Just press a big green button to get into an economical modeBob McHugh
Special to The Province
I t was the very first production hybrid sold in Canada, when first released as a 2000 model year vehicle.
While the bullet-shaped little two-seater never sold in huge numbers, right up to its exit in '06, the first-generation Honda Insight was still the most fuel-efficient car sold in Canada.
A new 2009 Honda Insight was introduced at the Detroit Auto Show this week.
Like its predecessor, it's also a dedicated hybrid, only it's now a little bigger. It's also a more practical hatchback with four doors that offers seating for five.
Although prices have not been revealed, Honda has already stated that Insight will be the lowest- priced hybrid on the market.
A neat feature of the new Insight is the way its hybrid system has two driving modes of operation and uses performance indicators to engage and teach the user to drive in the more fuel-efficient manner. The driver can choose to drive in the default standard mode or choose what's called the Econ mode.
A big green button on the dash, left of the steering wheel, activates the Econ mode. It instantly changes the behaviour of the engine, the CVT transmission, the regenerative braking system, air-conditioning and cruise-control systems.
Colour-changing dials and graphic displays also indicate how well you're driving, in terms of fuel-efficiency.
On an under-five-kilometre test loop in the standard mode and driving normally, I averaged 5.4 litres per 100 km.
I did it again in the Econ mode, paying more attention to the onboard fuel-efficiency coaching, and I got 4.3 L/100 km. A few in our group did get better than 4.0 L/100 km.
By the way, this was in less-than-ideal wet-driving conditions. Honda claims a 4.7 L/100km average for the Insight, based on the standard government fuel-economy test. All of which proves that when you get to this level of frugal fuel-efficiency the driver becomes an even bigger factor, I guess.
Insight's parallel hybrid powertrain is the latest (fifth generation) version of the Honda Integrated Motor Assist system.
It's similar to the Civic Hybrid with some noteworthy performance differences plus decreases in cost, weight and packaging.
The electric motor can now propel the Insight, but only when it's driven on a flat surface at a steady speed of about 45 km/h. It's an ultra-thin, brushless motor, located between the engine and the transmission.
It can produce up to 13 horsepower and its main function is to "assist" the Insight's small gasoline engine.
Like the Civic Hybrid, the Insight uses a nickel-metal hydride battery, but it's a new-generation unit that's 28-per-cent lighter and 19-per-cent smaller.
Internally it has seven instead of 11 modules, but the power output of each module is 30-per-cent higher.
Talking to Honda engineers I learned that the internal engineering life-expectancy standard for this battery is 15 years or 240,000 km.
The battery is located in an intelligent power unit that's more compact and can now fit below the rear cargo floor.
So the Insight can essentially function like most small hatchbacks, with split-fold rear seats that enlarge the cargo area, which Honda claims is larger than in the Toyota Prius -- the only other dedicated hybrid.
The Insight is lower than the Prius and after driving both, back-to-back, I noticed it had a lighter and more car-like, agile-handling feel to it. Prices will not be announced until closer to dealer launch date in April.
The Insight will come in two trim levels LX and EX.
The main additional features in EX include electronic stability and traction control systems, a navigation system, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a 160-watt audio system upgrade and alloy wheels.
Bob McHugh is a freelance automotive journalist, writing on behalf of the B.C. Automobile Association.
Source;
http://www.canada.com/theprovince/cars/story.html?id=24558b97-3f3a-4f1e-9256-b86e5f34fd5a
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