Autoblog

Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case

Zach Bowman — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda, Earnings/Financials

A judge has reversed a lower court ruling against Honda over the automaker's fuel economy claims. Heather Peters successfully sued Honda in small-claims court in February, claiming her 2006 Civic Hybrid didn't return the advertised 50 miles per gallon Environmental Protection Agency rating. Peters was awarded $9,867 in damages in the lawsuit, but now Judge Dudley W. Gray II of the state Superior Court in Torrence, California, has reversed the lower court's ruling.

Honda has offered owners a settlement in a larger class-action suit, paying out either $100 or $200 depending on the vehicle and as much as $1,500 toward the purchase of a new Honda. According to The Detroit News, around 1,700 Honda owners have declined to participate in the class-action suit.

Continue reading Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case

Honda wins appeal in Civic Hybrid fuel mileage case originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 May 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Civic Hybrid small claims lawsuit winner trying to stop class-action suit *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:45:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda, Earnings/Financials

Heather Peters really, really doesn't want anyone to settle with Honda. Peters is the woman who went her own way earlier this year, suing Honda in small claims court in Torrance, CA instead of joining a class-action lawsuit against the automaker over allegations that the company promoted misleading fuel economy numbers for the Civic Hybrid, model years 2003 to 2009. She was recently awarded $9,867 in damages, significantly more than the $100-$200 the 200,000 Civic Hybrid owners involved in the class action suit are expected to net (their lawyers stand to make $8.5 million). Because of that perceived unfairness, Peters is going in front of Superior Judge Timothy Taylor in San Diego today to ask that the class-action settlement be cancelled.

According to the Associated Press, Peters is using her small claims winnings - which Honda said it will appeal - to prove that the settlement is unfair to the Civic Hybrid owners that had thus far agreed to the deal. Around 1,700 owners decided not to take part in the settlement ~~and there is reason to believe Taylor is at least slightly sympathetic to their cause.~~ He recently extended the deadline for state attorneys general - who called the original settlement deal unfair - to respond to Peters' winnings.

The original Civic Hybrid class action case arose out of the claims of John True, who sued Honda in 2007 because, he said, the automaker misled him about the car's fuel economy. When we interviewed him back in 2007, who knew the turns this story would take?

*Update: It appears that extension mentioned above is not indicative of any leanings either way. In fact, in the judge's tentative rulings, he wrote:

[Peters'] reply papers are remarkable for their silence on the lack of success enjoyed by two other small claims plaintiffs. This leaves the court to conclude that Class Counsel are correct in asserting that Peters' demand for access to the fruits of discovery is actually a thinly disguised effort to use the discovered material to assist Peters in ―begin[ning] a cottage industry of representing consumers or selling her $15 CD to them.

The "two other" plaintiffs the judge mentions there are, as noted by Honda's Chris Martin, other Honda Civic Hybrid small claims cases that have taken place this year. There have been five total since January, and Honda has prevailed in all of them except the Peters case. A final ruling is still forthcoming.

Honda Civic Hybrid small claims lawsuit winner trying to stop class-action suit *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #273

Dan Roth — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Geneva Motor Show, BMW, Honda, Hyundai

Geneva Motor Show Recap

Episode #273 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan hosts and is joined by Autoblog Executive Editor Chris Paukert and Zach Bowman. Topics range far and wide around our recap of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #273:

Geneva Motor Show recap

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Hyundai Accent
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid
2012 BMW 740i

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Paukert, Zach Bowman

Runtime: 01:21:01

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #273

Autoblog Podcast #273 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Key deadline arrives Saturday in Honda Civic Hybrid lawsuit

Pete Bigelow — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda

A California woman beat Honda in small-claims court last week, receiving nearly $10,000 in damages after getting lower-than-advertised fuel economy in her Civic Hybrid. Early next week, we may have a better idea of how many people intend to follow her lead.

A key deadline arrives Saturday that affects all U.S. residents who bought a Civic Hybrid between 2003 and 2009. Those owners are considered part of a class-action lawsuit regarding the fuel-economy issue - unless they opt out of the case by Saturday.

Owners who opt out will not be entitled to the expected settlement of up to $200 and a coupon off their next Honda purchase. But opting out preserves their right to go it alone in court, as Heather Peters did, and seek a more substantial payout.

In order to opt out, owners must send a certified letter to the settlement administrator postmarked no later than tomorrow. More information can be found at hchsettlement.com.

Automakers, legal experts and consumer-rights advocates are all keeping an eye on what happens in the class-action suit, both in terms of how the case is settled and how many people forgo a smaller settlement with the intent of filing individual cases.

Key deadline arrives Saturday in Honda Civic Hybrid lawsuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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California woman wins Civic Hybrid lawsuit against Honda

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:25:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda

Heather Peters sued Honda in small-claims court in Torrance, California over the gas mileage she was getting in her Honda Civic Hybrid, which was around 20 miles per gallon less than Honda had advertised. After two days of testimony, Commissioner Doug Carnahan sent his 26-page decision to both Peters and Honda, with a ruling in favor of Peters and $9,687 awarded in damages. That's just short of the $10,000 maximum that can be won in small-claims court.

In the decision, Carnahan wrote "At a bare minimum Honda was aware ... that by the time Peters bought her car there were problems with its living up to its advertised mileage." He went further, indicating that he found Honda to have committed fraud, but not intentional fraud.

According to a report in the Associated Press, Honda's EPA certification engineer said Honda "was required to post a sticker with the Environmental Protection Agency's estimate of the highest mileage the car could get." (In a previous report from Automotive.com he was characterized as saying that "automakers had no option but to adhere to the federal testing procedures.") While that claim was shot down by earlier precedent where it was shown that automakers had cited lower fuel economy numbers than the EPA in their advertising and marketing, it will be interesting to see whether this line in Carnahan's decision comes up again: "Honda's own testing should be the guideline for how it advertises its vehicles' mileages, not the generalized work ... done by the EPA."

And we can be certain it will since Honda has already stated its intention to appeal. And because the appeal will be held in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the way has been cleared for Honda to get its lawyers in the courtroom.

This gives other plaintiffs in the class action suit over Civic Hybrid mileage an option as to how to proceed. The last day to sign onto the settlement of that earlier suit is February 11, however, even if that case remains unfinished; a judge in San Diego won't rule until March on whether that settlement, which would see plaintiffs get a $100 to $200 and $1,000 discount on a new Honda and trial attorneys get $8.5 million, is fair.

California woman wins Civic Hybrid lawsuit against Honda originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As Civic Hybrid mileage lawsuit continues, Honda shows up

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda

Heather Peters is suing Honda in small-claims court in Torrance, California over the lackluster fuel economy she's gotten out of her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. It isn't really a new lawsuit, it's one that sprung from Peters not signing onto the settlement of an earlier class-action lawsuit brought by one John True, who sued Honda over the same issue. The meat of the claim is that Honda's window sticker attested to an EPA combined 42 miles per gallon figure, but unhappy drivers are getting closer to 32 mpg.

True's suit was settled out of court in 2009 and plaintiffs have until February 11, 2012 to partake of redress that the Attorneys General of 26 states declared unfair. Peters didn't sign on, taking her own case to small-claims court where cases aren't tried by lawyers. According to Automotive.com, Honda's point man Neil Schmidt ~~didn't appear at the previous hearing~~, who was at the first hearing but without subpoenaed documents or, apparently, compelling testimony, ~~but this time he showed up and~~ provided several dossiers to Commissioner Carnahan. Most of the paperwork submitted into evidence was reportedly "testimony from happy Civic Hybrid owners," which the judge dismissed.

Schmidt first suggested that Peters did not adhere to the right service procedures with her car, then Honda's EPA certification engineer said that Honda had no option but to follow the EPA's testing procedures. While that is correct regarding following testing protocol, Peters argued that automakers have the discretion to use lower fuel economy numbers in their advertising and on Monroneys if they see the need. Peters claims Honda didn't lower the number because it was trying to take advantage of "the green revolution."

Some observers believe the reduced mileage is an effect of a mandatory software upgrade applied to 2006-2008 Honda Civic Hybrids. The upgrade was meant "not just to prolong the life of the battery, [but] it also helps improve the performance." While there were complaints about the mileage before (as there are of a great many cars), it was after the upgrade that forums began to light up with tales of poorer mileage. That could have been because the upgrade reduced the car's reliance on the battery, a fix to allegedly offset the battery deteriorating more quickly than Honda anticipated.

Commissioner Carnahan is expected to rule on the case as soon as next week. Peters hopes it's before the February 11 deadline to participate in True's lawsuit settlement. At stake is not just the $10,000 Peters is seeking, but a figure potentially in the billions as other unhappy owners could flock to lawyer-free small-claims court to fight their cases. In the event of a loss, Honda is expected to appeal, to which Peters says, "I'm ready!"

As Civic Hybrid mileage lawsuit continues, Honda shows up originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda extends 2006-2011 Civic Hybrid warranty over gas leak

Chris Shunk — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Safety, Honda

When we hear words like "gas leak," we're expecting to hear words like "recall" shortly thereafter. That's not the case for 80,000 Honda Civic Hybrid models from the 2006 to 2011 model years that may experience small gas leaks. The New York Times reports that Honda has instead opted to extend the warranty of those models to satiate customers who may experience the problem.

Honda spokesperson Chris Martin tells the NYT that the potential leak is located where the fuel filler meets the tank, adding that possible leaks are likely small, and they tend to appear nowhere near a likely ignition source. In the event that a leak is detected, Martin says that the fuel tank will be replaced. Owners of the models in question who smell gasoline vapors or who spot a small quantity of gas on the ground need to take the vehicle to a Honda dealership to determine if there is a gas leak. States with really hot weather are reportedly more likely to experience the leak. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't yet made any rulings regarding the fuel leak issue, but the NYT reports that the government agency is looking into the matter.

While the lack of a recall campaign may annoy some owners and safety advocates, we're guessing most owners will be thrilled with the extended warranty. Honda will cover the Civic Hybrid models in question with a 10-year/120,000 mile warranty. That's an expensive bit of coverage to give away for free, but keep in mind that a recall would likely be far more costly for the automaker. If Honda is forced to recall the models, every affected part will need to be repaired, and doing so will likely translate into quite a bit more coin than the extra coverage.

Honda extends 2006-2011 Civic Hybrid warranty over gas leak originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Comparisons

Battle Of The Eco Compact Cars

Battle of the Eco Compact Cars - Click above for high-res image gallery

If you wanted a highly efficient compact car five years ago, you bought a hybrid. Diesel was still a dirty word commonly reserved for heavy-duty pickups and the occasional Euro import, and 30 miles per gallon was just becoming the new industry benchmark. The Chevrolet Volt was still just a concept, all-electrics like the Nissan Leaf were barely a blip on our radar, and if a car was turbocharged, it was for go-fast reasons, not fuel-sipping ones.

Fast forward to 2011. Times have changed.

Now, 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg, and we're quickly approaching the days when 50 mpg won't be such a lofty number. After all, there are quite a few cars that already crest that mark without breaking a sweat (including one or two of the cars in this test...).

Enter the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco and 2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - a trio of cars that all boast fuel economy figures of 42 mpg or higher on the highway, and all have price points within the $18,000 to $24,000 range. All three fuel-sippers take a completely different path towards overall efficiency - traditional hybrid, turbocharged gasoline and clean diesel.

We're here to put these three eco compacts through their paces - testing not only economy, but general drivability, quality, comfort and value. The winner won't be based simply on its miserly ways - all three cars are pretty darn close in that regard. Instead, we're looking to see which car represents the best overall package, regardless of powertrain. We're here to find out which eco-warrior is the one we'd open our wallets for.

Continue reading Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Honda Civic Hybrid takes on Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Volkswagen Jetta TDI originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Honda Civic Hybrid no match for aging Toyota Prius in sales

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

Though its miles per gallon rating rings in at 44/44/44 (that's city/highway/combined), the all-new 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid is still no match at the pump for the third-generation, 51/48/50 mpg Toyota Prius that debuted as a 2010 model year vehicle. Sure, the 2012 Civic Hybrid is more fuel-efficient than its predecessor, but it doesn't trump the Prius, and that's a shame considering that the new Honda hybrid now packs a sophisticated lithium-ion battery pack and a reworked electric motor that's more powerful than the old unit.

So far, sales of the 2012 Civic Hybrid have been rather sluggish (Honda reports that sales hit 389 through the end of May). That's due in part to the vehicle's limited availability because of quake-related supply issues. However, with a sticker price that starts at $24,800, the 2012 Civic Hybrid is $1,920 more than a base Prius, which begs the question: can Honda's costlier hybrid - one that's not even as fuel efficient as the Toyota - actually compete?

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid no match for aging Toyota Prius in sales originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Honda Civic Hybrid scores 44 mpg across the board

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Honda

2012 Honda Civic Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's not 50 miles per gallon (rest, easy Prius), but the mpg numbers for the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid impress us nonetheless: 44/44/44. That's city/highway/combined, and it's a nice jump - especially in the city - from the 40/43/41 numbers sported by the 2011 model.

The New York Auto Show this week has been full of "40 mpg" claims from many automakers, but these have mostly described just one of the three ratings categories (usually highway). To have Honda announce you get an estimated 44 miles to the gallon no matter how you drive deserves a bit of praise. (Golf clap.)

The reason for the fuel economy boost lies, in part, with the upgraded battery pack used in the Honda Integrated Motor Assist system. Instead of the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in previous Civic Hybrids, the '12 version cruises along with 20-kW worth of li-ion cells. Compared to the NiMH pack, the lithium-ion battery is 5 kW more powerful and also a bit lighter. The gas engine has also been upgraded from 1.3 liters to a 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder, and the full system offers 110 combined horsepower at 5,500 rpm. There are also some design tweaks on the exterior - nothing too fancy - that you can check out in our gallery below and read all about after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: New York 2011

Continue reading New York 2011: Honda Civic Hybrid scores 44 mpg across the board

New York 2011: Honda Civic Hybrid scores 44 mpg across the board originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2011: Honda brings entire 2012 Civic family to New York

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Honda

2012 Honda Civic Si - Click above for high-res image gallery

Honda brought the whole family of 2012 Civics to the party at this year's New York Auto Show. We've gotten to feast our eyes on the coupe, sedan, Si, hybrid and natural gas-drinking GX. That's a lot of new sheetmetal to look at, so we decided to pack them all in one post to make it easy on you.

The 2012 Civic coupe, sedan and GX are all powered by a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. In uber-efficient HF guise, the same engines is capable of returning 41 miles per gallon fuel economy on the highway. The standard coupe and sedan are nearly as frugal at 39 mpg on the highway. We'll have a separate report on the new Civic Hybrid soon, but in the meantime know that it will be rated at 44 mpg combined, an improvement of 4 mpg over last year's model.

Were it our money on the line, however, we'd trade a few miles per gallon for a bit more driving excitement. The 2012 Honda Civic Si would be our choice, with its new 200-horsepower/170 pound-feet of torque 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Still, this is a compact Honda and, when paired with the six-speed manual gearbox, the Civic Si achieves 31 miles per gallon on the highway.

You can check out all of the new Civics in the galleries below. After that, take a dive into Honda's official press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Si: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Coupe: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Sedan: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic GX: New York 2011

Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid: New York 2011

Continue reading New York 2011: Honda brings entire 2012 Civic family to New York

New York 2011: Honda brings entire 2012 Civic family to New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2012 Honda Civic coming in April, all variants to launch in quick succession

Noah Joseph — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, Honda

Honda Civic Si coupe concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Civic for everyone. That was Soichiro Honda's motto when rolling out the original Civic, and it's one to which his company intends to stick with the launch of the next-generation model. When the all-new 2012 Civic is launched in April, Honda will roll out a whole variety of body and propulsion configurations within mere weeks of each other, instead of letting months pass between the debut of one model to the next.

Among those variants, we can expect both a sedan and a coupe, with several conventional gasoline engines on offer - including natural gas and hybrid versions - as well as the sporty Civic Si.

The new Civic, previewed recently at the Detroit Auto Show, was slated to debut in 2009. But when the global economy started going south, Honda sent the design back to the drawing board for a nearly complete overhaul before it ever saw the light of day. The result is expected to be much roomier than the current model, though the exterior design hasn't changed all that much.

Gallery: Honda Civic Si Coupe Concept

Gallery: Honda Civic Sedan Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: 2012 Honda Civic coming in April, all variants to launch in quick succession originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Update: Honda Canada not canceling Insight, Civic hybrids, will order as needed

Autoblog Staff — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Honda, Canada

Remember the report from Quebec that suggested Honda Canada would be discontinuing the Insight and Civic hybrid for the 2011 model year due to poor sales? According to company spokesman Richard Jacobs, the two hybrids have not in fact been discontinued. Instead, Jacobs tells us that Canadian dealers currently have a six month supply of the Insight and Civic so it hasn't ordered any new cars from the factories in Japan.

"Honda Canada will listen to the voice of our customers and will bring the products they want," says Jacobs. Both hybrids will remain available and Honda will be monitoring inventories and customer demand to determine when to order more units. Perhaps the launch of the CR-Z will get customers to reconsider its siblings as well.

Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight

[Source: Honda Canada]

Update: Honda Canada not canceling Insight, Civic hybrids, will order as needed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance?

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Technology, Honda

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

Until the past year or so, the Civic Hybrid had been by far the best selling gas-electric model introduced by Honda. However, the second-generation model introduced in 2006 has not been entirely problem-free. There have been several lawsuits against Honda claiming that the Civic doesn't meet its advertised mileage claims. While those sort of claims are often dubious given their dependency on factors like driving style, climate and terrain, premature battery failures are not.

According to the Los Angeles Times, it appears that 2006-2008 Civic Hybrid models are suffering an abnormally high rate of battery failure at relatively low miles. The nickel-metal-hydride batteries are evidently prematurely losing their ability to hold a charge - particularly in hot weather areas like Arizona and when used in a lot of stop-and-go traffic. The Civic Hybrid has a dual compressor air-conditioning system with an engine driven primary compressor and a smaller electric compressor to keep the system going when the engine is shut during a stop. Using the air conditioning will cause the battery to go through more charge cycles, eventually wearing it down. Read on after the jump for more on why the battery might be failing and how Honda is attempting to address it.

Update: Honda spokesman Chuck Schifsky let us know that the software updated for the 2006-8 Civics is based on the changes that were introduced for the refreshed 2009 models. The 2009 models apparently also got an updated battery but obviously that change isn't going into the older cars. The original 2006-8 models would spend a lot of time during hot weather use with the A/C on which apparently caused the charge cycling rate to increase wearing down the battery.

Update 2: Honda confirmed that the battery pack did change from 2008 to 2009 but its not clear exactly what was updated.

Gallery: ABG Garage: 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

[Source: Los Angeles Times]

Continue reading Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance?

Honda's fix for prematurely dying Civic hybrid batteries hurting fuel economy, performance? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Honda to kill off Acura RL/Legend globally, discontinue gas Civic models in Japan [*UPDATE]

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Japan, Acura, Honda, Luxury

2010 Acura RL - Click above for high-res image gallery

Word coming from Japan's Nikkei business daily (as reported by Reuters) indicates that Honda has finally decided to discontinue the slow selling Acura RL and its Japanese market counterpart, the Honda Legend.

Ostensibly the flagship of Acura's brand here in North America, the RL has been a slow-seller for quite some time, upstaged in part by the company's less-expensive, higher-volume TL sedan. For some years now, the TL has offered more space, similar tech and even more power (in the Type S model), making the RL a particularly tough sell for dealers. Through the first half of this year, only 872 RLs have been sold in the United States.

Another production change reported by the Nikke that would only affect the Japanese market is the discontinuation of conventional gasoline versions of the Civic. If accurate, that would mean that from now until at least until the next-generation Civic arrives in the Fall of 2011, Honda will only sell the Civic hybrid in its home market.

In addition, the JDM Elysion minivan is also apparently set to get the axe.

Autoblog reached out to Honda for comment on the Nikkei story, and spokesman Chuck Schifsky would only say that the automaker does not comment on future product plans, noting that no official announcement has been made about the fate of the RL/Legend, the JDM Civic or the Elysion. Top tip, Joaquin!

UPDATE: Acura has released a statement saying that RL will continue to be the brand's flagship model and it's in no danger of being euthanized.

Gallery: 2010 Acura RL

[Source: Reuters]

Report: Honda to kill off Acura RL/Legend globally, discontinue gas Civic models in Japan [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda R&D President says automaker "lacks confidence" in viability of EVs

Zach Bowman — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:20:00 EST

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

Honda EV-N Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Carlos Ghosn and Nissan may be plowing head first into the EV world, but Honda isn't so certain buyers are going to be willing to accept the range and charging woes that go along with driving an all-electric car. Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of research and development for Honda, has been quoted as saying that while his company is currently researching the possibility of an EV, he isn't going so far as to recommend them. We're not sure whether that means he won't recommend his company produce an electric car of its own, or if he just wouldn't tell his mother to cruise on over to the Nissan dealer to pick up a Leaf.

Either way, we'll probably see some form of plug-in hybrid or EV from Honda within a few short years. California has mandated that a certain percentage of vehicle sales must be either plug-in hybrid or EV starting in 2012. Given Kawanabe's chilly assessment of the EV game, though, odds are we won't be seeing anything like the adorable all-electric EV-N Concept on our streets. Chances are cars like the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and Insight will come with a plug-in option and larger batteries instead.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept

Gallery: 2009 Honda EV-N Concept

[Source: Bloomberg]

Honda R&D President says automaker "lacks confidence" in viability of EVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 May 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Honda plans to settle Civic Hybrid mileage suit out of court. Is it a fair deal?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Government/Legal, Honda, Earnings/Financials

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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Honda rolls out low financing rates for best-selling Civic

Chris Shunk — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Honda

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.

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Honda's next hybrid could revive Insight name

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Honda

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.

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Prius fighter: Honda reveals details about new global hybrid

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Paris Motor Show, Honda

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.

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