Honda hybrids might finally get more than 43 MPG - new IMA to be revealed in November

Awesome! I can't wait to hear what they have cooking. I'd have to seriously re-look at the CR-Z if they upgraded the hybrid system to something a little less primitive.

 

Looking forward for it. They said it would have two motors like HSD.

 

If doing a PHEV or EV, then their whole system needs to be redesigned. Which I guess is what they are going to do. Not just an iteration but a start from scratch. Hopefully they will finally start putting more thought into plugin EVs rather than Hydrogen EVs...

 

Clutchez, bitchez !

 

yeah, Honda most likely going the Hyundai Hybrid route with DFI engine and clutches to decouple the ICE.

 

You know, the sad part about the Hyundai and Honda designs is that they still require some sort of traditional transmission. The beauty of the Toyota/Ford/Nissan designs is that they may require two big, expensive electric motors, however they get to do away with the need for a transmission. Since Honda has always pushed their IMA saying that it was simpler and cheaper than Toyota's design (and almost as effective) adding an extra electric motor and clutch would actually probably make their system more expensive. So I hope they have something new and better in the making.

 

If they separate the engines, I don't see why they wouldn't get MPG as good or better than the Prius. About time, imo... Honda probably got tired of being a 2nd class citizen.

 

If its more IMA son I am disappoint.

 

Honda's IMA really is so much fail. I hope for their sake it's better, but their current hybrid offerings are disappoint. Particularly the CR-Zzzzzz.

 

Is this it? wah wah waaaaaah

Honda improves Insight's economy - Autocar.co.uk

 

This is why competition is good.

Seems like it has been a tough lesson for Honda, but it also seems they are "getting it".

I personally just look forward to what the next generation Hybrid IMA system will offer.

 

Heck, my wife gets 42 mpg with her Insight, which is about 10%or so lower than what I get on my Prius. But my Prius cost $5K more. In my view, having driven both, the Insight is a better value at that price difference--though I like my Prius better. But given the choice when I bought my Prius in '08, I probably would have bought the Insight if it had been available for $5K less.

 

Competition IS good. It's just that no one so far has been able to knock the Prius off it's smug champion status ... efficient ... roomy ... handling ... power ... price ... options etc ... everything. Bring it on! come one come all! Just remember ... Toyota is likely not sitting on it's success - but rather THEY are working on their OWN Prius killer.


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I looked at the Insight just so I could tell the Prius salesman I also had interest in a comparable car (which happens to be a bit cheaper) so it wouldn't be so obvious I was only interested in a Prius. There was no comparison imho.

 

The Insight II is so bad, it stands along with the Element as the lone 2 Honda's not recommended by Consumer Reports. I've never even test driven an Insight, what's the point. It's too small and weak. No competition at all for Prius.

Too bad. I wish Honda would put up a better fight against the Prius.

I like Honda, but IMO, they've got a big hole in their lineup >> no 4 door hatchback bigger than that puny SUB-COMPACT Fit. I hate the seating in the CR-V. And Honda gives Europe the Civic hatchback. Crosstour, too much car, period. Element, eeegawd, no, hate the seats.

I want a really well done Civic hatchback. If it's a good hybrid too, bring it.

 

I sure hope so! It's going to be awesome to see the GenIV Prius. I'm sure A LOT of improvement will occur by then ... and who knows how much more advancement the auto industry as a whole is going to see before then.

 

Those statements seem to contradict one another The civic hatchback was much smaller than the Fit.

The Fit is actually quite large; I wished it was smaller during our test drives. It always amazes me when I hear Americans calling the Prius a 'small car'! It's huge!

The Mazda2/Ford Fiesta are probably the closest things in NA right now to being actual "small cars" (the smart fortwo being obviously the smallest). The offering in Europe in that category is phenominal.

-Iain

 

obviously current Civic hatcback rides on same platform as Civic and as such is one size bigger than Fit.

US Ford Fiesta is actually going to be a bit longer than Fit, it looks small, but it is not small car...

It is actually Yaris that can be said to be small car compared to those two. And it will probably go up and all cars in the class in Europe are approaching 4m lenght now.