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By
EWAN KENNEDY
1 December 2008
Honda is one of the world’s greatest exponents of engine design,
building everything from tiny single-cylinder portable generators,
through exceptional motorcycle units to big-power V8 Formula One
powerplants.
It
also builds hybrids and has done so for a decade now, though it
has been rather low key in this facet of future engine designs in
recent years. That is likely to change with the introduction of
the new-generation Honda Insight hybrid at the Detroit Motor Show
in January 2009, with first sales scheduled for midway through
that year. Australian introduction will take place either later
that year or early in 2010.
Unlike
the original Honda Insight which was a two-seater with a way-out
shape, the new Insight will be five-seat sedan that’s relatively
sedate in its lines. Futuristic enough in its styling to indicate
that it’s different, without going too radical and frightening
off potential buyers.
Of
course, the shape isn’t there simply to provide style, that
smooth nose, sleek side and downward sloping tail are there to
minimise air drag. Even the wheels are of a design aimed at
letting them slip through the air cleanly.
Power
details are yet to be revealed, but Honda say the new Insight will
have a 1.3-litre petrol engine driving through a continuously
variable transmission. These units sound similar to the ones
currently sold in the Honda Civic hybrid. Whether they will be
all-new, or further improved versions of the existing units is yet
to be announced. Given the good credentials of the existing engine
and transmission we would speculate that the latter is the more
likely outcome.
Particularly
interesting will be the driver-assist technologies within the
Insight. Working on the principal that hybrid buyers want to
minimise petrol consumption and CO2 emissions, Honda will give the
driver the ability to call on the car to improve their technique.
An
economy Guidance system can be called up at the push of a button.
It then uses background colours on the speedometer to advise on
economy. A green background indicates the driver is achieving
maximum economy. A blue-green colour indicates the car is doing
pretty well under the current circumstances, for example that
acceleration and deceleration, whilst relatively brisk in real
world driving, is carried out in a steady manner. Hard
acceleration or deceleration will bring up a dreaded blue shade in
the speedo to let the driver know they should be doing better.
At
the end of the trip the Guidance system comes up with a score to
indicate how well, or otherwise the driver has done. The
multi-function display can also show economy details of the three
previous trips. And finally there's a lifetime score for the
Insight’s total economy to date.
Real
world experience with hybrid cars tells us that most are bought by
government departments or private companies that are anxious to
display their green credentials. Some drivers would rather not be
in a hybrid, and occasionally make this rather obvious. Meaning
they may not take advantage of these Guidance features.
Let's
hope their bosses also monitor these drivers’ scores to see that
real benefits are gained from this interesting new technology.
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Marque Publishing Company
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