Honda's Fukui says no to cheaper Insight, large-car diesels

[DainBramaged]

(Fuk Ui America, we don't need no stinkin diesels)


Honda Motor Co. President Takeo Fukui says he won't lower the price of the Insight hybrid hatchback despite an attempt by rival Toyota Motor Corp. to undercut the car with a discounted Prius.

"I don't think that would be meaningful to do so," Fukui told Automotive News today when asked whether Honda would cut the Insight's sticker price to compete.

He also said Honda is developing a hybrid drivetrain for large cars, abandoning plans to rely on clean diesels in that segment.

Dealers in Japan say Toyota has set a starting price of 2.05 million yen, or about $20,750 at current exchange rates, for the highly anticipated third-generation Prius, which debuts next month. The Prius would cost the same as a middle-trim Insight, which Honda is trying to position as the world's first affordable hybrid.

Toyota's aggressive pricing, designed in part to fend off Honda's encroachment on the popular green car segment, could have stoked a hybrid price war. But Fukui wasn't biting.

"I think that is something we can't do right now," he said. "We have to carefully examine the new Prius to know whether it is necessary for us to take certain measures."

Separately, Fukui said Honda is developing a hybrid drivetrain for large cars. Its recent push into hybrids has centered on small vehicles, such as the Insight. Next year Honda is launching the CR-Z sporty hybrid and following that with a hybrid version of the Fit.

"We have to think about the balance between cost and effectiveness," Fukui said.

"For larger vehicles, we think we might have to change the hybrid system so as to improve their efficiency. R&d is working hard on this."

Fukui said Honda has abandoned clean diesel as the next-generation green drivetrain for big vehicles because it costs too much to clear emissions regulations in the United States and Japan.

"Even for larger-size vehicles, we think it's more realistic to think about hybrids," Fukui said. "Therefore, we have changed our thinking."


http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090403/ANA02/904039967/1186 (subscription only, in full)

[DainBramaged]

1. WOW no comments from the GM sucks crowd tonight, why am I not surprised.

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. I'd love to see the Ford Focus diesel from Europe over here

65 mpg, and it's not a hybrid.

That said, my hope is that GM can, and will continue to build on their success in the hybrid markets. There was talk of a plug-in Malibu hybrid that could potentially get 40 miles on a charge. Even if they didn't reach that "holy grail", they are doing good things with that hybrid:

<<As of 2008, the Chevrolet Malibu has become arguably a world-class car, winning the coveted J. D. Power and Associates award for “highest initial quality” in the mid-size segment. At the same time, it has gotten kudos for its interior design and quality as well as for its performance and fuel economy, but good fuel economy is becoming (no kidding) a GM standard throughout their whole line.

We have to admit, we’ve liked every Malibu we’ve tested in the last few years, particularly the Malibu Maxx, a sort of short station wagon, which is no longer in production as of the 2008 model year. The 2008 and 2009 Malibus have been uniformly well-built and a pleasure to drive as well as returning very good fuel economy numbers in the real world.>>

http://www.mixedpower.com/chevrolet-malibu/2009-chevrolet-malibu-hybrid-test-drive-and-review/

[DainBramaged]

3. I drive Malibus all the time. I wish they'd make one with the 5.3 in it

Like the Monte Carlo or Impala SS, but that's just me. :evilgrin: I think the Monte is going to be a casualty of the model trimming, along with the Grand Prix and G8.

[madrchsod]

4. i just read several reviews of the max/malibu on car survey.org

most people loved the car ,some had issues with the wiring/electrical ,but over all a very good car.... then they killed it. as a poster said on another site..gm builds a very good car then promptly under funds it`s development into a great car.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. To me, it's pretty conceptually simple

GM does many things well. They build very good pick up trucks (I'm personally partial to the F-150, but I'll give the Silverado its props), they build very good straight trucks, and they've made a valiant effort to apply hybrid technology to gas guzzling SUVs to make their mileage at least palatable.

What they lack is a bread-and-butter car that inspires consumer confidence. I am not saying that the Malibu is a bad car; what I am saying, though, is that they will have to build a car that inspires a level of confidence that exceeds the current level of consumer confidence in the Honda Civic and Accord, and the Toyota Corolla and Camry.

To wit: The car has to have turn-key reliability; be reasonably expected to run to 250,000 miles with nothing more than routine maintenance; have exceptional fit and finish qualities; be perceived by the consumer as having a comfortable, stylish, and ergonomic interior; achieve excellent MPG, be fun-to-drive, and have a price that is exceptionally affordable.

I loved my 1995 Saturn SL-1. I really wish they'd go back and look at the design qualities that made those early Saturns a success. That car couldn't be dented and wouldn't rust; it had a reputation for being very safe in an accident; our 5 speed got about 40 on the highway; the only problem we ever had was an O2 sensor going bad; the car had nice power and good high speed handling; all of the items that were routinely maintained were highly accessible; the car was very affordable. What was not to like??

[HillbillyBob]

5. Why not diesel hybrids?

I realize with a hybrid that plugs in to an outlet, the diesel could sit in the tank long enough to go bad.
Well all fuels will go bad, Straight Vega table Oil=SVO and BioDiesel can go rancid. SVO also has to have a heater and you still have to start the engine with diesel then switch over when the engine is warm. I think SVO has to have temp of 80-/+ to ignite properly, I can't remember.
I am not sure what you call foul fuel other than that, but leave gasoline sit for a while and it will jell, diesel and kero can too Kerosene especially is hydrophilic, it will absorb moisture quite readily. We found that out first hand this year with our kero heater, I had to take it all apart and clean out the tank (wot a pia) and change the wick. Don't leave your kero where it is subject to cold then the Sun shining on the jug! If you are going to store fuel of any kind add some Methanol Alcohol aka gas fresh, fuel fresh, kerosene fresh, dry gas.
A diesel engine with sensors to variable settings on the computer control should be able to run SVO, BioDiesel, or kero even. My Grampa used to run kero in his diesel John Deere, but only after it has warmed up. going to run for a several hours to use it all up and only on hot days as it is a bit different from diesel and needs a higher start temperature I guess.

[OmahaBlueDog]

7. My B-I-L sometimes runs his F-350 on Kero

SVO and Bio are only good options if you do a lot of driving and can store the fuel effectively.

You are correct: SVO has to start on diesel and finish on diesel.