda plans hybrid to rival Toyota Prius
Toyota's Prius has been the perennial hybrid player for a few years now and Honda thinks it's about time to provide it with some competition. Honda has big plans for its next generation hybrid, with annual worldwide sales expected to be in the neighborhood of 200,000 – half of which are destined to find homes in the garages of North American consumers.
Unlike the Civic Hybrid which has put a very small dent in the Prius' success, the new model will only be available with a hybrid system and is rumored to take its styling cues from the FCX fuel-cell vehicle set to begin production next year. This new model will be joined by another hybrid based off the CR-Z concept that debuted in Tokyo.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Enok 10:06AM (11/12/2007)
This will be seen as a first-generation Honda model. Toyota, meanwhile, will release a third-generation Prius probably around the same time. Being two generations back won't make Honda look good.
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Jason 11:05AM (11/12/2007)
That's where their marketing folks are going to have to really step it up, pushing the fact that Honda released a hybrid in the US back in 1999 (Honda Insight) and have had a hybrid Civic since 2003 (currently on the 2nd gen Civic Hybrid), so while it may be a first-gen new vehicle, it's far from a 'first-gen' hybrid for Honda (though I agree it may be seen as such).
The uninformed Joe Consumer probably doesn't know Toy is nearly on their 3rd gen Prius hybrid system because the styling hasn't changed since the Prius came into the green spotlight around 2004, and the average consumer probably equates styling with 'generation', ie: next gen vehicle = new styling (I doubt anyone would recognize a 2002 Prius as a Prius). And technically the current Prius is the 3rd gen of the car, using Toy's 2nd gen hybrid system.
And those that have read up on hybrid systems enough to know the different gens of Toy's hybrid systems probably also know that Honda isn't a new-comer to the field, so for them I think the 3rd gen vs "1st gen" view is a moot point.
From what I've read it appears that Toy's hybrid system is more advanced than Honda's, but what makes the Prius stand out vs other hybrids is that it's not just a hybrid version of a regular vehicle, it's only available as a hybrid, and it has unique styling, so everyone knows it's a hybrid when they see it. This is where Honda fell short with the Civic hybrid and why they're finally putting out a hybrid-only model. Yes, the Insight was hybrid-only, but it was really too small and too goofy looking (Honda EV-1 anyone?) for mass acceptance (which is why it never really caught on, despite getting nearly 70mpg).
SherbornSean 1:18PM (11/12/2007)
I doubt consumers will get into deep discussions over what generation whose technology is. They'll want the best vehicle they can afford that meets their needs. Given Honda's track record in providing exactly that, I have high hopes.
Justin 10:17AM (11/12/2007)
Can Honda do it better? That's the big question.
I'll be curious to see how this plays out.
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Mike 10:17AM (11/12/2007)
What could make Honda look good is a superior product. Something they are absolutely capable of.
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raz 10:20AM (11/12/2007)
I guess that leaves Detroit in the clear, right?
LOL
Shipey 11:00AM (11/12/2007)
You're right Raz! Detroit sucks! I heard they built trucks so crappy the motors were failing and the tailgates were falling off. Can you believe it?!
Oh, wait...
But seriously, in regard to hybrids Honda has a long road ahead of them. They don't have Toyota's brand equity, or the buzz of the Volt. (Please note: even as a Detroit supporter, I realize the Volt means nothing until it hits the market. But it's coming...) They're going to need something really substantial to make that sales goal. I hope they do. The Prius isn't particularly fun or beautiful car. Honda could make a big dent with something with a little curb appeal like that concept.
Warren 10:37AM (11/12/2007)
If they make it look like something you might actually want to drive like the picture... HOME RUN!
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naggs 2:24PM (11/12/2007)
it has to do more than just look like something you would want to drive, it has to drive like something you would actually want to drive
if the hybrid only model is going to be different than the crz hybrid, does that mean that there will be a hybrid and standard versions of the crz? i sure hope so
Enok 10:37AM (11/12/2007)
But it would have to be superior to a Toyota car that's still behind a curtain. It would have to jump so far ahead that when the curtain lifts, the Toyota product is already outdated.
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SherbornSean 1:20PM (11/12/2007)
So Honda will have to make a better vehicle than Toyota. Well, given that the Accord is widely perceived to be superior to the Camry, the Civic better than the Corolla, and the Fit better than the Yaris, this shouldn't be so hard.
Devin 11:18AM (11/12/2007)
Honda shouldn't be aiming at the next gen Prius. If they really want to win big marketshare in the hybrid market, they need to aim at the Volt. They must put at least Li ion batteries in the car to leapfrog the Prius. Make it the obsolete hybrid. Have you all seen the Volt commercials on TV? They got my whole family talking. What is that? When can we buy that? How much will it cost? etc... GM will get the technology to market. It may take until 2010 or 2011, but it will come, and much sooner than Toyota's, so that is what Honda needs to aim to do.
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Bob-omb 11:48AM (11/12/2007)
Lithium Ion batteries are still inherently unstable.
All it's gonna take is for one of those Volts to catch on fire, and it could be all over.
Snark 12:50PM (11/12/2007)
Bob-omb...clearly you're utterly ignorant of what you're talking about. The A123 cells are extremely resistant to thermal runaway, and they've demonstrated their durability by punching roofing nails through them. It's OK if you didn't know that, but why are you shooting off your mouth if you clearly haven't done the research required to hold a valid opinion?
icu812ru469 11:20AM (11/12/2007)
Hybrid (electric/gas) is not a 100 year technology that will be around forever. I had read a while back that Hybrid technology as it is now, will basically only have maybe 30 years of marketing life (this was about 4 years ago I read it) and then hydrogen or some other form of Hybrid will take over. Honda just needs to compete with electro/gas for the short run, but concentrate on future technology to be in the forefront.
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Snark 12:52PM (11/12/2007)
Hydrogen has no future. It's an energy storage medium that's less efficient than batteries. Why not just generate electricity with alternative energy sources and pump it into the grid to charge batteries?
Devin 1:00PM (11/12/2007)
Actually, hybrid and EV vehicles have been around for as long as the Internal Combustion Engine has been around. In fact, in 1904, EVs controlled 33% of the market. I'm doing a research paper on this, that's the only reason I know, but now you do too.
Rick 6:59PM (11/12/2007)
Like noted above, Hydrogen is policital speak for 'I'm doing something positive', nothing more.
Electric cars are the future if we can get a decent battery. Hybrid would still rely on a fuel, unless it would be renewable fuel and a battery system I'd want pure plug in. Pop up some solar panels, get energy from the sun to power your home and charge your car sounds like the best option moving forward.
SherbornSean 1:16PM (11/12/2007)
Hybrid technology is not a 100 year technology? Well, hybrids have been around for more than 100 years, so how is that possible?
naggs 2:32PM (11/12/2007)
hybrids have not been around for more than 100 years, that is just plain wrong
by deffinition, a hybrid has an internal combustion engine and some sort of electric motor/generator
an electric only car is not a hybrid
i do believe that in the future all cars will have some of the charastics that we associate with hybrids like battery packs and brake regrenation but in 2050, you will not see "hybrid" badges on cars.
compare it to "fuel injection" or "automatic transmission" or "ABS" badges that you used to see.