PHOTO: Scott Jacobs / INSIDE LINE

It had to happen, given the fundamental laws of nature governing rivalries: Inside Line has done a playful side-by-side comparison of the Nissan Cube and the Scion xB. JDM-spec Cube did not fare exactly well against the US-market Scion (which it won't compete directly against, anyway). The Nissan's 1.4L four is perfectly adequate for the crowded streets of Tokyo but is taxed on American roads, as the Cube takes 13.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60. Based on Inside Line's impressions, a quarter mile run down the drag strip might well be measurable in the amount of beard growth you experience along the way. To be fair, one could easily argue that the quarter-mile time of a runabout like Nissan Cube is about as relevant to its target audience as the off-roading capabilities of the Chevy Corvette are to its prospective buyers. Still, when compared directly to the Cube, Inside Line finds the Scion better-suited to handle the average American's daily driving needs without relying on wide-open throttle as often as possible. That last bit manifests itself at the pump as Inside Line only squeezed around 22 mpg out of Nissan's microcar.

Aesthetically, Inside Line notes that the Cube's funky, asymmetric style makes the larger Scion xB look normal by comparison. Inside, the itsy bitsy Nissan provides flexibility in terms of passenger and cargo-carrying capacity, and it has some neat, thoughtful features like a coat rack in the rear storage compartment. Still, Inside Line feels that an eventual US-market Cube (there could be an announcement made next month in New York) would have to grow in size and power to better fit in, much like the '08 xB is larger than its predecessor. Sure, not everyone likes the fact that the 2nd-gen xB got bigger (us included), but when the Cube arrives, it'll have a clean slate since Americans won't have a prior model to compare it against. Assuming Nissan delivers a US-spec Cube that doesn't lose the the current car's quirky Japanese charm and delivers good fuel economy, the xB's gonna have a real fight on its hands in a couple of years. Read Inside Line's comparo in full here.


[Source: Inside Line]

Two big announcements from Honda recently concerning what the company has in store for the future. As we noted yesterday, the company says ethanol is not efficient, and doesn't see the biofuel as part of its future strategy. So, what is? A new hybrid in, maybe, 2009, and third-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The hybrid, hinted at at the company's 2007 lineup introduction, will be a "high-volume seller with a price and body-size below the current Civic Hybrid", according to Kicking Tires. KT figures this hybrid may get better miles per gallon than the Civic Hybrid. As for the shape, Honda said it will have a "unique body style", so we'll just have to guess and wait.

As for the third-generation fuel cell vehicle, it will be unveiled in Los Angeles at the LA Auto Show in December. The 3rd gen powertrain will be put into the still-in-development FCX, Honda told Edmund's Inside Line. The FCX is a five-passenger luxury sedan unveiled last year. This powertrain won't be the mass-market version, but it's a step closer, the company told IL. Honda had said they plan on producing the FCX for the market in about three to four years.

Related:

• Honda says no to ethanol, says it's not efficient

[Source: Edmunds and Kicking Tires]