Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Honda Insight first-ever hybrid to become Japan's #1 selling auto]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/11/honda-insight-first-ever-hybrid-to-become-japans-1-selling-aut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/11/honda-insight-first-ever-hybrid-to-become-japans-1-selling-aut/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/11/honda-insight-first-ever-hybrid-to-become-japans-1-selling-aut/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


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

In a historic move that's sure to irk their archrivals in Toyota City, Honda's new Insight has become the first-ever hybrid vehicle to top the sales charts in Japan. By shifting some 10,481 units last month, the teardrop-shaped model became Nippon's best-selling car in April, a feat no gas-electric car has managed previously. That's according to the Japan Automobile Dealer's Association, which tracks vehicle sales (in the interest of full disclosure, the group's findings exclude 660cc "kei" cars).

Those 10,481 units vaulted the Insight from its slot as Japan's 21st best-selling model in March, a major jump that's likely down to production ramp-up and increased consumer awareness (Honda launched the car on February 2). The Insight, which starts at 1.89 million yen ($19,190) outpaced its brother, the Honda Fit/Jazz hatchback, while Toyota's Vitz (Yaris) finished in third, Ironically, Toyota's Prius rung up in 21st place, but the third-generation model isn't expected to go on sale until May 18, and Toyota has already cut the iconic model's base price in order to be more competitive with Honda's upstart. Press release after the jump.


Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight


[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda Insight first-ever hybrid to become Japan's #1 selling auto

Honda Insight first-ever hybrid to become Japan's #1 selling auto originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 May 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car salesCarSalesgas-electrichondaHybridJapanese carsJapaneseCarsJDMNipponPriusToyotaMon, 11 May 2009 11:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1542344/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/05/11/honda-insight-first-ever-hybrid-to-become-japans-1-selling-aut/1542344/article-detail.xml 1542344 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/honda-insight-drive-1280-11_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/honda-insight-drive-1280-11_opt.jpg <![CDATA[Youth in Asia: Japanese sales plunge as young people abandon cars]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/30/youth-in-asia-japanese-sales-plunge-as-young-people-abandon-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/30/youth-in-asia-japanese-sales-plunge-as-young-people-abandon-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/30/youth-in-asia-japanese-sales-plunge-as-young-people-abandon-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Japan's car sales are declining, just like they are in most countries. But unlike other markets, auto sales in Japan won't be recovering anytime soon. The sales outlook is so bleak, in fact, that the Japanese automakers even have a word for it: "kuruma banare," or "demotorization." While it may sound more like "kuruma bizarre" to us car-obsessed types, kids in Japan are much more interested in the latest electronic gadgetry than they are with cars, and many have no intention on ever owning an automobile. Early predictions are that 4.86 million new cars will be sold in Japan in 2009, which would mark the first time in three decades that sales have sunk below five million.

To help keep traffic flowing inside showrooms, dealerships have taken up rather interesting tactics. For instance, one Honda dealership is now catering towards dog owners, since public transportation options are limited for large animals. We make the following suggestion: Less Hello Kitty, more Godzilla. But whatever works, ya know? Thanks for the tip, Sami!

[Source: Detroit News]

Youth in Asia: Japanese sales plunge as young people abandon cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanjapan car salesJapanCarSalesjapanese carjapanese car salesjapanese carsJapaneseCarJapaneseCarsJapaneseCarSalesTue, 30 Dec 2008 18:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1414931/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/30/youth-in-asia-japanese-sales-plunge-as-young-people-abandon-car/1414931/article-detail.xml 1414931 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/hello_kitty_mitsubishi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/hello_kitty_mitsubishi.jpg <![CDATA[Bolivia bans most imports to... curb traffic?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/bolivia-bans-most-imports-to-curb-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/bolivia-bans-most-imports-to-curb-traffic/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/22/bolivia-bans-most-imports-to-curb-traffic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Outside of a Terry Gilliam film, where else can you see a used car blessing ceremony, a city of one million people with 535 different public bus routes, roadblocks set up by car mechanics, and kids dressed in zebra suits patrolling crosswalks? Bolivia, that's where. The South American nation, attempting to halt an explosion of automobile buying that's clogging their limited road network, has banned importing used cars more than five years old.

The president of Bolivia issued the ban to halt the tide of right-hand-drive cars coming in from Japan. The cars are more reliable than what was on offer before, and so cheap that Bolivians have been buying them up, painting "Taxi" on the sides, only to sit on traffic-choked roads. Shutting down the import trade brings Bolivia more in line with its South American neighbors, and it could open the roads up a bit as well and curb air pollution issues. The mechanics who convert right-hand drive cars to left-hand drive have protested and blocked roads, arm-in-arm with the used car dealers who sell them.

Bolivians who wanted the used cars are losing out twice: Used cars less than five years old usually don't make it to Bolivia, and they will be denied "the road trip to bless a new used car at a popular Catholic shrine on Lake Titicaca -- where proud owners splash their new wheels with beer and tape flowers to the side mirrors -- has become a regular rite of passage." Oh, and the kids dressed up as zebras? They get paid by the city to to scold drivers that block crosswalks. It's probably not a bad gig unless you get run over on your first day and spend three days in hospital like one zebra in La Paz. Ah, Bolivia...

[Source: CBS]

Bolivia bans most imports to... curb traffic? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boliviagovernmentimport carImportCarimported carsImportedCarsimportsJapanese carJapanese carsJapaneseCarJapaneseCarsLa PaLa PazLake TiticacaLakeTiticacaLaPazlegalsouth americaSouthAmericaused carsUsedCarsMon, 22 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1407150/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/22/bolivia-bans-most-imports-to-curb-traffic/1407150/article-detail.xml 1407150 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/boliv_ucb_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/boliv_ucb.jpg <![CDATA[VIDEO: Japan's Bosozoku roll deep, phat, loud and weird]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/video-japans-bosozoku-roll-deep-phat-loud-and-weird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/video-japans-bosozoku-roll-deep-phat-loud-and-weird/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/10/video-japans-bosozoku-roll-deep-phat-loud-and-weird/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above to watch video after the jump

No pandas were hurt during the making of this photograph. People either. Actually, the truth behind this image is even more bizarre. This is just one example of the Bosozoku craze in Japan. The pic (and the accompanying video posted after the jump) was swiped from a forum that specializes in this type of thing. It's not exactly a new trend, but one worth mentioning from time-to-time so we remember to be on the alert for this type of zany motorist if the Bosozoku craze ever crosses the pond.

Characterized by massively extended lip spoilers, double-wide fender flares and pipe-organ exhaust systems, Bosozoku cars look insane when you come across one parked on the streets of Japan. Well, imagine what it's like being engulfed in a swarm of them while driving down the highway. That's exactly what you'll experience in the video clip we've posted. Follow the jump to share the insanity.

[Source: Retro Rides Forum via Japanese Nostalgic Car]

Continue reading VIDEO: Japan's Bosozoku roll deep, phat, loud and weird

VIDEO: Japan's Bosozoku roll deep, phat, loud and weird originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bosozokuexhaust pipeexhaust pipes pollutionExhaustPipeExhaustPipesPollutionJapanese car trendjapanese carsJapanese trendJapaneseCarsJapaneseCarTrendJapaneseTrendmodified carmodified carsModifiedCarModifiedCarsWed, 10 Dec 2008 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1397132/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/12/10/video-japans-bosozoku-roll-deep-phat-loud-and-weird/1397132/article-detail.xml 1397132 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/bosozokuexhaust_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/12/bosozokuexhaust.jpg <![CDATA[Kim Jong-il bans Japanese cars in North Korea]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/kim-jong-il-bans-japanese-cars-in-north-korea/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/kim-jong-il-bans-japanese-cars-in-north-korea/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/kim-jong-il-bans-japanese-cars-in-north-korea/#commentsFiled under:

If one of us were a bat-crazy dictator, we'd have all sorts of fun issuing nonsensical edicts and impossible-to-follow commands like "Increase the day to 32 hours!" "Make the toilet water flush clockwise!" "Upgrade my computer to Windows Vista!!!" Stuff like that is why we love to hate Kim Jong-il. The North Korean dictator recently decreed that from henceforth all cars of Japanese descent shall be banished from his land. The edict was issued back on January 1st and is thought to be in response to Japan's increasing pressure on North Korea to start flying right when it comes to nuclear arms. The communist country's first nuclear missile test last year ticked off its Nihon neighbors, and since then Japan has increased sanctions against the country. Rumor has it that Kim issued the command after visiting the body of North Korea's first leader, Kim Il-sung, and encountering a broken-down Japanese car blocking the road.

The linked report reveals that Kim may not get his wish of a nation free from Japanese autos, as most of the country's cars are from Japan. We're also curious to know how last week's nuclear deal with North Korea might affect this odd situation.

Thanks for the tip, BSR!

[Source: The Sydney Morning Herald]

Kim Jong-il bans Japanese cars in North Korea originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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