Prius fighter: Honda reveals details about new global hybrid
Click on the image for more shots of the Honda FCX Clarity
Honda's upcoming dedicated hybrid model is expected to debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, and a recent interview with Honda CEO Takeo Fukui revealed that the car will look similar to its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the FCX Clarity. Although many upcoming hybrid models use lithium ion batteries (including the Chevy Volt and Honda's own FCX), Honda plans to stick with the tried-and-true nickel metal hydride technology for its new machine along with an engine derived from the Civic's, though smaller, lighter and with newly programmed electronics. Also like the Civic and Accord, the new hybrid model will use the same nameplate the world over; what that nameplate will be remains a mystery. Insight, anyone?
Expected to be priced below the Civic Hybrid, Honda hopes to sell 200,000 of its new hybrid model per year. We expect that the new machine will start an epic battle between Honda and Toyota for supremacy in the entry-level hybrid market, much as they already duke it out in the midsize sedan range with the Accord and Camry. Consumers only stand to benefit from the competition, so we look forward to more information as it becomes available.
Gallery: LA 2007: 2009 Honda FCX Clarity
[Sources: Hybrid Cars, Automotive News (sub. req'd), AutoblogGreen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
John Starnes 11:06AM (3/29/2008)
I love the Clarity both for its wonderfully sleek futuristic looks and underlying concept, so I look forward to seeing this new model!
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vintage 12:16PM (3/29/2008)
Just an FYI: Hybrids are NOT good for the environment. Any new car isn't. The amount of pollution created in the production of one new car is immense, equating to the pollution of over 600,000 miles of driving. Think of the amazing amounts of energy required to extract raw materials, ship them, refine them, recycle existing things, refine oils to create plastics, rubber, and vinyls, the amount of leather, the paint solvents, the fumes from all the adhesives and finishes, it's just amazing. If you REALLY want to be green, instead of just 'looking green', keep an old car on the road longer. Keep it well maintained, and ignore your resale value. When something goes wrong fix it until you can't fix it anymore. Right now our overconsumption is causing massive global problems in our economy, the environment, and all sorts of political situations. This massive overconsumption also reduces the value of used vehicles, which makes cars that need a fairly simple thing wind up in the junkyard, instead of being driven for another 50-100,000 miles. Be truly green. Drive an older vehicle.
spw 1:04PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage - your point is moot. If you "really" wanted to be green, then buy bike and ride in public transporation.
So your point is?
People will buy cars. It is better for enviroment if they buy hybrid instead of similar vehicle in non-hybrid variant.
Someone buying LS600h is not considering Yaris. They are looking at V8 or V12 engined vehicle. Same goes for Camry or RX.
p.s. 600,000 miles? where did you get that info?
John Starnes 1:13PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage I agree fully with your post and that is why I intend to keep my 1998 Dodge Caravan running as long as I can. BUT...at some point folks WILL want a new car, and increasingly progressive and benign vehicles like these two plus GM's Volt and (hopefully) their fuel cell "skateboard" cars could soon phase out the gas guzzlers, which at some point likely to come soon, will include "vintage" cars like mine based on outdated ICE technology.
Again, since I love sleek futurism and find the Clarity stunning visually (would love the learn its coefficient of drag!) I am eager to see this new low-priced Honda hybrid.
vintage 3:55PM (3/29/2008)
Actually NO. Hybrids are not necessarily better, especially the ones that use lithium ion batteries. Do you know where ALL lithium ion batteries are produced? China and japan. Guess where most come from? The country that has zero environmental regulations, zero human rights, zero animal rights, and has slave labor. Yep. China. Then those lithium ion batteries get shipped ALL THE WAY around the world, using a big diesel engine the whole time, all to make your car get marginally better gas mileage than a 1987 Honda CRX.
caddy dave 3:12PM (3/29/2008)
vintage,
Stupid people like you make me want to buy a Hummer and go out to the forest and run over a couple of thousand sapplings and dump my oil and antifreeze in lake Michigan. Or better yet, just run over a bunch of "greenies"
idave101 3:27PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage,
Have you tried putting some data behind your argument? Let's do some quick math, you took algebra in school right? Well I won't jump to too many conclusions.
Let's put 600,000 miles of pollution in financial terms. At 2004 gas pricing $2.80/gallon @ 30mpg, that's $56,000 in fuel costs. Granted all forms of energy that go into producing an auto (coal, oil, nuke, elect, etc) don't cost the same ammt, so let's take that number and knock 75% off... $14,000 in energy costs alone that went into "the production of one new car".
Hmmm... that's an aweful lot of money being spent while not considering labor, overhead, equipment, etc.
$14k might not be the right number, but it sure puts your 600,000 mile argument in question.
2004m3driver 3:29PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage makes a very good point. Except overconsumption helps the economy at a cost to the environment. I could have probably drive my older car for a bit longer, but I sold it to someone else. So someone is still helping the economy right? Do you think cars break down as fast as they are being made? Probably about the same, but maybe its catching up to us with everyone making reliable cars now. California is to blame for much of the environmental problems then. Since we have more registered vehicles than driver licenses.
Mallory 3:36PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage makes a very flawed point:
http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/askpablo-time-to-get-a-new-car-002538.php
the other steve jobs 5:52PM (3/29/2008)
i lived in a place where people didn't buy many new cars.... Los Angeles. You couldn't see the mountains a few miles away because of all the crap in the air.
lets just all drive 1981 Cadillac Town Cars, get 11 mpg, and spew 100% smog out the tailpipes...
i love brainless greenies. I'd drive an all electric car, but the freaking greenies have done everything in their power to stop true energy independence and environmentally friendly power - nuclear. Pebble-bed nuclear.
wankers
RobAFromNC 6:10PM (3/29/2008)
Vintage,
You should go to Cuba. They're still driving cars from the 1950's there...
Pokey 11:13AM (3/29/2008)
Why do all of these "eco-friendly" cars have to be so homely looking? I know aerodynamics plays a big part in the design of these things, but, can't they give them a little more personallity than a melted jelly bean?
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Ultimo Dragon 11:30AM (3/29/2008)
Square.
Noah 12:20PM (3/29/2008)
Mostly...no. Adding creases or ridges doesn't help, but headlight shape is ok. Actually, MB did a concept in 2005, called the Bionic, modeled after the Boxfish. Its drag is Cd .19. The Prius is .26, the Insight .25, the EV1 .195. The Boxfish is extremely aerodynamic at Cd .06 (close to a water droplet .04)
The Bionic was boxy, so it had plenty of room. The styling is quite different from a Jellybean.
http://images.worldcarfans.com/2005/6/7/2050607.004/2050607.004.Mini5L.jpg
Aetius 11:19AM (3/29/2008)
Kudos to Honda for realizing that small, light efficiency is just as important as the fuel or technology in a hybrid. Enough with those 'hybrid' Q7s and LS400h.
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Jeff McMahon 11:30AM (3/29/2008)
I saw one of these in Torrance, CA, yesterday and it is definitely a heard-turner--looks as good in person as it does in photos. And cheaper than the insipid Civic hybird? I see a hit here.
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Mike 12:09PM (3/29/2008)
The Civic hybrid > you
Darrell 12:02PM (3/29/2008)
Personally, I like the styling of the FCX Clarity. The exterior is everything the Prius dreams it was and the interior is pure Acura. I wish that it was available in more markets so I'd be able to check it out.
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creaturesofwar 12:09PM (3/29/2008)
It's ugly in my opinion but better than the current Prius. I'm fine with it looking homely or comfy or however you call it. It's just a commuter car so my ass better enjoy sitting in it for long period of time.
They seriously got the lithium problem solve already? Last time I saw em exploding laptops.
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Ian 12:25PM (3/29/2008)
How is an entirely new model less expensive than an existing Civic Hybrid, for which development costs are shared with the gasoline engined variant sold in greater numbers?
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