Honda To Build Two High-Tech Hybrid Systems, More Fuel-Efficient Standard Engines

Honda’s powertrain lineup is starting to look stale tech-wise compared to the competition. Despite the fuel-economy increases, the recently redesigned Honda Civic and CR-V essentially have carryover technology underneath their hoods. Under Honda’s just-announced three-year powertrain plan, that landscape is about to change … quickly.

In real-world testing, the Civic has outperformed 40 mpg cars from Ford and Hyundai. Honda’s updates will help reposition it as the most fuel-efficient automaker, overtaking Hyundai, according to the carmaker’s plans.

2011 L.A. Auto Show: What We Know

Fall should mean only one thing to attentive auto enthusiasts: a new auto show season is upon us.

With the 2011 L.A. Auto Show less than a month away, we have a pretty good understanding of what to expect, though there still looks to be a few surprises. Like in previous years, the show will be a heavy mix of luxury car debuts intertwined with some fuel efficient, green options.

There will be at least 21 all-new releases at the show, and 25 vehicles that will make their North American debuts (about the same as last year). This fresh new clutch of vehicles will be shown to the media, and subsequently to you on KickingTires, Nov. 16 and 17.

The everyday car shopper should keep tabs on the redesigned Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Azera, all of which will debut at the show.

2012 Honda Insight: What's New

For the 2012 model year, Honda has made improvements to its aging dedicated hybrid, the Insight, to compete better with the refreshed Toyota Prius and other hybrids. Critical updates include better fuel efficiency, increased sound-deadening materials and improved rearward visibility.

Reduced friction in the engine and transmission in addition to improved aerodynamics boost gas mileage by 1 mpg over the 2011 model. The 2012 is rated at 41/44/42 mpg city/highway/combined. The combined rating is only 2 mpg less than the substantially more expensive 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid.

The Insight will also be quieter with the addition of thicker sound-deadening material. We thought the Insight had admirable noise dampening compared with other compacts, but not against the midsize Prius. A thinner rear spoiler and a more compactly mounted rear wiper motor improve rearward visibility.

Honda Spotlights No Money Down Leases in April

Despite potentially tight supplies of some Honda vehicles, the automaker continues a robust lease and low-financing incentives campaign throughout April. Honda calls it “The Really Big Thing Sales Event,” and by now, you've likely seen the commercials for it, which feature oversized lapel pins. Like other recent Honda sales events, the carmaker is pushing leases with $0 down payment, $0 security deposit, $0 first month's payment and $0 due at signing on most of its lineup.

The no-money-down lease deals include $380 a month on the 2011 Odyssey minivan and $250 a month for a 2011 Accord. Keep in mind that $0 down doesn’t include tax, license, title, registration and documentation fees, which will likely cost thousands of dollars before you leave the lot. If you want to reduce your monthly payments, Honda’s also offering lease deals with money down — typically $1,999 — knocking off about $60 a month on the lease deals we highlight below.

Hybrids Surge on Cars.com, Trucks Suffer

Yesterday, we illustrated how higher gas prices can affect consumer preferences on Cars.com and ultimately real-world car purchases. After analyzing the last 30 days of search data, we see that hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles are the biggest beneficiaries of the sudden rise in gas prices, and heavy-duty trucks, large luxury cars and SUVs are the biggest losers.

Out of the 15 vehicles that have seen the most improved search traffic over the last 30 days, eight are hybrids.

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid saw an 1,836% increase in traffic month-over-month on Cars.com. The Sonata Hybrid originally hit dealerships in January, according to Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson, but the car was delayed soon thereafter over impending legislation requiring noisemakers in hybrids and electric vehicles. Miles says the Sonata Hybrid has a noisemaker, but owners have the option to turn it off, which is similar to the system in the Nissan Leaf. Hyundai modified the system in the hybrid so it doesn’t have an option to turn off the virtual engine sound anymore. The car went back on sale sometime this week.

Happy Honda Days Actually Good For Lease Deals

Honda has the second-highest residual values in the industry (after Subaru) because the company doesn’t offer big discounts on its vehicles. In fact, Honda is currently offering no customer cash-back incentives during its holiday sales event. So how do they call it a sale?

There are dealer incentive programs, which we highlight below. It’s important to note that dealer incentives are for the dealers only, but often you can squeeze the manufacture subsidy out of your retailer. For more info, check out our advice page on the incentives.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2011 Honda Insight

To better compete against the Toyota Prius, Honda has added more standard safety and content features as well as a new entry-level Insight hybrid for the 2011 model year.

The new entry-level trim will be called “Insight” when it goes on sale Wednesday; the LX and EX trims are still available. The model will be priced at $18,200, excluding a $750 destination fee. That’s $1,600 less than the 2010 Insight, making it the most affordable hybrid currently on the market.

The new entry-level trim comes with air conditioning; automatic climate control; power windows, locks and side mirrors; remote keyless entry; tilt/telescoping steering wheel and a basic CD player with two speakers and auxiliary jack.

EPA's Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars

Every year, the Environmental Protection Agency complies a list of the top 10 overall most fuel-efficient cars in the country. For 2011, the Toyota Prius remains on top, but the new 2011 Honda CR-Z enters the fray, displacing the popular 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

The CR-Z comes in at No. 4 with the automatic transmission, No. 10 with the manual. The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight are now tied for third place because the Civic Hybrid lost 2 mpg in highway mileage in this year’s EPA rating (40/43 mpg city/highway). The Nissan Altima Hybrid fell from sixth to eighth place as it also lost 2 mpg, on its city mileage rating (33/33 mpg).

The CR-Z booted the Camry Hybrid off the list. The 2011 Camry Hybrid gets 31/35 mpg, compared with 33/34 mpg in the 2010 model.

While the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf are 2011 model year vehicles, the EPA is still working on testing criteria for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Once it figures that out, expect the Leaf — and possibly the Volt, depending on methodology — to skyrocket to the top.

The deviations in the ratings year-over-year come from how the EPA collects its fuel economy results. Typically, the agency allows each automaker to conduct its own fuel economy testing and then sometimes verifies the results. The EPA still conducts its own testing on about 10% to 15% of the vehicle fleet each year, and the models with different ratings were probably just evaluated by the agency.

The 2000 Honda Insight, at 53 mpg on the combined cycle, remains the most fuel-efficient vehicle ever rated by the EPA. Continue reading below for the detailed top 10 list.

Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Honda Insight

“Newly Hybridized” from Woodstock, N.Y., recently converted to the hybrid class, trading away his 10-year-old Volkswagen Golf for a 2010 Honda Insight. So far, Newly Hybridized is “unconditionally” happy with the new ride, which he drives back and forth more than 100 miles a day. After putting on nearly 2,000 miles in a little over two weeks, this Woodstock resident says he’s averaging 49.5 mpg, which is above EPA estimates. The reader even calls out our expert reviews on two counts: the low seating position and the obstructive view through the two-tier hatchback window, both of which this reviewer views as positives; continue reading to find out why. Then write your own review here. 

Honda Announces Plug-in Hybrid and EV for 2012

Honda will produce a plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle for the U.S. by 2012, according to the automaker.

There are no specifications on the Honda EV, but it will likely compete with the upcoming Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i MiEV. The EV will be introduced in the U.S. in 2012 after the company completes a demonstration program with participants from Stanford University, Google and the City of Torrance, Calif.

A plug-in hybrid system is also under development for midsize and larger vehicles – such as the Honda Accord – for the U.S. by 2012. The plug-in system will be evaluated in 2010, again by the City of Torrance.

Honda also announced a next-generation Honda Civic Hybrid will debut for 2011. The new hybrid will feature a lithium-ion battery, which has a better energy-to-weight ratio compared to the current Civic Hybrid’s nickel-metal-hydride battery. 

The news comes at a time when Honda is falling behind in the hybrid segment. Honda Civic Hybrid sales are down 74.6% this year. While the Insight sales are up 37.2%, the model is only selling at one-sixth the rate of the Toyota Prius, which is the Insight’s closest competitor. 

The 2011 Civic Hybrid announcement is also significant in that it points to a ballpark date for the next-generation gas-powered Honda Civic; until now, we had no idea when to expect the new Civic.

2010|Honda|Civic Hybrid

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