Hybrid Honda Insight, Hybrid Motorcycle Lead Green Push

Honda hopes to aggressively compete with the Toyota Prius by unveiling its own affordable hybrid car that will hit markets in the relatively new future, according to Autopia:

Honda's finally pulled the sheet off the world's cheapest hybrid, a $19,000 five-seater that resurrects the Insight name and looks a lot like the car it's meant to unseat as the must-have ride of the eco-conscious set.

The company won't formally introduce the Insight until the Paris Motor Show next month, but the photo it released today shows a car bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Toyota Prius. Yeah, that front end was clearly inspired by Honda's eco-flagship, the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, but there's no mistaking the general shape of the car.

That price tag is pretty impressive, especially since I've been staring at Chevy Volt material for weeks -- you know, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle that will probably cost more than $40,000.

Meanwhile, Honda's also working on a hybrid motorcycle -- and more:

Not only does the company think it can make an electric engine small enough to fit in the narrow confines of a motorcycle frame, but it plans to offer full electric bikes as early as 2011.

The Times didn't offer a lot of detail but says Honda will offer the hybrids in displacements ranging from 50 cc to 1,000 cc, and the gas-electric drivetrain will offer a 50 percent improvement in fuel economy. Sharing components with Honda's hybrid cars will cut down on production costs.

Comments

[PT6]

PALIN FUZZY MATH - WHY SHE FAILS!

US USES 25% of OIL
US HAS 3% of OIL

US IMPORTS 22% of OIL OR ALMOST 90% IN IMPORTS AFTER "DRILL BABY DRILL"

THE RESEARCH IS COMPLETE ON ALTERNATIVES.

FINE-TUNE/IMPROVE AND IMPLEMENT SOLAR, WIND, METHANE (from waste products), AND NUCLEAR ENERGIES TO BE FREE OF IRAQ, IRAN, VENEZUELA, and EVEN THE SAUDIS!

[jesuslovesObama]

Want.

[mamacat]

Bravo Honda.

[drewbob]

Im glad to see at least one automaker thinking about making an electric motorcycle. That would be possibly one of the most efficient applications of the technology. I dont know very many people taking motorcycle trips of over 100 miles. Usually just going out for a couple hours. Take out the huge engine and gas tank, transmission and all that other stuff that just takes up unnecessary space and fill it all with batteries. To me this seems like the easiest idea in the world and would take very little to actually make it to a production line. Also imagine being able to program in you weight and being able to do a perfectly controlled wheelie using the electronic throttle ;)

[vazzy13]

So when are they going to make a hybrid version of the CRV??? Come ON Honda - I can't be the only one asking for it!! The rough-riding hard-steering Ford Escape Hybrid needs some competition!

[EinChicago]

So Chevy has the Volt and electric Opel, Ford has the PHEV Escape, Chrysler has the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep EVs, Honda has the extremely well priced Insight and Toyota has a slightly prettier version of the exact same Prius it has been schilling for the past 5 years. Oh yeah, and claims that one day it may actually have a PHEV ready to show.

[KillTheMessenger]

Cool! We need more competition for the Prius and except for Honda nobody even dares to attack it. The GM Volt is nothing but a fig leaf to defend the recent government bailout and will never sell to more than collectors at the named price tag.

[SouthFloridaDem]

But until someone else can match the mileage of a Prius, it's not really competition. Even the Toyota Camry hybrid doesn't match the Prius.

[KenGirard]

Meanwhile a group of high school kids built a bio deisel sports car in shop class that gets 50+mpg while doing 0-60 in 4 seconds http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/17/eveningnews/main1329941.shtmll) but the car companies can't. Why?

[KillTheMessenger]

The Camry was never meant to challenge the Prius. Toyota is not trying to compete against itself.