Consumer Reports slams Honda Insight

The most disappointing Honda in years

I have not yet seen the August issue of Consumer Reports, but according to CNN, CR will not recommend the Honda Insight, noting its poor "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, and rear-seat access."

In fact, out of 22 hatchbacks and small wagons, the Insight placed second to last.

Honda countered by saying initial consumer feedback and auto media press has been much more favorable regarding Honda's latest hybrid.

3 Hybrids up for European Car of the Year

Gaining ground in Europe?

Hybrid cars probably won't become major players in Europe until they are offered in diesel versions. Nonetheless, three hybrids are up for the 2010 Car of the Year in Europe. The new third generation Toyota Prius, Lexus RX450h, and Honda Insight were all given a nod in Europe this year.

Toyota Prius tops Japanese car market in May

Top selling car in Japan

For the first time ever, the Honda Insight made a hybrid vehicle the top selling vehicle in Japan for the month of April. In the month of May, the Insight fell to third place.

Nonetheless, hybrid cars are still dominating the Japanese market. In May, the Toyota Prius was the top selling vehicle according to MotorTrend.

A few thoughts about May hybrid sales

Honda hybrid sales up compared to last year

The US economy might be in a recession, but the US auto industry is in an outright depression. Auto sales for the year are down significantly compared to last year for all automakers.

And, it isn't just auto sales that are down, but gas prices as well. Last year, gas prices pushed the sales of hybrid cars into uncharted territory. This year, some wonder if the steep drop in hybrid sales proves that hybrids are but a fad.

A hybrid sales fad?

Despite the recession and significantly lower gas prices, Honda is selling more hybrid cars so far this year than it sold last year thanks to the launch of the Honda Insight hybrid. In fact, Honda hybrid sales are up 7.5 percent compared to last year. That's right. You read UP.

Toyota's hybrid flagship, the Toyota Prius, still experienced a sales decline of 30 percent compared to this time last year. Considering that Prius sales are down 45 percent on the year, however, 30 percent is an improvement. And, with pre-orders flying in for the new 2010 Prius, 2009 could still end up being a stellar year for Prius sales.

So, surprisingly, despite the recession and lower gas prices, 2009 will still probably be a strong year for hybrid sales. And, in this world wide recession, if this is as low as gas prices go, the future of gas prices can only be higher, and that will only help future hybrid sales.

20 percent hybrid by 2020?

Ford better get ready to increase its hybrid production

In just a few years, shoppers of Honda hybrid cars will face a tough decision.

Should they buy the cheapest and smallest Honda hybrid, the Fit or the larger Honda Insight? Or, for those not interested in hatchbacks and desiring a little more passenger space, the Civic hybrid might be better . Then again, maybe some Honda hybrid consumers won't care about size, but instead prefer something sporty like the CR-Z sports hybrid.

So, why is Honda going hybrid crazy? Well, perhaps they've seen JP Morgan's latest hybrid prediction. By 2020, according to JP, hybrid sales in the US will reach 19.4 percent of the new car market.

Shoot. If gas prices pull another 2008 in the next few years, I'd say that JP is underestimating the hybrid market. In fact, the way that Honda is ramping up its hybrid efforts, I wouldn't be surprised if Honda was hybrid-only by 2020.

Now, US automakers, that's a whole other story.

Chinese hybrids a big threat to America?

A mini minivan: As big as a Chinese hybrid gets?

A blogger from China sent me his list of top ten Chinese EVs and hybrid vehicles, and the size of these vehicles really caught my attention. Most are very small, unlike most American hybrids - most of which are SUVs.

Thus far, not one US automaker has yet taken on the Toyota Prius, or even the Honda Insight, and doing so might still be several years away. In fact, the Chinese might be just as close as the Big 3 to a quality Prius-contender.

Soon, I have no doubt that Chinese automakers will be rolling out hundreds of thousands of hybrid cars for China, but refining these vehicles for the American market will take more time. Nonetheless, China seems quite primed to quickly enter the US market. And, since CAFE will require small, efficient, but expensive vehicles, China's cheap manufacturing capabilities might be the key to success, as well as another major threat to US automaker viability.

Insight versus Prius: Commercials

The hybrid for all of us

As I was watching the Lakers go down last night, commercials for both the Honda Insight and the new 2010 Toyota Prius aired within just a few minutes of each other.

I don't really like either commercial, but if I had to pick a winner, it would easily be the Prius commercial. Still, neither of these commercials entices much in terms of sizzle or steak.

Perhaps these commercials resonate well with those already contemplating a hybrid vehicle purchase, but I seriously doubt either commercial will help convert new buyers towards these excellent hybrid vehicles. Obviously, both commercials are skewed towards the stereotypical treehugging crowd, but isn't there also an opportunity for marketing these vehicles to those concerned about energy independence? Or is that too much of a stretch for foreign automakers?

Insight top selling vehicle in Japan

Hybrids rule

The Honda Insight was the top selling vehicle in Japan for the month of April, the first time a hybrid vehicle has ever clinched the top spot. According to the AP, Honda sold 10,481 Insights.

With the new Toyota Prius set to launch, it will be interesting to see if two hybrid cars could soon top Japan's best selling list.

But hybrids aren't profitable......

How much money does Honda lose on each hybrid?

$0.00.

That's how much Honda loses on each hybrid it sells. In fact, the other day I read that both Honda and Toyota make about a $3,000 profit on each hybrid sold.

Of course, that doesn't include all R&D costs, especially on Honda's hybrids since Honda hasn't sold nearly as many hybrid cars as Toyota. Now that Toyota has sold well over a million hybrids, however, development costs have probably been recovered.

Yet, not one US automaker has a solid Insight or Prius contender. When will they? Ever?

Within the next five years I'd bet gas prices will be about $3.00 - $4.00 per gallon, a price that could make hybrid cars like the Insight and Prius two of the top selling vehicles in America.

What will the Big 3 have?

Ford's huge hybrid opportunity: Can Ford compete?

Can you compete with the king or not?

I still can't believe the early sales data coming in on the 2010 Toyota Prius. Even before the Prius actually launches, Toyota will have already sold more of these new hybrid cars than Ford will sell in all of 2009, despite the hype around the new Fusion hybrid.

Yet, as Chrysler and GM sit on the precipice of bankruptcy, Ford stands strong in Detroit, in America. Today, Ford evokes hope in the hearts and minds of those that believe the US auto industry can still compete.

But, what do we really believe in? That Ford understands finance? Obviously, but what about its future products?

If Ford was rolling out Honda's new Insight hybrid, it would have instantly sold out. INSTANTLY. Buy American-only buyers are dying to put their money in an American product that proves American automakers can compete, especially when it comes to fuel efficient technology.

But, can Ford truly compete in the future? Not if its cheapest hybrid is the Ford Fusion hybrid.

In recent weeks and months Ford has talked up its gains in lithium batteries. Enough talk. It's time to walk the walk and give America an American foreign-oil dependency, CO2-crushing, Toyota Prius contender. Such a vehicle cannot, will not, fail Ford. And the hype, buzz and floor traffic it would create for Ford would result in the biggest marketing coupe in Ford history.

So, can Ford compete?

2010 Prius orders rolling in, ROLLING

Toyota's cure for the auto recession?

By June Toyota will be producing 50,000 Prius hybrids per month, a 25 percent increase in production from Toyota's original plans.

GreenCarCongress reports, "Pre-orders for the new hybrid began in April, and exceeded 40,000 early last week. They are expected to keep climbing to anywhere between 60,000 and 70,000 before the launch date, indicating unusually robust demand for a new model."

And Honda wants to sell 100,000 Insights per year? Which hybrid is for all of us?

I'm not trying to rip on Honda or the Insight, but 70,000 Prii sold before the first one even hits a dealership? And gas prices are cheap today!

Boring: The new Honda Insight commercial?

The hybrid for all of us?

Over the weekend I watched far more TV than normal, and I finally saw one - I don't know if there are more - of Honda's Insight hybrid commercials. It's a good commercial, advancing the idea that the Insight is a different kind of hybrid, a hybrid we can all afford.

Actually, its probably a hybrid more of us can afford, but let's not split hairs.

Besides, this vehicle should be cheaper than the Toyota Prius, as it doesn't offer quite as much car as the Prius. Nonetheless, I would like to see an even cheaper hybrid and I hope both Honda and Toyota follow up on plans for even smaller, cheaper hybrid cars.

But what really bugged me about this Insight commercial was, just as with the Prius, there is no sizzle.

Will any automaker ever offer an edgy hybrid ad?

Insight markups and Honda hybrid shopping

Is screwing the customer Insightful?

Last week some Honda hybrid shoppers found deals that couldn't be refused on Civic hybrids, while shopping for Insight hybrids. For instance Civic hybrids $2,000 less than the best deal on an Insight hybrid.

However, part of the reason some found good deals on the Civic hybrid was because of dealer markups on the Honda Insight. At one Honda dealership markups were as high as $4500.

This weekend, I stopped by my local Honda dealer and found no dealer markups above MSRP, however, aftermarket leather packages were being added to the cost, pushing the MSRP of an Insight hybrid up an additional $2,000, a price that seemed a little high for aftermarket leather.

Nonetheless, the Insight was still a better deal than the Civic hybrid, although my dealer told me he could offer some pretty great deals on Civic hybrid leases. Obviously, shopping for a Honda hybrid varies from dealer to dealer.

In the next few weeks I'll be doing some more Honda hybrid shopping to see how much variance there is between dealers in terms of hybrid deals, with a particular focus on dealer add-ons and markups.

Ford's $20,000 hybrid?

Ford's third gen Focus

I was checking out new pictures of the third generation Ford Focus on MotorTrend, and I couldn't help but think, why not make the Focus Ford's Honda Insight and Toyota Prius contender?

Imagine a $20,000 American hybrid!?

Hello! You wouldn't be able to keep it in stock. Even if the car lost money per unit for the next few years, imagine the traffic it would bring into showrooms. Imagine the positive press. And, eventually it would make a nice profit.

Make the gas version the econ model. Offer the hybrid in medium and luxury level trims. Maybe do the same for an EV version.

Isn't that the kind of choice America's freedom from foreign oil requires?

Great time to buy a Honda Civic hybrid?

Some interesting deals for hybrid buyers

The other day Smurf, a fellow blogger, went out to buy a Honda Insight hybrid. However, since his local Honda dealer had few Insight hybrids and many Civic hybrids, his salesman made him an offer he couldn't refuse - a Civic hybrid discounted $2000 less than the best deal for an Insight hybrid.

These are great days for the buyers of hybrid cars, as new hybrids come to market in one of the worst auto sales markets ever. Expect these deals to become even more interesting once the 2010 Toyota Prius comes to market.

However, shopping around will make a lot of sense. I've already heard of $4500 dealer markups on the Insight hybrid. So watch out.

Honda reports first week of Insight hybrid sales

569 units sold in first week

If you checked out your local Honda dealer last week hoping to purchase an Insight hybrid, you might have been disappointed. While Honda did begin delivery of the Insight, availability was limited. Nonetheless, Honda did record the sale of 569 Insights last week.

Interestingly, Honda Civic hybrid sales were down 20.8% in March compared to last year - a significant decline, but not as significant as most other Honda models.

Honda Insights being delivered

A truckload of Insights

Here's a bunch of Honda Insights making their way through Indiana.

The Insight is hitting dealerships this week, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how fast Honda is able to move these new hybrid cars.

Anybody out there gone Honda Insight shopping yet? (Thanks for the pic Brian)

New Prius cheaper than expected?

Priced the same as the current Prius

The new third generation Hybrid Synergy Drive is going to enable the 2010 Toyota Prius to achieve better fuel economy and better performance than the current Prius and all in a bit larger package. Likewise, it will offer a number of new, advanced electronic features. Thus, many have assumed the price of the new Prius will increase significantly.

But, what if it costs the same as the current Prius, at least at the base model?

The rumors coming out of Japan indicate that, at least for the Japanese market, the Prius will not be as expensive as originally thought. Since Toyota will continue the 2nd generation Prius, at pricing similar to the Honda Insight, is it unreasonable to assume that Toyota might try to match current Prius pricing with its new Prius?

We'll find out for sure quite soon, however, if true I think the sluggish hybrid sales chatter filling the auto world will quickly subside.

Toyota developing sporty hybrid to challenge CR-Z

Honda's upcoming CR-Z hybrid

Not only is Toyota going to develop a compact hybrid - smaller than the current Prius - that will be cheaper than the Honda Insight, but the hybrid king will also develop a sporty hybrid, based off the MR2, to challenge the Honda CR-Z hybrid according to recent reports.

Love seeing this emerging hybrid battle heat up between Honda and Toyota, but I'd sure love to see a US automaker join the war.

LA Times slams hybrid car sales

Insight will lift hybrid sales

Hybrid car sales go from 60 to 0 at breakneck speed, writes the LATimes this morning.

Hmmm. Buy a Civic hybrid today, or wait a couple of months for a cheaper, cooler Honda Insight hybrid? Or, buy a Toyota Prius today, or wait until a bigger, faster, more fuel efficient Prius becomes available in a couple of months while waiting out a recession?

Certainly, hybrid sales have dropped significantly since this summer, but summer sales were driven by the irrational exuberance created by relatively sudden $4.00 gas. With gas prices cut in half, and consumers facing a recession, one would expect a burst of the hybrid bubble. Nonetheless, gas prices will go back up in the next few years. Thinking otherwise is foolish.

In fact, this morning President Obama called such thinking "irresponsible" while addressing the dangers of foreign oil dependency. And, truthfully, if Americans paid the real cost of oil dependency at the pump, the cost of gas would already be very supportive of significantly higher hybrid sales.

Still, sales of hybrid vehicles will pick up in the next few months, as the two most important cars in the hybrid market come to market. Compare those sales to when gas was $3.00 and I think a far different picture of hybrid sales will emerge.

New Toyota hybrid cheaper than Honda Insight

Toyota's ultra cheap hybrid?

For quite a while I've been calling out Toyota to come up with a small, cheap city Prius. A compact hybrid used mostly for city commuting when extra seating is rarely needed.

Well, Toyota might not have listened to me, but the buzz around the cost of the Honda Insight has gotten to the hybrid car king. According to reports, Toyota plans to sell a compact hybrid by 2011 - at least in Japan - that will offer a smaller engine than the Prius and a smaller price tag.

Finally, competition in the hybrid cars segment isn't just heating up, it's brewing new ideas and innovations.

Can Honda sell 100,000 Insight hybrids in this market?

Recession-fighter?

Had Honda launched the fantastically aerodynamically designed Insight hybrid at this time last year, it would have been impossible for Honda to match demand.

This year, however, is a whole different matter. Cheaper gas, a dead car buyers market, and a deep recession make the car business a bad business to be in these days.

Still, the Honda Insight is something different. The Insight isn't just the closest thing to a Toyota Prius contender - the undisputed kind of hybrid cars - it's significantly cheaper than the Prius. And, while the Insight isn't as fuel efficient as the Prius in all driving conditions, it's lower sticker price makes it a formidable challenge.

Nonetheless, with a third gen Prius just around the corner, coupled with current economics, selling 100,000 Insights won't be easy, or will it?

$19,800 for a Honda Insight

Will it challenge the Prius?

The 2010 Honda Insight, due March 24, will begin at $19,800.

If you want to add stability control, steering wheel shift paddles, a six-speaker stereo system and heated mirrors, the price will increase to $21,300. Add navigation and the price increases to $23,100.

The 2010 Insight will be rated 40/43 mpg city/highway.

Enough bang for the buck?

The calm before the hybrid storm

The waiting game

Sales of hybrid vehicles declined 29 percent last month. Of course, the decline in light passenger vehicles was down 41 percent, so hybrids are still selling relatively well.

Yet, with the new Honda Insight and the new Toyota Prius ready to hit the market, in addition to the Ford Fusion hybrid, it seems that hybrid sales could actually spike significantly in coming months.

Before the recession really took hold of the US economy, I had heard from many whom were waiting for these new hybrids. It'll be very interesting to see how these hybrids are received in these tough economic times.

Insight outsells Prius in Japan

10th Best Selling Car in Japan

In February, the Honda Insight outsold the Toyota Prius in Japan. Compared to last year, Prius sales are down 20 percent, however, many believe Prius sales will pickup once the third generation Prius is launched.

What vehicles will save hybrid-less Detroit?

Hybrids, small cars or EVs?

OK, before I get started, I have to give Ford a few props. Ford has been selling about 25,000 hybrid cars per year for many years now. Soon, it will lift that production to about 50,000 hybrids per year.

Of course, that's nothing compared to Toyota's hybrid vehicle sales, and Ford has yet to directly challenge the Prius.

So, what vehicles will save Detroit, if not a Prius-fighter?

Well, it isn't going to be plug-in hybrids, such as the Chevy Volt, according to CNN. In the near term, such vehicles are "pricey and unprofitable" and mostly about "public relations and marketing benefits".

Likewise, small cars also aren't very profitable to US automakers, which Detroit builds purely for first time buyers whom later trade up for more profitable vehicles.

Yet, what if gas hovers around $3.00 or $4.00 for the next four years?

At such prices, fuel efficiency will matter, but it won't matter enough to push a majority of Americans into expensive PHEVS, for instance. They'd probably go smaller, or buy cheaper hybrids, such as the Honda Insight.

Again, however, this is a segment that US automakers seem not able to compete. So, what kinds of vehicles can guarantee the viability of Detroit without massive government assistance, especially amidst turbulent energy prices?

Honda Insight sales sizzle early in Japan

Monthly goals met in first week

The new Honda Insight hybrid has only been on sale for little more than a week, yet Honda's newest hybrid has already achieved its monthly sales goal of 5,000 cars for the Japanese market.

The Insight hybrid goes on sale in April for the US market. Currently, it's price in Japan would translate to about $21,000.

Hybrids still just too expensive?

Perfect, except for the price?

Stopped by the book store yesterday to check out the latest editions of the auto rags and picked up a few.

One of the magazines had a cover story on Ford and a bunch of type on the Fusion hybrid. When I put it on the counter, the clerk said, "What a great looking car. It's perfect, except for the price. It's way too expensive."

Starting at almost $28,000, the Fusion hybrid certainly isn't cheap, despite its very impressive city fuel economy numbers. This high cost might also explain why Ford is only planning to produce 25,000 Fusion hybrids per year.

Fortunately, Honda is going to challenge the hybrid price threshold when the Insight goes on sale this Spring. Yet, even if Honda can pull the MSRP under $20,000, is that still too expensive for average buyers on a car this size?

Are hybrid cars still just too expensive? Or, do you think the costs are justified?

Honda ready to challenge Toyota's hybrid crown?

The smartest hybrid yet?

In a MSNBC article this morning, Dan Carney calls the Honda Insight the "best intersection yet of the plots for price, efficiency and practicality," at least in terms of hybrid cars.

And, ultimately, I have to agree. Yet, it's never that simple, is it?

I live in a congested, Northeast LA neighborhood. City fuel economy is really the only thing that matters to me, and I've learned that Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is capable of much more than what the EPA predicts, especially, ironically, in the worst congestion imaginable - exactly the kind of traffic many of us Angelenos know all too well.

Nonetheless, I've always thought that Toyota should strive to decrease the price of its hybrids, or least offer a very cheap hybrid model, and Toyota has talked about such an offering in various forms. Then the gas crisis hit and all bets were off.

Today, with gas prices and oil prices falling, the Toyota Prius doesn't seem like as much of a deal as it did several months ago, especially if you don't live in a congested neighborhood, such as mine. That makes the Insight seem like a much better deal, and, today, when all factors are considered, the Insight might be the best hybrid available or soon to be available.

Higher gas prices, however, could quickly change that advantage, as could many other factors.

Ultimately, I don't really care which is the best hybrid today, I only care that, finally, there is real competition heating up in the hybrid space. Even more important, the competition isn't being driven only by fuel economy, but also pricing.

How far will hybrid sales decline in 2009?

Not the year of the hybrid

Six months ago, one might have speculated that 2009 would be the year that hybrid cars forever changed the auto industry. It's not just that hybrids were selling for thousands above MSRP six months ago thanks to high gas prices, but that 2009 would also see the launch of the new Honda Insight and the third generation Toyota Prius.

Yet, as we head into 2009 the hype around these two significant hybrid launches has been squashed. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyota push back the launch of the new Prius until as close to 2010 as possible.

With a crappy economy and falling gas prices, hybrid sales appear on track for a record year in 2009. Unfortunately, the record will be for biggest year-to-year sales decline.

$1.66 gas to fuel hybrid bargains

Happy days for hybrid shoppers

Hybrid sales were down 50 percent in November, and they will probably be about the same in December. Likewise, gasoline prices are now averaging $1.66 per gallon. So, aside from economic problems, one can only assume gas prices are significantly contributing to the hybrid sales slide.

Yet, 2009 will see a number of new hybrid cars hitting the road, such as the Honda Insight and the third generation Toyota Prius. Hence, supply glut seems inevitable.

For shoppers of hybrid cars, happy days are coming.

67 mpg Honda Fit hybrid ready in 2010?

Even cheaper than the Insight hybrid?

While US automakers are struggling just to survive to President-Elect Obama's inauguration, Honda is ramping up plans to put many more hybrid vehicles on the road soon. The Honda Insight is just around the corner and the Honda Fit hybrid should be available in 2010.

Reports coming out of Britain are claiming the new Honda hybrid will achieve at least 67 mpg, which is what the report claims the new Honda Insight will achieve.

This is nonsense. Already Honda has stated that the new Insight will not be as fuel efficient as the original Insight, which did achieve close to 67 mpg with the manual version but not the automatic. Of course, the new Insight is a good bit larger. Likewise, since then, the EPA has tightened its testing and the Insight would not be rated as high.

While Honda has indicated that improvements have been made on its hybrid powertrain, especially with regards to weight, the new Insight hybrid will still use a powertrain very similar to the Civic hybrid, which is rated 40 mpg city/ 45 mpg highway.

LA Auto Show and green automakers? Shut up

Proof that BMW is a green automaker?

I've now read a number of articles that discuss how green the LA Auto Show is, and how committed automakers are to green technology. Please. What show were these journalists attending?

The Honda Insight hybrid, the Ford Fusion hybrid, the Mini E, the Toyota Camry Natural Gas hybrid and some fuel cell cars demonstrate how much more committed the auto industry is to green technology? Wow! You have to be drinking some pretty good kool-aide to buy that green message.

Certainly, the Honda Insight is a legitimate effort. But, 25,000 Fusion hybrids per year? Whatever. A few hundred two-seat electric Mini E's? That'll make a difference. A Toyota Camry Natural Gas Hybrid? There are no plans to sell it. Fuel cell cars? Awesome! There's a monkey ready to fly out of my ass with plans for the hydrogen highway.

Automakers aren't green and they won't be green any time soon. Already, US automakers testified before Congress that 35 mpg fleet fuel economy by 2020 was already pushing the limits of possibility. That won't come close to ending foreign oil dependency, nor will it reduce CO2 emissions nearly enough.

Outside of some minor, niche automakers, there is no such thing as a green automaker. Not even close.

LA Auto Show - Volt still shines brightly

Still the green standard

GM debuted the Chevy Volt almost 2 years ago, yet it is still the green standard when it comes to Auto Shows. Sure, there are some pretty cool fuel cell vehicles out there, but PHEVs and EVs are much more realistic in the short to mid-term. In that segment, the Volt still stands above the rest.

Still, the competition is heating up. The Mini E, the Honda Insight and Hyundia's Hybrid Blue Drive were new developments at the LA Auto Show this year. And the competition will heat up even more at the Detroit Show in January when Toyota debuts the Third Generation Prius.

Plus, Hyundai, Honda and Toyota are seeking to challenge the Volt with much cheaper, conventional hybrid cars. Of course, Hyundai and Toyota will also challenge the Volt directly. Will GM ever challenge the Prius and Insight directly?

With two years before the Volt hits the streets, it seems obvious the competition will heat up even more. Will the Volt still dominate next year's LA Auto Show?

Best hybrids of the LA Auto Show

Ford Fusion hybrid

There are going to be a number of new hybrid cars at this year's LA Auto Show. While much of the hype has been focused on the Honda Insight hybrid, it is the Ford Fusion hybrid that I am almost most interested in, almost.

The new Fusion hybrid will debut Ford's new hybrid powertrain - no longer dependent on Ford's Hybrid Synergy Drive. Even more exciting, it will out perform the Toyota Camry hybrid in fuel economy.

Unfortunately, however, Ford only intends to produce 25,000 Fusion and Milan hybrid vehicles per year. That simply doesn't cut the mustard. It also makes me wonder, is Ford's new hybrid powertrain truly cost-competitive?

The bailout, electrification and gas prices

Is electrification going to save the US auto industry?

The article Will Detroit's cash crisis kill the electric car? questions whether the Chevy Volt can survive without the bailout, and whether the electric car dies if Detroit dies.

Please. The electrification of the automobile isn't dependent upon either GM or Detroit. In fact, very major automaker, and a number of minor automakers, are working on some form of electrification.

A smarter question might be, when is the electric car going to be profitable for any major automaker? Or, in what year will the first automaker produce even 100,000 EVs in a single year - something the Chevy Volt won't do for several years after it launches in late 2010.

Reality sucks

Tomorrow, the highly anticipated Honda Insight hybrid will hit the floors of the LA Auto Show. Yet, some are already questioning its viability at today's gas prices because study after study demonstrate that auto consumer interest in fuel economy is driven by one thing: gas prices.

Not global warming. Not foreign oil dependency. Simple economics.

Ultimately, gas prices could remain low for several more years. Coupled with a recession, these lower prices could severely dampen interest in hybrid cars and electric vehicles - vehicles that won't be profitable for already struggling US automakers for many years.

Saving the US auto industry is not going to be easy, and it is certainly not as simple as saving the Volt. While the Volt is undoubtedly an extremely important vehicle, it, and electrification in general, won't help solve any financial woes for many years. What happens until then?

Prius markups? Yeah right. It's incentive time

$1,000 off MSRP

Just came accross an ad for the Toyota Prius offering $1,000 off MSRP here in Southern California - a far cry from the $5,000 + that some dealers were adding onto MSRP this summer.

If you believe that falling gas prices are just the calm before the storm, or you just want to do your part to fight global warming or foreign oil dependency, finding a good deal on a hybrid is getting easier. And, it's going to get even easier.

Competition in the hybrid cars segment will increase significantly in 2009, especially with the launch of the Honda Insight hybrid. Additionally, Toyota has promised a significant increase in Prius production.

2010 Toyota Prius - Hot new details

Not! And don't expect any until January

There was a rumor coming out of England that Toyota planned to sell both the current version of the Toyota Prius and the third generation Toyota Prius concurrently. The current version, according to the rumor, would be sold at a discount to fight off the Honda Insight.

Apparently, however, that rumor is just a rumor. "We haven't heard anything like that here — nothing whatsoever," Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister told Inside Line on Wednesday.

Additionally, McAllister said not to expect any further details regarding the 2010 Prius until the Detroit Auto Show.

Honda takes jab at Big 3 on fuel economy. Has anything changed?

Honda predicted gas-guzzler fade?

While calling loans to US automakers the right thing for the US government to do, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui blamed US automakers for many of their problems saying, "Their response (to fuel economy) was too slow," according to the DetroitNews.

Fukui also indicated that even though the large truck and SUV market was highly profitable at one time, Honda didn't invest much in that segment because the company didn't believe gas-guzzling was sustainably profitable.

Ironically, when Honda was making this decision, the Big 3 were, collectively, betting the farm on gas-guzzlers, even after events like 9/11.

Yet, even today, it is very distressing how little effort the Big 3 are putting into hybrid cars to challenge the Toyota Prius and the soon-to-be-released Honda Insight. Do hybrid cars not make sense to Detroit the same way that large SUVs and trucks made so much sense just a few years ago?

Do automakers suck?

Nissan's electric concept at the Paris Auto Show

As the Fall days have grown darker, so has my mood. Massive bailouts, loans and tax incentives for big, failing US businesses.

Where's my massive bailout? Where's my cheap loan?

I know. I know. The bailout isn't a bailout of Wall Street. It's a bailout of main street. The bailout ensures than one day I can again finance a car that makes no sense in the modern world.

Yet, soon, we'll have Toyota Prius derivatives, including a plug-in version, and the the Honda Insight hybrid. Even better, we'll have the Chevy Volt built here in America. There's hope, right?

Yes. A tiny, little sliver of hope.

However, it'll still be at least a decade before these vehicles, combined, account for even 10 percent of US sales, probably longer. Maybe far longer. In today's digital, business at the speed of light world, automakers are giant, super slow oafs. Dinosaurs. All of them.

Can automakers change? Or, is it time to accept that creative destruction is the only way forward?

Honda Insight in Paris: Cheaper, not better than the Prius?

Not as efficient as the Prius in the city?

The new Honda Insight hybrid will be the first real challenge to the Toyota Prius. But is it really a Prius fighter?

While the Insight IMA hybrid powertrain coupled with its 1.3 liter engine will be a bit smaller and lighter than the powertrain in the Honda Civic hybrid, it will still offer very similar fuel economy to the Civic hybrid. Thus, while the Insight might equal the Prius on the highway, the Prius will far out-perform the Insight in city fuel economy.

Of course, the Insight will be cheaper than the Civic hybrid and the Prius, making up for some of this city efficiency, but it will also be smaller than both hybrid vehicles. How much is extra space worth?

Insight versus the Prius? The choice is yours, and choice is what really matters.

We all want plug-in hybrids, but can we afford them?

Honda has it right?

Plug-in vehicles. It's the new darling of the automotive world. It's the future. The saviour of the US auto industry. Still, when does this future make cost-effective sense for BOTH consumers and automakers?

For the past few months Hybridcarblog has run a survey asking 'What is the most you would pay for the Chevy Volt'?. Almost half those responding, 47 percent, don't want to pay more than $20,000 for a such vehicle. Another 40 percent won't pay more than $30,000.

Yet, a vehicle like the Chevy Volt will probably cost about $40,000. Certainly, at first, a $7,500 plug-in tax credit will help. Still, how likely is that after the credit expires that GM can sell the Volt for $30,000 AND make a profit?

Is the plug-in revolution really just right around the corner? In what year will the first automaker make a million plug-in vehicles per year? Are cheap hybrid cars, such as the Honda Insight, a much better solution in the next 10 years than plug-ins?

Honda Insight - Can it live up to the hype?

Too little too late?

Sure, it looks sort of like the Toyota Prius, yet the Insight's design lines are still a bit more sleek and refined than the Prius. But consumers don't buy the Prius for its looks - or do they - they buy it for its fuel economy, right? How will the Honda Insight compare?

Without a major hybrid powertrain upgrade, it seems far-fetched to believe the Insight will beat the Prius in city fuel economy, but if the Insight pummels the Prius on the highway, will that give the Insight an edge?

Or, is it purely price that will give the Insight a chance against the Prius? Will Honda really sell these new hybrid cars for less than $20,000? What do you expect from the Insight?

Hybrid aerodynamics driven by fuel economy

Why does it look like the Prius?

The Toyota Prius is the king of hybrid cars. Yet, there are many that hate its design. Thus, now that the world has seen images of both the Honda Insight and the Chevy Volt, there is even more hate in the hybrid world, as these hybrid vehicles have come to resemble the Prius in many ways.

Honda's Chuck Schifsky, a Honda spokesman, adds some insight into this issue. Regarding the Insight design Schifsky recently went on record and stated, "It was done that way because it was the most aerodynamic design, and we were going for fuel economy."

Thus, the Clarity fuel cell vehicle and the CR-Z, another future Honda hybrid, will also share many of these ' prius' design cues. These vehicles, just as the Volt, however, do not resemble the Prius because of its sale's success, but because of an aerodynamic focus on fuel economy.

Chevy Volt hated by bipolar America

Too Prius like?

As if that's a bad thing. Yet, the Internet and the Chevy Volt Nation are up in arms. This is not the Chevy Volt that debuted at NAIAS in 2007.

"Huge disappointment," and an "unlikely love child of a one-nighter involving GM's concept and the Prius" are some of the criticisms that AutoObserver reported.

For many of these critics the Volt was the anti-Prius, an American-made bad ass electric muscle car that would put America back on top of the auto world. A vehicle that would allow Americans to continue to act like Americans, but without the guilt. We'd no longer waste gas, instead we'd waste electricity, which is so much more 21st century.

But, now the Volt looks too much like the Prius. Well, some times intelligence needs to trump vanity. Finish: Chevy Volt hated by bipolar America

Honda Insight hybrid returns

It's back

Honda's new dedicated hybrid, intended to take on the Toyota Prius, will be called the Honda Insight, the same name as Honda's original two-seat hybrid. Honda isn't yet releasing many details about this new hybrid, but it is expected to debut the new car at the Paris Auto Show. And, according to some reports, the new Honda Insight hybrid will be available for sale next April.

Finally, some real competition in the hybrid cars segment is emerging.

Insight, Prius show off fuel economy at HybridFest

A few of the hypermilers at HybridFest

So, I was at HybridFest this weekend in Madison, WI, which is always kicked off with a MPG Challenge. This year's event brought in dozens of hypermilers from across the US, and while there are always various types of hybrid vehicles participating, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius always dominate the competition in terms of number of participants and fuel economy.

This year's top fuel economy was achieved by a Honda Insight, which achieved 108.72 mpg. All Insights combined achieved an average 87 mpg. The top Prius hypermiler achieved 98.7 mpg. All Prius hybrids combined achieved an average of 74 mpg.

Suzuki's possible hybrid

Hybrid ready?

"Of greater interest to enthusiasts — and looking close to production-ready — is the Kizashi 2....... The two-seater is powered by a DOHC 3.6-liter V6 mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, with provisions for a hybrid powertrain."

With the loss of the Honda Insight, couldn't the hybrid cars segment use a hot little two-seater?

Washington doesn't give "a damn about Detroit"?

Reap what you sow?

This morning Angus Mackenzie wrote on his blog, "The main difference between the Japanese and American auto industries is that the Japanese government does what it can to help its automakers succeed, whereas in Washington, no-one gives a damn about Detroit."

Is this true? Is this a new or old phenomenon?

Since the 1970's there has been growing concern regarding foreign oil dependency. Thus, the last 5 or 6 Presidents have stated that America needs to do something to end foreign oil dependency to protect National security. For decades, however, U.S. automakers lobbied Congress to minimize any fuel economy regulations because such legislation might slow fuel cells - which have now been just around the corner for the last 3 decades. Yet, cost effective fuel cells and a hydrogen highway might still be decades away from cost-effective reality.

In the 90s, U.S. automakers were each given 100s of millions to develop the next generation of fuel efficient vehicles by the Clinton Administration. What did America receive in return from U.S. automakers for this investment of tax payer dollars?

Record sales of the biggest gas-guzzling , foreign oil dependency-increasing vehicles as Honda launched the Honda Insight hybrid and Toyota launched the Toyota Prius hybrid.

Today, America is bent over an oil barrel, and America's foreign oil dependency problems are certain to get far worse before they get better. Thus, can Detroit really blame Washington and America for being a little disappointed?