Honda News
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With the new 2011 CR-Z, Honda has created a critical firestorm of sorts: Enthusiasts are saying it should be a sportier drive, while hybrid car fans are pronouncing its mileage figures unacceptably low. One outlet went so far as to declare the CR-Z “the worst of all worlds,” while another called more than 35 mpg in mixed driving conditions “rather disappointing.” Consumer Reports even tested a CR-Z for a few days, averaging 36 mpg in commuting conditions but pointing out that the same tester registered 36 mpg in the 2011 Mazda2 and 38 mpg in the 2011 Ford Fiesta. The...
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Honda Fit Hybrid: First Look
As the European brands chase the benefits of diesel in smaller cars--though they're sticking their toes in the hybrid/electric waters as well--the Japanese automakers continue to push forward with their established hybrid systems. The latest is Honda, which has revealed a new hybrid version of its...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Honda Civic Si Takes 1st Place At SCCA RallyCross Championships
A Stock Honda Civic Si Wins the Modified Two-wheel Drive Class
Jonathan McGrew -
Ouch! Honda Yanks Civic Hybrid AND Insight Off Sale In Canada
[UPDATE: Honda Canada later clarified to Autoblog Green that it was not removing the cars from sale, but merely selling down available stocks, and that it would order more units from Japan when and if customer sales actually depleted its supplies of either model.] As early as last year's U.S. sales...
John Voelcker -
Honda Civic Hybrid: Software Upgrade Fixes Battery Issue
Honda is asking Civic Hybrid owners to bring their cars back to the dealership for a software upgrade, as the hybrid system's original power management tactics might result in a battery life that's shorter than intended.
Bengt Halvorson -
2012 Honda Fit Hybrid Priced Under $20K for Japanese Buyers
With the 2011 Honda CR-Z headed for dealerships this summer, and the 2010 Honda Insight struggling to make a sales impression, the third of Honda's three new hybrid models is being cued up in Japan. The 2012 Honda Fit Hybrid (which will go on sale in Japan this October as a 2011 model) has now been...
John Voelcker -
One of the criticisms of hybrid cars has historically been that there's no payback, especially given the cheap gasoline prices in the U.S. The extra money you spend on a hybrid isn't returned in gas savings, say critics. Well, that may be true, especially when regular gasoline is averaging $2.77 a gallon this week. But as we often point out, most people don't buy hybrids for payback--they buy them to make a statement about wanting to drive green. Nevertheless, a Canadian study has now looked at the question of hybrid payback in a country whose gasoline is more expensive than ours (roughly...
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BREAKING: Honda Plans Electric Car, Plug-in Hybrid For 2012
Just like last week's Toyota-Tesla announcement, the rumor mill went into overdrive yesterday with talk of plans from Honda to build both electric cars and plug in Hybrids in the near future. Knowing full well how the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines felt about battery...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Honda To Launch Plug-In Hybrid Car in 2013, A Year After Toyota
It's been a time of turmoil for Honda lately, with the company doubling down on hybrids and pulling back on its clean-diesel efforts. Now, according to a Reuters report, the company will introduce both a plug-in hybrid and a fully electric car for the 2013 model year. The electric car will be...
John Voelcker -
Honda Doubles Down on Hybrids, Dumps Clean Diesel To Go Green
Although Honda designed and sold the world's second hybrid-electric car, the 1999-2006 Insight, the company hasn't done nearly as well in hybrids as its larger rival Toyota. Now the company has reinforced its earlier suggestion that it would significantly beef up its hybrid efforts by providing...
John Voelcker -
California Yanks Prius Perks: No More Hybrid HOV-Lane Access
You may remember that in California, 85,000 lucky owners of three hybrid vehicles were granted special stickers giving them access to High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes, even with only a single occupant in the car. Well, their luck runs out on December 31, the last day those stickers are valid. While...
John Voelcker -
2011 Honda CR-Z: A Left Of the Middle?
Honda’s Sport Hybrid Seems To Fall A Tad Short
Jonathan McGrew -
Will Fuel Economy Keep Honda Ahead Of the Competition
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2011 Honda Accord Promises A Fuel Economy Boost
Some models may gain as much as three miles per gallon.
Tim Healey -
2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Starts From $19,200, On Sale August 24
The sporty hybrid coupe will hit dealerships later this summer.
Nelson Ireson -
2011 Honda CR-Z: First Drive
What do you get when you take some of the inspiration of Honda’s much-loved CRX two-seater from the 1980s and cross it with the also-much-loved Insight coupe from the past decade, then give it the latest version of Honda’s hybrid system? Honda says you get the 2011 Honda CR-Z...
Martin Padgett -
Tesla Cashes In, Sells Zero-Emission Vehicle Credits to Honda
Ever wondered how car companies make money fast? Sexy electric sports car creators Tesla motors have figured it out: sell off its excess zero-emission vehicle credits for much-needed hard cash to Honda, the only mainstream automaker to not yet fully commit to making an EV. In 2008, a revised...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
New Honda Civic Design Won’t Come Until 2011 Says Spokesperson
The Wait For the New Civic Design Gets Extended
Jonathan McGrew -
Its official! Honda doesn't trust EVs. A week after Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn reiterated the company's support for electric cars along with plans to bring four EV models to market, Honda remain uncommitted about the future of Honda EVs. Honda's president of research and development, Tomohiko Kawanabe spoke candidly about his skepticism of electric drivetrain systems. He confirmed that while Honda plan to sell electric cars in California to comply with emissions laws in that state, making EVs is far down the list of Honda's priorities. Tomohiko Kawanabe's response to questions on the future of...
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Toyota Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Car To Come In 2015, For $50,000
Toyota's first production vehicle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell will be a sedan model with the range of a gasoline model, said a company executive last week. It will be priced at roughly $50,000, and go on sale in 2015. That's more expensive than upcoming electric vehicles like the 2011 Nissan...
John Voelcker -
VIDEO: Five Things About Hybrid Cars That You Should Know
Do you know the difference between a mild hybrid like a 2010 Honda Insight, and a full hybrid like the 2010 Toyota Prius? Or what happens to all hybrid vehicles when the weather gets cold? If you do, you're probably well versed in green cars, and you may already be a hybrid vehicle owner. If not...
John Voelcker -
Natural-Gas Honda Civic To Oklahoma As U.S. Lags in NGVs
The U.S. buys more hybrids than any place else in the world except Japan. We have a handful of clean diesels, with sales slowly increasing. But the "other alt-fuel" for automobiles--natural gas--is barely a blip on the U.S. market. Nonetheless, Honda is plugging away (ahem) with its 2010 Honda...
John Voelcker -
Honda and Hyundai Tie For Best Small Sedan
Consumer Reports Ranks Both Civic and Elantra as Best Bets
Jonathan McGrew -
Spy Shots Show Honda Fit Hybrid Testing, But Is It For U.S.?
Honda is continuing to develop the 2012 Honda Fit Hybrid, a version of its popular and versatile subcompact that uses a mild-hybrid system with a smaller engine for even higher gas mileage. Spy shots published by our sister site Motor Authority show the Honda Fit test car, complete with black tape...
John Voelcker