The battle is on between Honda and Toyota in the hybrid car market. In response to Honda planning to introduce the Honda Insight hybrid which will cost over 10% less than the Toyota Prius, Toyota is planning on selling the 3rd generation Prius in addition to the smaller Prius model that is already available. The move is a clear attempt to ride out the Honda challenge in the hybrid car market that Toyota has dominated.
"Honda has made an excellent car that addresses ecological problems," Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said of the Insight at a Tokyo showroom. "It will stimulate the development of hybrid technology, including cost-cutting. And that is also our goal."
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Toyota Yaris to aim for best low cost Hybrid Car
Toyota is taking aim squarely at the Honda Insight and is introducing the Toyota Yaris hybrid in an attempt to become the low cost efficiency leaders in the hybrid car market. The Toyota Yaris will be available in the US and Japan.
The Honda Insight has been grabbing market share away from the Toyota Pruis recently. No time frame has been established, but the Toyota Yaris is expected to hit the market in 2011 and be priced under the Honda Insight market price.
The Honda Insight has been grabbing market share away from the Toyota Pruis recently. No time frame has been established, but the Toyota Yaris is expected to hit the market in 2011 and be priced under the Honda Insight market price.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Honda Insight to hit the streets
Honda is introducing the Honda Insight next week to the US market and Honda is saying it is the first affordable hybrid car to arrive. The Honda Insight has been a huge hit in Japan as consumers ordered almost twenty thousand of the Insight in its first week of availablility. The pricing of the Honda Insight is in the very reasonable neighborhood of $20,000 which could force Toyota to drop prices of its popular Prius model if the Insight really takes off in the States.
Unlike the original two seat Insight, the new hybrid Insight has a back seat and is roomy enough for five people. Fuel-economy ratings are forty miles per gallon in the city and forty three on the highway using a combination of a four cylinder gas engine with intelligent variable valve timing and an electric motor. With a 10.6 gallon tank, the Insight has a range of at least 400 miles between fillups.
Unlike the original two seat Insight, the new hybrid Insight has a back seat and is roomy enough for five people. Fuel-economy ratings are forty miles per gallon in the city and forty three on the highway using a combination of a four cylinder gas engine with intelligent variable valve timing and an electric motor. With a 10.6 gallon tank, the Insight has a range of at least 400 miles between fillups.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Obama pledges $2.4 billion for electric cars
The green movement and electric cars got a boost on Thursday when President Barack Obama pledged a whopping $2.4 billion to electric car research and development. The pledge puts the US in the race to become the world leaders in the green car environment. Obama set a target of putting a million of the environmentally friendly vehicles on US roads by 2015.
The plan would also give a $7,500 dollar tax credit to people who buy electric hybrid vehicles, Obama said, as he toured a plant in southern California developing the new generation transport.
The funds, dispersed by the Department of Energy, will offer up to $1.5 billion dollars to US manufacturers who produce highly efficient batteries and half a billion dollars for firms that produce other components for the vehicles.
The plan would also give a $7,500 dollar tax credit to people who buy electric hybrid vehicles, Obama said, as he toured a plant in southern California developing the new generation transport.
The funds, dispersed by the Department of Energy, will offer up to $1.5 billion dollars to US manufacturers who produce highly efficient batteries and half a billion dollars for firms that produce other components for the vehicles.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Ford puts Fusion on display in Kansas City
Ford has unveiled their first hyrbid car, the Ford Fusion, making a public appearance at the Greater Kansas City International Auto Show. The Ford Fusion will be available for public purchase later this spring.
The Fusion’s exterior largely resembles the Ford Fusion already on sale. But refitted with an electric motor and a four cylinder gas engine, the Fusion has been tweaked by Ford engineers to give it bragging rights for the best mileage among midsized gas powered sedans.
The Fusion hybrid has earned some buzz at other auto shows around the country. Car and Driver magazine recently declared that “Ford beats the Japanese at their own game.”
The Fusion’s exterior largely resembles the Ford Fusion already on sale. But refitted with an electric motor and a four cylinder gas engine, the Fusion has been tweaked by Ford engineers to give it bragging rights for the best mileage among midsized gas powered sedans.
The Fusion hybrid has earned some buzz at other auto shows around the country. Car and Driver magazine recently declared that “Ford beats the Japanese at their own game.”
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Ford banking on the Fusion
The 2010 Ford Fusion is expected to be a winner for Ford Motors. The car company is looking for its 2010 Ford Fusion and Fusion hybrid to gain market share for Ford in the midsize car segment. Ford is also hoping to start changing the perception that the company doesn't make fuel efficient cars.
Ford plans to aggressively market the Fusion with three new commercials tonight during the mega popular American Idol on Fox. The ads will emphasize Fusion's 34 miles per gallon on the highway and 41 mpg of the hybrid in city. The base price for the 2010 Fusion is $19,270, and $27,220 for the hybrid.
Ford plans to aggressively market the Fusion with three new commercials tonight during the mega popular American Idol on Fox. The ads will emphasize Fusion's 34 miles per gallon on the highway and 41 mpg of the hybrid in city. The base price for the 2010 Fusion is $19,270, and $27,220 for the hybrid.
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