Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Honda plans to settle Civic Hybrid mileage suit out of court. Is it a fair deal?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/honda-plans-to-settle-civic-hybrid-mileage-suit-out-of-court-is/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/honda-plans-to-settle-civic-hybrid-mileage-suit-out-of-court-is/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/honda-plans-to-settle-civic-hybrid-mileage-suit-out-of-court-is/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you buy a hybrid, you'll be rewarded with excellent fuel economy, right? Well, that's the idea, but sometimes things don't turn out exactly as we had hoped. Such is apparently the case with a number of Honda Civic Hybrid owners who claim that their vehicles don't even come close to achieving the mileage figures estimated by the EPA, leading to a class action lawsuit against Honda.

Back in the summer of 2007, we conducted a telephone interview with John True, one of the two men who started the suit. At the time, True claimed he only achieved, at best, 34.6 miles per gallon and had averaged well under that figure. The window sticker showed EPA estimates of 49 city and 51 highway, though the EPA's revised 2008 rating sits at 40 city and 45 highway.

For its part, Honda admits to no wrongdoing and points out that it was the EPA that estimated those mileage figures. Still, according to The New York Times, the Japanese automaker has agreed to settle the case out of court. If approved, owners of 2003-2008 Civic Hybrids will get a voucher worth up to $1,000 to purchase a new Honda or a check for $100 if they can prove they complained to Honda about their car's mileage.

Interestingly, the current Civic Hybrid, Insight and Fit - Honda's three most fuel efficient models - are excluded from the list of vehicles eligible for the trade-in or purchase voucher. The two plaintiffs would receive $12,500 and $10,000 and their lawyers would pocket $2.95 million. So, um, is it a fair deal? Perhaps more importantly, is Honda to blame here? Sound off in the comments.


Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid


[Source: The New York Times]

REPORT: Honda plans to settle Civic Hybrid mileage suit out of court. Is it a fair deal? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Civic has been a pillar of the Honda lineup for decades, and high gas prices have made it even more important to the Japanese automaker's success here in the U.S. Back in May and June, Honda couldn't make enough Civics, but with the auto industry here in the States imploding, even Honda's little money maker needs incentives. Right now, buyers with good credit can pick up a brand new 2008 or 2009 Civic with 1.9% financing for 36 months or 3.9% APR for up to 60 months. All models except the GX are included in the offer, even the Civic Hybrid.

If you're not looking to buy a Civic, you can lease one for $1,999 down and $189 a month for 36 months. That's $1,100 cheaper than the previous offer of $2,799 down and $199 a month. Honda says the incentive offers are necessary in part because of lowering gas prices, and the Japanese automaker wants to continue to see Civics fly off dealer lots to keep its new Indiana factory humming. Honda dealers are also happy about the Civic deals in light of Toyota's 0% financing program on 11 vehicles, but they would like to see even more. Between 0% financing at Toyota and hefty discounts on 2009 Civics, we have all the evidence we need that U.S. auto market is completely screwed right now.

Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic


[Source: Nick Sells Hondas]

Honda rolls out low financing rates for best-selling Civic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.9 financing civic1.9FinancingCiviccivic hybridcivic lease specialsCivicHybridCivicLeaseSpecialshonda civicHondaCivicTue, 28 Oct 2008 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda's next hybrid could revive Insight name]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/hondas-next-hybrid-could-revive-insight-name/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/hondas-next-hybrid-could-revive-insight-name/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/hondas-next-hybrid-could-revive-insight-name/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Honda CR-Z concept

First Honda said it was going to press the reset button on its hybrid efforts and come out with something bolder than the Civic Hybrid. Then it laid out plans for a number of hybrids that would be priced considerably more aggressively than the Toyota Prius. One of the concepts, the funky CR-Z, has already got people abuzz.

More details have emerged about the first hybrid to appear, a 5-door hatch with unique styling that's based on the Fit, but three inches taller and one inch wider. It will use the Civic Hybrid's Integrated Motor Assist technology and mate that car's 1.3-liter engine with 94 hp to a 15kW electric motor powered by a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. Fuel economy, according to insider predictions, will be somewhere around 71 - 82 miles per gallon, but that's based on Japanese domestic use. Expect a drop for U.S. comparison.

Honda is considering a return to the name "Insight" for its first new hybrid, which we're all for. The Insight was a brilliant little ride, and we never understood why Honda let it go. Though it was low on practicality with only two seats and not much storage, it was a purpose-built vehicle for big mpg numbers. This potential new Insight will be Honda's global hybrid, and the company expects to sell 100,000 of them in the U.S. annually. Add this to the other three hybrids Honda is planning, and Honda's hybrid future -- assuming it delivers as promised -- looks quite bright.

Gallery: Honda CR-Z Concept


[Source: Auto Observer via eGM Car Tech]

Honda's next hybrid could revive Insight name originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic hybridCivicHybridhondahonda hybridshonda insighthonda insight hybridHondaHybridsHondaInsightHondaInsightHybridhybridhybrid carsHybridCarshybridsTue, 17 Jun 2008 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Prius fighter: Honda reveals details about new global hybrid]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/prius-fighter-honda-reveals-details-about-new-global-hybrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/prius-fighter-honda-reveals-details-about-new-global-hybrid/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/29/prius-fighter-honda-reveals-details-about-new-global-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


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]

Prius fighter: Honda reveals details about new global hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic hybridcivic-hybridCivicHybridglobal hybridglobal-hybridGlobalHybridhondahonda cr-zhonda hybridhonda insighthonda-cr-zhonda-hybridhonda-insightHondaCr-zHondaHybridHondaInsighthybridinsightSat, 29 Mar 2008 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda readies new hybrid attack, calling the Civic Hybrid a mistake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/honda-readies-new-hybrid-attack-calling-the-civic-hybrid-a-mist/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/honda-readies-new-hybrid-attack-calling-the-civic-hybrid-a-mist/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/25/honda-readies-new-hybrid-attack-calling-the-civic-hybrid-a-mist/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has said Honda will now take the hybrid war seriously, with a claim that, "The real competition has just begun." Honda is planning to come out with a hybrid-only model in early 2009 that will provide genuine competition for the Toyota Prius.

It seems everyone has been forced to play off the Prius' cues, such as when Fukui says that, "Until now, it has been an image-based competition, not a business-based competition." Which explains the Civic Hybrid being a misstep, because according to CNW research, 50-percent of folks who buy hybrids need the world to know it's a hybrid because they don't want people to think they are burning the remains of giant lizards.

How does Honda plan to get the consumer's attention a year from now? Primarily, sticker shock -- but the good kind. Fukui said he wants the car to come in below the price of the current Civic Hybrid, which is $23,235. The current Prius starts at $20,950, so Honda needs to count a fair number of beans if they want price alone to be the allure. Fukui did say, nevertheless, that he expected the car to have a lighter hybrid engine, which would give better gas mileage. But will either the Prius or new Honda hybrid get better mileage than the MINI Cooper D?

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Honda readies new hybrid attack, calling the Civic Hybrid a mistake originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Dec 2007 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We knew Honda was capable of a lot, but we'd have never guessed that they'd start producing livestock. The bodacious bovine pictured above (no, the one on the left...sheesh) is a UK-market Civic Hybrid named Clover. It'll be on display at this weekend's Fruitstock festival in London, an event staged by beverage maker innocent to raise money for WellChild, a British charity.

Clover and another Civic Hybrid will be on hand to teach attendees about hybrid cars. According to Honda research, 75% of people don't know how they work, and 50% aren't familiar with them at all, hence the need to set up a hybrid educational display. After Fruitstock, innocent will take custody of Clover for one year, during which the company will use her to promote cleaner cars.

In addition to this weekend's hybrid awareness campaign, Honda UK also announced that it's introducing a program to offset carbon emissions produced by Civic Hybrid buyers who are waiting for their new cars to be delivered. To accomplish this, Honda is working through The CarbonNeutral Company and investing in wind power and forestry projects.

(Additional photos, press releases after the jump)

[Source: Honda UK]

Continue reading Honda's Heifer Hybrid

Honda's Heifer Hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic hybridcivic hybrid cow carCivicHybridCivicHybridCowCarclover the cow carCloverTheCowCarcow carCowCarheifer hybridHeiferHybridhonda civic hybridHondaCivicHybridhybrid heiferHybridHeiferFri, 04 Aug 2006 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Hybrid CR-V cancelled, Fit Hybrid will not get Insight engine]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/hybrid-cr-v-cancelled-fit-hybrid-will-not-get-insight-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/hybrid-cr-v-cancelled-fit-hybrid-will-not-get-insight-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/12/hybrid-cr-v-cancelled-fit-hybrid-will-not-get-insight-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Inside Line seems confident it has the real scoop on Honda's upcoming hybrids, or lack thereof in some cases. For one, IL claims Honda insiders have confirmed that there will not be a hybrid version of the next CR-V. A $7,000 premium for a hybrid version is cited as the reason for not producing one, though that sounds a bit high to us.

Perhaps more enlightening is the claim that the Fit Hybrid will not get the Honda Insight's hybrid powerplant, but instead a modified version of the same Integrated Motor Assist hybrid powerplant currently used in the Civic. While the Fit Hybrid won't be here until the next gen car arrives in 2008, the premium for its presence will only be a scant $1,800 with fuel economy still expected to be in the mid 50-mpg range.

The original claim that the Fit would receive the Insight's engine and that there would be a CR-V hybrid came from HybridCars.com, which claimed its information also came from insiders within Honda. So we're not quite sure who to believe this time.

[Source: Inside Line]

Hybrid CR-V cancelled, Fit Hybrid will not get Insight engine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 May 2006 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite a conspicuous rise in gas prices over the last three months, the demand for hybrids isn't budging.

According to analysts cited in a new Reuters article, consumers aren't being swayed by increases in fuel economy, available tax credits and in some areas, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane privileges that hybrid ownership offers. The reason? Most cite a reluctance to pay the up-front premium of around $3,000, while others believe would-be buyers are turned off by hybrid vehicles' added complexity and potential long-term costs.

Earlier this month, Consumer Reports magazine worked out ownership costs over five years and 75,000 miles for a number of hybrids, determining that only the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius saved owners any money (the former scrimped just $400 and latter $300). More to the point, others cost thousands more over the long haul.

[Sources: Reuters; Honda UK]

Hybrid sales inelastic despite surging gas prices originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Apr 2006 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In my nightly web wandering I ran across this on Response, a Japanese language automotive news website. It appears to be a sporty hybrid concept by Honda called the ti Bick, which could itself be a horrible mistranslation by Google. It would appear this car actually debuted at the 2005 Tokyo Auto Salon as a Modulo Concept, which is a brand of Honda Access, a manufacturer of Honda aftermarket parts. These pics that were released recently are probably just the first high quality pics of the concept to be officially released by Honda.

We don't know anything about the "ti Bick" itself other than that it's based on the new Civic Hybrid and appears to use cameras in place of side mirrors. It's certainly a trick ride for the eco-minded among you, and points for any Japanese-speaking Autobloggers out there who can shed some light from the land of the rising sun on this.

Honda Modula ti Bick originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Civic HybridCivicHybridhybridTue, 03 Jan 2006 10:00:00 EST