Autoblog

REPORT: Honda warming up to idea of electric vehicles

Noah Joseph — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Europe, Japan, Honda, Electric

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

With offerings like the FCX Clarity and the Insight, it's been clear what technologies Honda favors for environmentally-friendly transportation. But a change in strategy conceded by CEO Takanobu Ito could see Honda focusing more energy on plug-in electric vehicles in the near future.

Although Honda takes the standpoint that battery technology has not progressed enough for widespread implementation in passenger vehicles, difficulty setting up hydrogen fueling stations have forced Japan's second largest automaker to reconsider its strategy. With regulations constricting, especially in California, Honda will reportedly be shifting its focus to electric vehicles for the American market as well as for Europe and its own home turf in Japan.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Honda warming up to idea of electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford may pass Honda as second best hybrid seller in U.S.

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford, Honda, Toyota

2009 Ford Escape Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's no doubt about which automaker leads the hybrid vehicle race. Toyota - and particularly the Japanese automaker's Prius hybrid - outsells all other manufacturers combined. In total, Automotive News calculates that Toyota sold 144,351 hybrid vehicles in the first nine months of 2009, which actually represents a 28-percent drop from the previous year.

So far this year, Honda has come in second with its new Insight, but that position is currently in jeopardy. The 26,016 hybrid vehicles sold by Ford in the first nine months of the year represents an impressive 73-percent gain from last year. Honda has sold 29,958 hybrids so far in '09, representing a much smaller eight-percent increase. In both July and September, Ford actually sold more hybrids than Honda.

In other words, Ford, led by its Escape Hybrid and new-for-2010 Fusion Hybrid, is gaining on Honda at a very rapid pace. Moving on down the line, General Motors slots in at number four with 12,556 total hybrid so far this year and Nissan's 7,713 units make it the number five hybrid seller in the U.S.

Gallery: ABG Garage: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Ford may pass Honda as second best hybrid seller in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Green Car of the Year finalists announced, diesels vs. hybrids

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Diesel

Last year, Volkswagen's new Jetta TDI was named the 2009 Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show, which means that the Volkswagen Golf TDI has a bit of baggage if it wants to win the 2010 award. Regardless, the Golf was named one of five finalists today, along with the Audi A3 TDI, the Honda Insight, the Mercury Milan Hybrid and the Toyota Prius. Odd that the Mercury would be chosen above the Ford Fusion Hybrid, but so it goes. That makes it two diesels and three hybrids vying for top spot.

The Green Car of the Year award is given out by Green Car Journal, which narrows the field of green cars down to five and then turns over picking the winner to "jurors such as Jay Leno, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Carroll Shelby, Matt Petersen of Global Green USA and the Sierra Club's Carl Pop." The winner will be announced in LA on December 3, so stay tuned.

Gallery: 2010 Green Car of the Year Finalists

[Source: Green Car Journal]

Continue reading 2010 Green Car of the Year finalists announced, diesels vs. hybrids

2010 Green Car of the Year finalists announced, diesels vs. hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST

2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Common sense, right? Absolutely, but it's still helpful to see real-life data, as you'll see by checking out the results of a recent test performed by Consumer Reports. Not all cars perform the same at various speed limits, and as you might expect, America's most fuel efficient models are also the vehicles most affected by higher speeds.

A total of seven vehicles were tested by CR: a Acura TSX with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder; a new 2010 Honda Insight; a Lexus RX350; a Mercury Mountaineer with 4.6-liter V8; Toyota Camry and RAV4 with 2.5-liter four-bangers; and a Yaris with a 1.5-liter four.

As you're probably aware, today's hybrids are optimized for high fuel economy at city speeds and therefore lose much of their miserly ways on the highway. As it turns out, this was especially true of the new Insight hybrid, which lost over 15 miles per gallon moving the needle from 55 mph to 75 mph - the largest drop in the contest. Click here for the complete test results.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Consumer Reports tests fuel efficiency vs. speed; Honda Insight biggest loser originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers

Chris Shunk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Ford, Honda, Mini, Toyota, Volkswagen, Diesel

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Fuel efficiency has finally moved to the forefront of many consumers' minds after 2008's record fuel price spike and demand is higher than ever for miser-mobiles. Several vehicles have benefited from the green car movement, and the Inside Line crew corralled three hybrids, a diesel and a supersized go-kart in the ultimate test of fuel economy prowess.

The Toyota Prius, Mini Cooper, Honda Insight, Ford Fusion and VW Jetta TDI were assembled to compete for the best fuel economy in city, highway and back road driving. IL also measured the cost to fuel each vehicle and the amount of CO₂ each emitted during the test. The five vehicles were prepped to do battle, but ultimately it wasn't much of a fight.

The Toyota Prius won every conceivable category by a significant margin with amazingly similar fuel economy between 47 and 48 mpg in all driving tests. The Prius also took on all comers in regards to carbon emissions as the symbol of green motoring spewed .08 fewer pounds of pollutants during the test than the second place Honda Insight. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Inside Line]

VIDEO: Inside Line presides over the battle of the fuel sippers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive Zeus gets down with Honda's new Insight

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda

Exclusive Zeus Honda Insight -- Click above for image gallery

Japanese tuner Exclusive Zeus has done a job on the Honda Insight, so that now you can be green and still be a badass. Part of the company's GLMRS Line, the kit consists of front and rear spoilers, grille, and side skirts fabricated in aluminum - but you'll have to take care of the wheels and lowering on your own time. You can buy the pieces individually or get the whole bunch for ￥134,400 ($1,418 U.S.) unpainted, or ￥207,900 ($2,194 U.S.) painted to match your car. We're not sure about those wheels, but Zeusified Insight definitely has a certain "angry vacuum cleaner" quality going for it.

Gallery: Zeus Honda Insight

[Source: Zeus]

Exclusive Zeus gets down with Honda's new Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Diesels paying financial dividends back more quickly than hybrids

Michael Harley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Technology, Earnings/Financials, Electric, Diesel

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

In the ongoing battle between hybrids and diesels for "payback time" supremacy, the latest round goes to the oil burning posse. That's the report from Edmunds, which did a recent numbers crunch comparing the two fuel-saving drivetrains and found the scales have tipped in favor of diesel powerplants.

According to the study, the average new vehicle price premium for a hybrid-electric is a whopping $4,981 (the Lexus LS 600h L takes the outlier cherry with a $15,969 premium over its gasoline counterpart). On the other hand, the average diesel premium is only about $2,360 (both figures were calculated after incentives and credits). Last year's high fuel prices have also come down considerably to the point where gasoline and diesel fuel are about the same price. This hurts the hybrid-electric powertrain, which takes advantage of high fuel costs by squeezing more miles out of each dollar's worth of gas for quicker payback.

Edmunds also did a payback comparison between the 2010 Toyota Prius and the all-new 2010 Honda Insight. While the Prius is undeniably clobbering Insight in the sales battle, the website says it will take a sobering 26.2 years of driving to recover the Toyota's $4,030 cost premium.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

REPORT: Diesels paying financial dividends back more quickly than hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Honda Insight sales withering in face of competition from Toyota Prius

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda's Insight hybrid is failing to live up to sales expectations here in the important U.S. market. While Honda claims the Insight was never meant to be a direct competitor to the Toyota Prius, the truth is that the two cars are very much rivals in the eyes of many new car shoppers (and some Honda dealers). With that in mind, the 2,079 Insights that Honda managed to sell in June pales in comparison to the 12,998 Prius hybrids Toyota sold in the same month. Further, Honda is on track to sell less than one-third of its stated goal of 90,000 units in its first year on the market.

According to The Los Angeles Times, some dealerships are hoping Honda can rebound with a revised marketing campaign highlighting the Insight's price advantage over the Prius, which currently sits at a few thousand dollars at the base end. There are surely any number of reasons why the Insight may be losing ground in the hybrid race, and you can probably pick out some of them by clicking here to read our review of the 2010 Honda Insight and then clicking here for our take on the 2010 Toyota Prius.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

REPORT: Honda Insight sales withering in face of competition from Toyota Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda fast-tracking updates to improve Insight?

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Honda

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like Honda may be responding quickly to early criticism of its new Insight hybrid. Recent reviews of the Insight have been particularly harsh, especially when compared to the new Prius. Despite Honda's claims that the Insight is not a direct competitor to the Prius, AutoCar claims Honda engineers are working hard to get closer to the Toyota's mileage. It's not clear how close they can get without some significant changes to the powertrain -- something that could take considerable time and expenditure.

While Toyota clearly has bragging rights in terms of efficiency, one of the primary criticisms of the Honda has been its ride and handling. The Insight works well enough on smooth roads, but is less behaved over rougher pavement. Changes to the suspension could be accomplished pretty quickly and even rolled out as a running change.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AutoCar]

Honda fast-tracking updates to improve Insight? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Despite insurance breaks, hybrids driven more, cost more to fix, and get more tickets

Chris Shunk — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Trends, Hybrid, Lifestyle

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

Conventional wisdom is that hybrid vehicles reduce our dependence on foreign oil and emit fewer environment hurting CO2 emissions. When comparing a hybrid to a conventional gasoline-powered model on a mile-by-mile basis, there's some logic to this argument provided the pricing disparity between the two models isn't too broad. However, a new study by Quality Planning shows that hybrid owners drive much more than non-hybrid owners, potentially negating the benefits of the added battery pack and electric motor.

Quality Planning studied nearly 360,000 vehicles throughout 2007 and 2008 to analyze driving habits, and some of the study's findings are pretty surprising. According to the survey, hybrid and non-hybrid drivers have statistically similar commutes, but hybrid owners drive their vehicles 25% more (2,000 miles) in non-commuting scenarios.

Dr. Raj Bhat, president of Quality Planning, thinks part of the reason for these findings has something to do with the fact that high mileage drivers are typically more interested in hybrids than infrequent drivers.

"What we don't know is whether owning a hybrid vehicle encourages people to drive more miles each day or take more pleasure trips. High-mileage drivers appear to be attracted to these vehicles, so insurers should take steps to verify the intended use of hybrids and validate actual miles driven wherever possible."

The study also shows that hybrid owners are significantly more likely to receive traffic tickets. According to the survey, Toyota Prius owners received .38 tickets per 100,000 miles driven, versus a non-hybrid average of .23 tickets per 100,000 miles. That's a 65% differential. One possible explanation for the ticket disparity has to do with where hybrid owners live. Quality Planning found that hybrid owners are more likely to live in an urban setting, where tickets are more frequently issued.

If you really want a hybrid and you don't want to hear any more bad news, you should stop reading. QP also found that repair costs are significantly higher for hybrid owners. The Ford Escape Hybrid, for example, costs 31% more to repair than the gasoline-only model, while repairing the Toyota Highlander Hybrid will reportedly add 45% more cost. A recent report by IntelliChoice that found that, in the long-term, hybrids and diesels are actually cheaper than gasoline-only vehicles.

The text below illustrates how much on a per dollar basis hybrid repair costs for collision and comprehensive coverage versus one dollar for a non-hybrid. The disparity is shrinking every year, but according to QP, hybrids still cost more to fix. Hit the jump to view the Quality Planning press release.

Collision Comprehensive
Coverage Coverage
2006 Hybrid Models $1.16 $1.75
2007 Hybrid Models $1.09 $1.35
2008 Hybrid Models $1.13 $1.17

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

[Source: Quality Planning via Marketwire]

Continue reading STUDY: Despite insurance breaks, hybrids driven more, cost more to fix, and get more tickets

STUDY: Despite insurance breaks, hybrids driven more, cost more to fix, and get more tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda, Reviews

2010 Honda Insight EX - Click above for high-res image gallery

First impressions can be problematic, even more so when reviewing a vehicle. When the media gets its first shot at a new offering, the automaker typically invites journalists to a location of its choosing to drive under conditions that show the car in its best light. Such was the case with the 2010 Honda Insight. After our First Drive, we came away with the impression that Honda's hot new hybrid was an engaging alternative to the Toyota Prius, but we quickly came to realize the Insight's limitations and flaws after a week behind the wheel on our home turf.

Get our real-world impressions after the jump.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX

Continue reading Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent

Review: 2010 Honda Insight EX, familiarity breeds discontent originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested

Chris Paukert — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda, Carsumer Advocacy

2009 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

Calling it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," America's most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker's new Insight hybrid.

In a verdict that reminds us of a certain Jeremy Clarkson review (albeit more kindly worded), Consumer Reports blasted the gas-electric hatchback for its "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility," consigning the hapless Honda to a 21 out of 22 ranking among other small hatchbacks and wagons. Tallying a road test score of 54 points, it was trailed only by the widely panned Dodge Caliber, which managed just 49 points.

Despite the fact that it won't receive a much-coveted CR "Recommended" nod, the Insight still managed to post a "Good" overall road test score (largely on the strength of its 38 miles-per-gallon as-tested fuel economy). Regardless, it was comprehensively beaten by both the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon and the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which scored 80 and 79 points, respectively.

The Insight was the only vehicle in CR's test group to not to be Recommended, save Kia's Soul, which was excluded because the organization hasn't compiled any reliability data on the vehicle yet. Check out the press release after the jump and our new review of the car by clicking here.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested

Consumer Reports lambasts Honda Insight, ranks it 21 out of 22 vehicles tested originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda likely to miss U.S. sales targets for Insight?

Chris Shunk — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda

2010 Honda Insight - Click above for high-res image gallery

We had to wait years for someone to give us a hybrid-only alternative to the Toyota Prius, and Honda finally gave us some choice with born-again Honda Insight. Initial interest in the under $20,000 40+ mpg vehicle has been high, but it's not necessarily translating into as many sales as the automaker would like. Honda was initially hoping for 90,000 sales in North America in its first year, but it looks like the Japanese automaker may not hit its sales goal. American Honda Vice President John Mendel has reportedly told Bloomberg that the Insight isn't going to hit 90,000 units, but that the company "will be just fine" with 50,000 to 60,000 sales. Honda expects global sales of the Insight to hit 200,000 units, and it was hoping for about half of that volume to come from North America.

The revised sales forecast comes as Honda is keeping more Insight units in Japan due to brisk demand and unfavorable exchange rates in the States. Lower gas prices are also likely to be hurting sales of Honda's new hybrid, though the price of petrol has been steadily heading north over the past few weeks. The economic recession is also likely hurting Insight sales, as U.S. sales for almost everything with four wheels has been very poor so far in 2009.

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Reuters]

Honda likely to miss U.S. sales targets for Insight? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible"

Chris Shunk — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:26:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda, UK

2010 Honda Insight - Click above for a high-res image gallery

Though the Honda Insight has been in the public eye for less than a year, the inexpensive hybrid has already attracted its fair share of attention. The Insight is seen as a big competitor for the Toyota Prius, and the five-door hatchback has been viewed by many as a step toward making the world a more ecologically friendly place. That's all well and good, but if you listen to Jeremy Clarkson, the Insight is a royal hunk of junk.

Clarkson recently reviewed the Insight, and he threw enough insulting jabs at Honda's inexpensive hybrid that his article could be easily confused for a Don Rickles routine. He starts by calling the Insight "bibically terrible." Comparing a hybrid to famine, floods, plagues and rivers of blood will go a long way towards giving the reader an understanding of where he stands regarding hybrids in general and the Insight in particular.

The master of on-screen automotive highjinks says that to duplicate the sound of the Insight's 1.3-liter petrol engine, "you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer." If that doesn't sting, he adds: "It's the first car I've ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn't have to drive it any more." The seats? "Designed specifically, it seems, to ruin your skeleton." And there's a lot more where that came from.

In short, Clarkson hates the Insight, but you've probably gathered that by now. He also points out the fact that the Volkswagen Golf diesel in the UK gets better fuel economy than the Insight, and we're guessing he'd find the oil burner considerably more fun to drive. Make your way to the Times Online to check out Clarkson's full review - if only for some much needed Monday morning comedy. Hat tip to Niterider.

Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Times Online]

Jeremy Clarkson calls Honda Insight "Biblically terrible" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda celebrates Earth Day by giving away a 2010 Insight

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Honda, Lifestyle

Click above for our gallery from the Earth Day Honda Insight event at the Honda Center

What better way to spend Earth Day than with Wild Wing and the new Honda Insight. Wild Wing, as you might know, is the mascot for the Ducks of Anaheim, the Southern California hockey team that plays in the Honda Center. Get the connection now? To help introduce its new hybrid to the public, Honda chose Earth Day to throw a little coming out party at the Honda Center, complete with food, games and prizes. They even set up one part of the parking lot for demonstration drives.

When we first got there we thought we might have been in the wrong place. There were about a dozen Insights lined in a row, but they were the last generation two-seaters. It seems the best place to look for prospects is among owners. After checking out the old ones, we decided to sample the new one. We took a spin around the cones, trying out the ECO mode and paddle shifters along the way. The car is really pretty normal once you get used to the CVT, gauges and teardrop shape. The drive was short but confirmed the car feels like a Honda, with a bunch of tech thrown in. It was a fun event that wasn't very well publicized so the odds of winning a new Insight were really good.

Gallery: Earth Day at the Honda Center

Honda celebrates Earth Day by giving away a 2010 Insight originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Nissan has no plans to introduce gas-electric Toyota Prius/Honda Insight competitor

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Nissan

Nissan EV-02 - Click above for a high-res image gallery

As you read this, Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda are in the midst of a knock-down, drag-out fight for global hybrid supremacy with their two latest gas-electrics, the standard-bearing 2010 Prius and the revived-for-2010 Insight, respectively. Might Nissan, Japan's other major automaker, get involved in the fuel-saving games?

Not exactly. According to Senior Vice President Andy Palmer, Nissan would rather stick to fully electric vehicles and is content to let other automakers battle it out on the hybrid front, at least on the smaller end of the spectrum. As quoted in Automotive News, Palmer says: "We think it's a more persuasive technology... that's where we're directing our efforts. In the small cars, it's clear we're going to make the EV happen." Nissan does offer a hybrid version of its Altima sedan, but the technology is licensed from Toyota.

Nissan and corporate partner Renault have announced aggressive plans to launch small electric vehicles starting in 2010 and in a slew of countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Monaco, Ireland, Switzerlan d and China. According to Nissan's plan, these EVs will be priced to compete with mainstream vehicles like the company's own Altima and the Toyota Camry.

Gallery: Nissan EV

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

REPORT: Nissan has no plans to introduce gas-electric Toyota Prius/Honda Insight competitor originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota reportedly expects 40,000 pre-orders for new Prius

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Hybrid, Green, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The well-publicized battle for hybrid sales supremacy between Honda and Toyota has taken yet another intriguing turn. According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper, Toyota is saying that it expects to take 40,000 preorders in Japan for its new 2010 Prius hybrid ahead of its official rollout in May. For the sake of comparison, the Japanese automaker sold a total of 73,100 Prius hybrids in all of 2008.

More importantly, rival automaker Honda managed to sell about 18,000 copies of its latest Insight hybrid in its first month on sale. By all accounts, Honda was delighted to move that many Insights - the automaker had predicted that it would only sell about 5,000 units for the first month the hybrid was available in Japan.

A few months ago, Honda made a big splash by pricing the smaller, slightly less fuel efficient Insight a few million yen (or a few thousand dollars) below the starting price of the standard-setting Prius. In response, Toyota announced it would keep the previous generation Prius around for at least another year and dropped that model's price to match the Insight.

But that wasn't enough for Toyota - earlier this month, the automaker set the starting price for the new 2010 model at 2.05 million yen ($20,750), which is just about the same as the mid-level Insight. The next chapter: U.S. pricing for the 2010 Prius has yet to be announced. Let the games continue.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius - First Drive

[Source: Reuters]

Toyota reportedly expects 40,000 pre-orders for new Prius originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda CEO says Insight price won't be reduced further

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Hybrid, Green, Hatchback, Honda, Toyota

2010 Honda Insight - click above for a high-res gallery

Honda's new Insight went on sale in hits homeland about a week ago, and already it's under attack. Before it hit the market, there were rumors that it would be much cheaper than the Toyota Prius. Toyota, however, has other ideas. The Insight is 1.89 million yen ($18,853 USD) in Japan, which is the same price as the current Prius. Toyota then priced the coming third generation Prius at 2.05 million yen ($20,437 USD) to keep it close to the Insight. Then Toyota said it would keep the second-generation Prius on sale in Japan, and there have been rumors that Toyota is also working on a cheaper Prius costing around 30% less than the current one. That would pit three Prius models against one Insight, all similarly priced.

In response, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui said Honda will not lower the price of the Insight. Said Fukui, "I think that is something we can't do right now. We have to carefully examine the new Prius to know whether it is necessary for us to take certain measures. We have to think about the balance between cost and effectiveness." If Toyota does come out with three Japan-market Priuses, Honda will be thinking long and hard about those issues.

Unlike Toyota, though, Honda does have the CR-Z hybrid coming, which could give Honda some sporting hybrid credentials that Toyota doesn't yet have. Honda also said it is expanding its research and hybrid push into large sedans instead of counting on clean diesels for its bigger cars. Fukui feels that clean diesels are too expensive to develop be practical.

Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

Honda CEO says Insight price won't be reduced further originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota reportedly cutting Prius price to match Honda Insight in Japan... will U.S. follow?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:20:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Japan, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Toyota may have gotten used to being the leader in the hybrid sedan segment, but the Japanese auto giant didn't get to where it is today by failing to see the writing on the proverbial wall. With arch-rival Honda having priced its new Insight hybrid lower than the current Prius, Toyota is responding in kind by dropping its domestic market sticker price on the upcoming new Prius to match.

According to reports coming out of Japan, Toyota recently notified its JDM dealers that the price for the new Prius would be set at 2.05 million yen, which equates to about $20,750 in U.S. Dollars. On this side of the Pacific, the Honda Insight went on sale last month with a starting price of $20,470, putting the two on equal footing price-wise, while the Prius arguably brings more to the table with more space and better fuel economy. A fully-loaded new Prius can quickly reach above $30k, indicating that Toyota hopes to lure away buyers with the low sticker price in the hope that they go for pricey options. But in a double-pronged attack, Toyota intends to keep the outgoing Prius on the Japanese market at a significantly reduced price of 1.89 million yen ($19,130). Pricing for the United States has yet to be announced, but if Toyota follows the same model here as it reportedly has in its home market, the fight could get very aggressive.

Gallery: Detroit 2009: 2010 Toyota Prius

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

Toyota reportedly cutting Prius price to match Honda Insight in Japan... will U.S. follow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda pulls out of Frankfurt Motor Show to save costs

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Green, Honda

It's looking like all auto shows are going to be feeling the pinch of a shrinking auto market including the mighty Frankfurt Motor Show. Honda has joined Nissan by pulling out of this fall's event in Germany in order to save money. Earlier this year, Nissan announced that it would only participate in one auto show on each continent -- Geneva, Tokyo and Los Angeles -- and although Honda hasn't made such a sweeping announcement yet, it appears to be taking things one show at a time. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see a similar move with only one North American show presence as well. At this year's Detroit Auto Show, Honda and Acura had stands but didn't bother with a press conference. Instead the new Insight was simply revealed on the show floor.

Speaking of the Insight it goes on sale in Europe on April 18. Elsewhere, Honda will begin testing its FCX Clarity fuel cell car in Germany later this year and will divert other resources to fuel cell and hydrogen development. Honda sees fuel cells as a better long term bet than batteries and plug-in vehicles and intends to pursue that direction.

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Honda pulls out of Frankfurt Motor Show to save costs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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