My Autos

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid
Hybrid technology is, by and large, a good thing On that we can all agree But clean-running and environmentally responsible though they may be, hybrid cars have been out of reach for all but well-heeled buyers Most consumers simply aren’t willing to - or can’t - shell out the $30,000 - $40,000 needed to get behind the wheel of a part-internal combustion, part-electric automobile . .There are a few exceptions, of course General Motors’ Aura Greenline sedan has a reasonable price tag, all things considered, as does the Chev Malibu Hybrid, but in terms of what you get for your money, hybrid vehicles have yet to attract consumers in any significant numbers especially younger buyers . . .Honda is hoping to change that with the introduction of its second generation Insight hybrid Priced below both the Civic Hybrid and popular Toyota Prius, it’s aimed squarely at first-timers and buyers under 35, according to Honda Canada manager of production planning, Ryan Kelly . .”The number of hybrid products on the market is six times greater than it was when we first introduced the Insight, in 2000,” he observed at the launch, in Scottsdale “And there are 38 times as many of them on the roads but few of them are being driven by younger buyers ” So when it goes on sale this Spring, the 2010 Honda Insight will be priced in a “sweet spot” around $20,000 or below, according to Ryan Kelly . .With technology fundamentally similar to that found in the current Civic Hybrid, the new Insight is expected to yield fuel consumption of 4 8 L/100 km in town and a miserly 4 5 L /100 km on the highway These are better numbers than the Toyota Prius and only marginally inferior to those delivered by the first generation Insight, which is still the fuel consumption champ in Canada . .Like the Civic and original Insight, the new Insight will have a compact electric motor sandwiched between the vehicle’s internal combustion engine and a gearless CVT transmisison The engine displaces 1 3 litres and the electric motor develops 10 kilowatts Together they generate some 98 horsepower and 123 foot-pounds of torque The engine also features Honda’s i-VTEC variable valve technology, drive-by-wire throttle, and is virtually identical to that found in the Civic Hybrid, if a smidgeon less powerful It is purpose-built just for hybrid drivetrains and is what Honda calls a “low friction” powerplant Total output for the nickel metal hydride battery pack is 128 volts, and Honda claims it will last for 15 years or 240,000 kilometres whichever comes first . .Managing the combined output of the batteries, electric motor, and gas engine is Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which in this configuration, is more powerful and lighter than that found in the Civic or the original Insight The IPU (Intelligent Power Unit) for the new Insight is located under the floor in the rear cargo area, along with the battery pack Unlike its predecessor, this model will actually seat five adults, but back seat elbow room is still at a premium, and the guy in the middle will be snug With the back seats folded flat, the Insight provides some 450 litres of cargo space . .Behind the wheel, drivers are confronted by a “two tier” instrument panel and multi-information display An eye-shaped nacelle above the tachometer and IMA readout displays vehicle speed with a tri-colour background that shows you at a glance if you’re driving sensibly and gleaning maximum mileage from the drivetrain Top fuel economy gives the display a green background, while “somewhat less than efficient” shows light blue, and inefficient driving behaviour shows dark blue Like all good hybrid vehicles, the new Insight has regenerative braking that harvests electrical power during deceleration . .But that’s not all An “Econ” switch located on the left side of the dash allow s you to choose driving modes, and the multi-information display also has a cute little “tree” graphic that “scores” your driving performance . .”The economy mode harmonizes the engine, electric motor and transmission,” explains Yuji Fujiki, Honda’s project leader for the Insight, “as well as reducing the time the air conditioner operates, and controlling the idle time of the engine when the car stops ” To wring optimum fuel economy out of the entire system, the driver would ideally be in “green” mode, with all the “leaves” of the tree in place . .It may sound kind of childish and maybe even a tad precious, but the whole arrangement actually works well and is easy to get along with and quite user-friendly On a 45-kilometre driving loop laid out at the product launch, I managed a 5 0 L/100 km fuel economy average, and that was while keeping up with traffic and staying at the speed limits The key is to avoid jackrabbit starts, letting the engine’s momentum carry the vehicle, coasting downhill, and braking gently and well ahead of stop signs/traffic lights The system is designed to allow drivers to closely monitor their performance, and it’s almost fun to use According to Honda, the whole idea is to encourage drivers to “take an interest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term ” . .The new Honda Insight will be offered in two trim levels: LX and EX Most of the usual modcons - power windows, etc - will come standard with the LX, and the EX will have extras such as a Navigation system, steering wheel-located paddle shifters, Bluetooth capability, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, and lightweight alloy wheels .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

2005 Honda Odyssey Touring
When Honda introduced its second generation Odyssey mini-van, in 1999, it was an instant success Powerful, comfortable, and spacious, it was light-years ahead of its Accord-based predecessor, and the company routinely sold every single one they produced out of their plant in Alliston, Ontario . .But all things must change, and in late 2004, Honda brought out a new revised Odyssey for the 2005 model year Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it had gone up-market, but nothing drastic According to Honda’s Yutaka Fujiwara, who was project leader at the time, the company wanted to shed the Odyssey’s “soccer mom” image and transform it into a “premium adventure vehicle” To quote Fujiwara, the new Odyssey had an interior that “reminds its occupants of a first-class lounge ” . .One of the ways Honda accomplished the Odyssey’s makeover was by giving it more power The ‘05 version was propelled by a tweaked version of Honda’s 3 5 litre V6 engine and developed 255 horsepower at 5750 rpm, and 250 foot-pounds of torque at 5000 rpm This was 15 more horses than the previous model and the upgraded engine was mated to a five-speed automatic transmission Honda designers also relocated the shift lever from the steering column to the dashboard . .What was really intriguing about the new powerplant was the introduction of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management system, or VCM In a nutshell, this arrangement shuts down the rear cylinder bank during certain driving conditions - highway cruising, for example - and as a result, gave the Odyssey considerably better fuel economy than its predecessor In operation, it was virtually seamless, and returned 12 0 L/100 km in town and a thrifty 7 7 L/100 km on the highway It also conformed to ‘05 Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards . .Combine the VCM feature with Honda’s patented VTEC variable valve management system, and you had a powerplant that seemed to accomplish the impossible: competitive fuel economy, low emissions, and class-leading performance all at the same time The VCM feature did not come with the entry-level LX model, however, but was standard issue on the upscale EX . .But there was more here than a fancy powertrain The new Odyssey had a slightly restyled body and came with all kinds of interesting little features, including a refined version of Honda’s third row seat apparatus that disappears into the floor, a second row seat that slides sideways for easier access, a removable second row centre console, a convex “conversational” mirror that allows you to maintain eye contact with rear seat passengers, and my personal favourite, an in-floor storage bin with a removable lazy Susan rotating tray that is accessible from both the front and second-row seats Despite Honda’s new marketing strategy, soccer moms loved the Odyssey even more . .Nor did it hurt that Honda beefed up the safety side of things With dual front airbags, side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats, re-engineered front, rear, and side impact zones and a rollover sensor that deploys the airbags if the vehicle turns turtle, the new Odyssey led the pack for occupant safety Needless to say, anti-locking brakes were standard equipment, as was a vehicle stability assist program and a traction control system . .Offered in four trim levels - LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring - the new Odyssey was loaded with optional luxury and convenience features Depending upon which model you chose, you could order things like power sliding side doors with an anti-pinch feature, a power rear tailgate, power adjustable pedals, a rear-view camera, leather interior, and, of course, a rear DVD entertainment system that came with wireless headphones and a pop-down nine-inch screen Step up to the top-of-the-line Touring model, and you got a bi-lingual, DVD-based navigation system . .All of these features were nice, no question, but what has always separated the Odyssey from the rest of the pack is its performance Although it now has more competitors than ever, it’s still a front-runner when it comes to reserve power and flat-out acceleration It also came with a level of refinement and build quality that is still the benchmark in this market segment . .2005 also marked the end of Alliston, Ontario as the Odyssey’s place of origin Henceforth, they were - and still are - manufactured at Honda’s facility in Lincoln, Alabama . .Three safety recalls to report with Transport Canada One involves a possibly faulty fuel pump relay, another is concerned with a glitch in front air bag deployment, and the third involves a suspect sensor in the ABS control unit . .The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the same recalls on file, as well as two more: one concerns a possibly flawed steering column assembly, and the second, another fuel system delivery malfunction According to NHTSA, however, these two contretemps involve comparatively small numbers of vehicles: 203 and 1923, respectively NHTSA also has 133 service bulletins for the ‘05 Odyssey, covering just about every aspect of the vehicle’s make-up Lots of structural issues, often involving obstinate or faulty side doors Nonetheless, Consumer Reports gave the 2005 Odyssey its top ranking in that year, placing it above the Toyota Sienna, Dodge Grand Caravan, and Saturn Relay . .If you’re in the market for a three-year old Odyssey, expect to pay from about $22,000 to $30,000, depending upon trim level and equipment Considering its $32,700 base price in 2005, it’s held onto its value well .
Source: www.rsstnx.com

For Better Gas Mileage, Have a Better Car
In today’s world of contemporary society, we have many cartels and monopolies, but the one, which stands out for being the most profitable, most effective, and most powerful is the one involving oil. This is the main reason why oil prices continues to escalate in the market area. On a global basis, this high-pricing of oil is considered as a worldwide dilemma. Hence, in order to cut down extra cost in gas or fuel consumption and have a better gas mileage, it is a must for every driver to understand and employ the different ways on how to maximize their fuel consumption with a lower cost so as to achieve a better gas mileage. Here’s how: 1. Check your filter. One of the most important factors that affects your chance of getting a better gas mileage is your car’s air filter. In order to have a better gas mileage, it is important to know and maintain you car’s performance by checking on its air filters. Clean air filters gives the machine’s performance a considerable boost enabling it to travel farther with a lesser fuel consumption and a better gas mileage. 2. Inspect your tires regularly. Tires in good condition can also contribute to a better gas mileage. The tires condition directly affects your car’s gas mileage when the tire is “under-inflated”. It tends to make your car run relatively slower than its usual pace but increases your probability of getting a better gas mileage. 3. Remove excess weight. Based on the common belief of many, light cars do travel faster. And so, in order to have a better gas mileage, be sure to always check on things in your compartment that are no longer needed. 4. Change oil regularly. It is very important to have a regular oil change. Usually, a car has to exert more effort if it has to wrestle with a dirty oil, thus, it consumes more gas. So, a regular oil change will enable you car to run smoothly and, therefore, acquire a better gas mileage. 5. Check your carburetor. Carburetors can also affect your car’s fuel consumption simply because car’s exert more effort when grappling with a dirty carburetor. In this instance, your car is consuming more gas than you can imagine. And so, it’s better to have a cleaner carburetor in order to have a better gas mileage. 6. Cut air conditioner usage. Air conditioners can also increase fuel consumption and lessen the possibility of getting a better gas mileage because it uses extra strength to power up the compressor that boost the air conditioner’s performance. If this is the case, then it will be impossible for you to have a better gas mileage. So, in order to cut down additional fuel consumption, do not use air conditioner especially when you are driving in a highway. After all, natural air is still the best for your health. 7. Slow down. Do you believe in the old saying, “Slowly but surely?” It is highly applicable to driving. Normally, when you drive faster, you tend to put more stress on the gas pedals, right? And because you increase your speed by hitting hard on your gas pedals, you are also increasing your car’s consumption on fuel. In doing so, you will have a difficulty in achieving a better gas mileage. All of these conservation tips boils down to one common point, the better car you have and the slower you drive your car, the better gas mileage you have.Ken Reno is the owner of http://www.CheapGasIsGone.com
Source: www.ArticlePros.com