Some see the success of the Toyota Prius, compared to such competitors as the Civic Hybrid, as proof that green cars need to look different from their normal siblings. While it may be a bit early on in the game to make this assessment, Ford's North American director of car design, Pat Schiavone, suggests that there could be a trend towards "green" styling cues. For instance, cars like the Honda Insight and GM EV1 are easily recognizable for their teardrop shape and covered wheels, both of which help with the vehicles' high efficiency. While nobody that I can think of considers covered wheels "sexy," Schiavone indicates that could change, saying, "This sort of science-project look could end up sexy, or perceived sexy." We've seen some rolling science projects on these pages... although often supremely practical, not one of them has been all that sexy. Also mentioned as earmarked for the future are the wings and spoilers used by Indy racers in the 1970s. Now that could be pretty cool!

[Source: AutoWeek]

There is a huge aftermarket contingency turning small Hondas into performance cars by replacing their engines with larger versions from other vehicles. We're sure that you've noticed the various Civics and Integras buzzing around town, and soon those Civics could be Insights if this vehicle starts a new trend. Created by LHT Performance in Florida, this particular Insight features the K20A engine featured in various Honda and Acura models in both the U.S. and abroad. The conversion, of course, removes the Integrated Motor Assist that made the Insight a hybrid in the first place.

The same thing that makes the Insight such an efficient vehicle, its light weight, also makes it an ideal performance car. According to LHT, the car has close to 200 horsepower and scoots along very quickly. Fuel mileage isn't quite as good as a stock Insight, as you might imagine, but is still quite respectable at nearly 50 miles per gallon on average. We hope that removing the IMA engine from the Insight doesn't become a common sight, but we can appreciate the work that went into making this one.

[Source: LHT Performance]

A year ago at the Geneva Motor Show, Honda talked about producing a new hybrid-only model beginning in 2009. A concept version of that new car is expected to make its debut this September at the Paris Motor Show ahead of its production debut next year. The new hybrid-only model will be the first such car from Honda since the Insight went out of production in 2006. Honda has set themselves a goal of selling ten percent of their cars with hybrid power-trains by the end of the decade and, with the Civic currently being the only hybrid on offer, this new one will have to be a success if they hope to meet that goal. Conquering Europe, where hybrids have been slow to gain a foothold, will be important to Honda. The company plans on pricing the new car aggressively, somewhere in the range of €16,000 and €20,000. The Prius currently runs about €24,000 in Europe. The new dedicated hybrid will use a new version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. The IMA system can't accelerate from a stop on electric power only. However at moderate constant speeds the engine can be shut down and, with the throttle open, the system can motor along on electric power alone.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Hybrid car shoppers will have more choices than ever before in 2009 when Honda releases their new Prius fighter and the CR-Z hybrid sports car. Toyota has also publicly said that their next-generation Prius will go on sale in '09. Honda hopes to sell 100,000 of their dedicated hybrid family sedan in North America, and hopes to double that number when worldwide sales are tallied. Details remain sketchy, but as we've reported before, the CR-Z model is separate from their hybrid family sedan. They hope to price the sedan between the Fit and the Civic Hybrid.

The CR-Z is intended to be a sporty hybrid, and the weight of the battery is a big concern. Honda COO Takanobu Ito was interviewed at the Tokyo Motor Show and declined to comment on whether Honda plans on a lithium ion battery for their new hybrid models, but that would make a big dent in the weight problem.

Related:

• It's not just the FCX; the CR-Z is entering production soon as well

[Source: Auto News (sub. req'd)]

Just earlier today we brought you a story about Honda's new dedicated hybrid model, which would be a more mainstream attempt than the Insight was. Will that model be Honda's CR-Z concept car which was just revealed in Tokyo? Ostensibly a replacement for the now defunct, but much loved, CRX model, the CR-Z adds a hybrid drivetrain to that car's proven formula. Although the Insight was never intended to be sporty, the size and proportions were there from the start. Of course, wider tires and less extreme aerodynamics would likely reduce the fuel consumption numbers a bit, but if more people were to purchase the vehicle, the overall impact could in fact be better.

Take a look at all of our pictures of the car and start thinking about carving up your daily commute with a sporty hybrid. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?



All live photos ©2007 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Honda via Autoblog]

We know that the all-electric Toyota RAV4 EV is one of the cars that has gone up in value over the years. Mark Phelan, a Detroit Free Press columnist, noted this week that early hybrid vehicles, especially the Honda Insight, are also still doing well among their happy owners and are selling well enough in the aftermarket. Consumer Reports magazine raves about the Insight and the early Priuses, even though some of these first-generation hybrids have had battery problems. The automakers are, for the most part, taking good care of the early adopters who bought the first hybrids. And J.D. Power and Associates says that their three-year durability survey found hybrids have about 10 percent fewer problems than purely gasoline-engine cars. More long-term studies of aging hybrids will be coming later this year, Phelan writes, but the overall picture is that hybrids are doing well, both on the road and out of the garages.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]