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Who can compete with Toyota/Lexus Hybrids?

2

Comments

  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    ___This vehicle will be for sale in Europe in 4 months. With 53 mpg combined (this may be a misnomer given Imperial gallons and the higher mileage rating from the European agencies City/Hwy estimate).

    ___Here is some more information ...

    **************************************************

    http://www.honda.co.uk/news/20030901.html : Accord's "Whispering" Diesel Delivers a Mighty Punch

    The Accord 2.2 i-CTDi does not disappoint. Measured across a range of criteria, the new unit delivers a blend of performance, refinement and efficiency to compete with the very best in the market. A combined fuel consumption of 52.3 (Tourer 48.7 mpg) and peak torque of 340 Nm at just 2,000 rpm, are both improvements on the benchmark Audi A4 TDi 130 and BMW 320.

    Moreover, with an output of 140 PS at 4,000 rpm, it delivers a level of responsiveness and acceleration that together with low engine noise and vibration make for extremely relaxed and comfortable motoring. High torque gives excellent acceleration and responsiveness at low speed for in-town driving, superior responsiveness and acceleration in the mid-range and sustained high speed driving at low engine speeds; it also brings the added benefit of minimal gear changing. 0-62 mph is despatched in just 9.4 seconds (Tourer 10.1 seconds) and 50-75 mph in 11.2 seconds.

    This all-round performance is rounded off by low CO2 emissions - 143 and 153 g/km CO2 for the saloon and Tourer, respectively. And it surpasses with ease the stringent Euro IV requirements ...

    **************************************************
    http://xtramsn.co.nz/motoring/0,,6308-2636496,00.html : Honda Switches To Diesel Power

    **************************************************

    http://www.carkeys.co.uk/NE007815.htm : Accord Gets Honda Diesel

    Power output is 138bhp, and the lightweight aluminum-block engine produces a hefty 250lb/ft of torque at 2000rpm. The saloon manages the 0-62mph sprint in 9.4 seconds, gives a combined fuel consumption of 52.3mpg, and rates just 143g/km in the CO2 test.

    **************************************************

    ___I can bet this can give Honda the edge vs. a Toyota HSD onslaught? I have a lot of questions myself but who knows? Honda has probably the best engine designers on the planet and with them, they have performed some real magic over the past 20 years. I know it will be a while before the < 30 ppm sulfur diesel is available throughout the US but it is available in Europe now! When it finally is available in the US, this could answer a lot of the questions many may have in regards to a Low Emission yet Low Cost/High Mileage compact or mid-sized automobile? Now all we need to see is the HC and NOx output numbers. I also wonder what Honda has done as far as a particulate trap to solve that problem particular to diesels? Maybe the engine is so clean from the combustion process that it doesn&#146;t need one?

    ___On the power side of the equation, 138 bhp and 250 ft lb&#146;s of torque while achieving 52 + mpg in a car that might weigh twice again as much as an Insight is really amazing. I am probably way off on the mpg comparison given imperial gallons and different non-EPA test loops as mentioned directly above so hopefully someone will find a real answer as to this Europe spec&#146;ed, diesel equipped Honda Accord/Acura TSX&#146;s real highway and city mpg. Not great but very good CO2 numbers in comparison to the Insight&#146;s 128/144 g/mile in Manual/CVT configuration(s) respectively as well. Imagine a 1.7 or 1.8 L iCTDi in a 4 DR. Civic LX w/ a CVT based Auto for about $16.5K. 0 to 60 in sub 9 seconds and mileage in the high 50&#146;s/low 60&#146;s with very low emissions ... What more could anyone ask ... especially at that kind of cost!

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    > This vehicle will be for sale in Europe in 4 months

    Again, what does that mean to us *HERE* where gas is cheap and automatic transmissions are preferred? *THIS* market is much different from that in Europe.

    JOHN
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    ___From your previous post:

    &#147;But what will HSD have evolved into by then? You've already seen how much it has advanced in just 3 years. Another 3 years and the benefit soon from high-volume production could change everything. It may not be able to compete with that.&#148;

    ___I thought you were asking if it was 3 years before the Diesel equipped Accord makes it to market. In Europe, it makes it to market in 4 months.

    ___As for here in the US, this is where money meets the road. Neither of us can do anything about US&#146;s high sulfur diesel today unfortunately but in Europe, it will be an interesting side by side, given the title of this thread. The 04 Prius at $20,500 is a highly efficient/low emission compact/midsize automobile but I would rather drive a true mid-size like an Accord with all of the above except it will cost around $18 - $18,500. A $16 to $16,500 Civic LX with a 1.7 L iCTDi engine, even lower emissions, and probably just as high performance would be even better ;) Again, it&#146;s only the cost and TCO that is the 04 Prius&#146; Achilles heel IMO.

    ___From your previous post:

    &#147;Again, what does that mean to us *HERE* where gas is cheap and automatic transmissions are preferred? *THIS* market is much different from that in Europe.&#148;

    ___I did mention an Auto above (CVT hopefully) given the CVT is already available in the 1.7 L Civic HX, GX, and Hybrid. As for the here, again, I can&#146;t help that big oil in this country hasn&#146;t yet produced Diesel in low sulfur content so we will probably have to wait while the European&#146;s enjoy high mileage, low emissions, and low initial and TCO with the Euro spec&#146;ed Accord. I am still waiting to see the HC and NOx as well as initial cost in comparison to any 04 Prius&#146; that make it over to Europe.

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • eandlcubedeandlcubed Member Posts: 78
    every manufacturer builds or imports a car here has a diesel in its lineup. petrol price is high (the last i checked it is around 1.35 a litre). furthermore there is a higher tax on bigger engine. hence you see lots of smaller cars. the automotive press here does not like the classic prius because of its driving dynamic (i guess it is not sporty enough). i bought one because i like the new technology but now it is getting old as to speak. i do like the new prius for its high tech gadgetry. the keyless go is a feature i really like and it seems toyota did a great job mass market the gadget for very little money. the similar feature found on mercedes is many times more expensive option. ...
  • dauthdauth Member Posts: 1
    Don't mean to further inflame people but, bear in mind that the European Accord is basically the same as the US Acura TSX. This car is actually a little smaller in the passenger area than the Prius. It is not an American midsize like the Accord here.

    Now what really seems to be the immediate answer though is to couple one of these high efficiency diesel engines to the Prius style hybrid system. That should really push the fuel savings up (and maintain that high tech geek factor a lot of us like)
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    that's not a new development. Detroit, et al, have a LONG history of ignoring emerging trends until too late and then responding with too little. In some cases, their offerings have been so bad that they almost seem an attempt to discourage buyers away from that market segment (witness the AMC Gremlin). Of course, buyers have only defected to serious offerings from foreign manufacturers. At best, their offerings in the small car arena have seemed a temporary accomodation of the market with the tacit assumption that everyone would "really rather have a Buick". I wouldn't!
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    I think the problem expressed in both can be summed up this way. Even if they get into the game soon, the domestics and Europeans are going to end up benchmarking old technology for their designs.
  • eandlcubedeandlcubed Member Posts: 78
    i think diesel is still dirtier than regular petrol, low sulfur or not....
  • drfilldrfill Member Posts: 2,484
    As Sin-Sai of this here forum, let me keep the pot from reeking by keeping us focused.

       1. Who are the real players in the hybrid game currently (by model year 2005)? Ford Escape? I've been hearing about this for a while, but will the RX400H beat it to market?
       2. Is GM gonna have a hybrid at all within the next 5 years?

       3. What about Benz, VW, and BMW? Do they have an answer for a 400+ HP RX400H with 35MPG? Or is this the "Royal Flush" of SUV's? Looks, Power, Quality, Luxury, and Mega-Value!
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    The hybrid VUE is set for launch sometime late next year. There is also talk of a hybrid Malibu.

    GM's primary focus is fuel cell vehicles.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    Lexus WILL beat the hybrid Escape to market with the RX400H. Ford has had a million problems in bringing that truck to market. They still can't get the batteries right, apparently. I don't get that: they are using the THS from the first Prius right? Won't most of the components of the system be similar?

    The last I read of GM was that VUE hybrid was delayed, and the first GM hybrids to market would be the "mild hybrid" trucks in 2005....so that has been updated? When will VUE arrive with a hybrid powertrain?

    I do not remember any of the Germans having significantly concrete plans for hybrids...perhaps I missed some news tho...they are much more heavily invested in diesel, which still is their best bet for the European market, and will be a really good bet here too when the low-sulfur diesel goes nationwide in the latter part of the decade. I do think they are working on fuel cells however.

    And on topic too, Honda will remain a very important competitor in hybrids for Toyota. Good too, will keep them on their toes, and the technology moving forward. I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market. What do you think... a decade or less?

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    The last I heard, Ford was having trouble venting the batteries in the Escape HEV. The battery packs are fine. Of course, that news tidbit is about 5-6 months old. Who knows if that's still the problem.

    "I look forward to the day someone brings a 100 mpg hybrid diesel to the market."

    I believe Honda's IMAS Concept is estimated at 94 mpg, but it's not a diesel. It's also not on the market, but hey it's something!
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    piece in the Chicago Tribune today reports GM has a contract with Seattle to fit 235 buses with hybrid diesel systems. One done, this will be the mileage saved equivalent of 8,000 hybrid cars.

    GM is also working on similar deals with cities such as Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Portland, Ore, Austin, Orange County and Houston.
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    > mileage saved

    Yes, that is a genuine benefit. But the primary purpose of HSD (the hybrid system Toyota uses) is to significantly REDUCE EMISSIONS, not save fuel.

    How much cleaner are those buses? Or are they actually dirtier in terms of SMOG related emissions?

    JOHN
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    a prop?

    Bus use in general is better than cars. 60 people on a bus versus sixty people in 60 cars is bad for the atmosphere how?

    In any event, GM's new diesel engines use the same modern filtering equipment as other diesels. No doubt emissions are very low. And when divided by 60, even lower.
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    ___Not only does a bus carry vast amounts of commuters, it also doesn&#146;t congest our cities nearly as bad as 60 automobiles nor does it have to park in our chosen professions parking lot! 750,000 gallons of diesel fuel is a huge amount of greenhouse gasses (CO2) not being released into the atmosphere. Let alone a diesel is ~ 20% more efficient in regards to greenhouse gases/mile vs. a std. ICE. Even an Atkinson based ICE is a larger polluter in this regard :( Add a more efficient overall process and the Buses diesel won&#146;t be polluting nearly as much/mile as its forbearer either.

    ___As for the article, I just got home an hour or so ago myself and read it. Here it is in its entirety ...

    General Motors has reached agreement to equip 235 buses for Seattle with hybrid diesel/electric power that the automaker says could save the city 750,000 gallons of fuel each year. The annual fuel savings for Seattle&#146;s bus fleet would be equal to replacing more than 8,000 internal combustion gas engine cars with hybrids. GM has pilot hybrid bus fleets in Philadelphia; Minneapolis; Portland, Ore; Austin, Texas; Salt Lake City; Hartford; Conn.; Orange County, Calif.; Houston; and Newark, N.J.

    ___Remember, this is just one city. Lets say ~ the same amount of buses were converted in all 10 cities. That is the equivalent of 80,000 Hybrid&#146;s. I wonder what Chicago, New York, and L.A. are waiting for? Keep adding it up with the inclusion of commuters transported and lower emissions. How many Prius&#146; have been sold over the last 3 years? Now all we have to do is hope it&#146;s cost effective or it won&#146;t be continued in quantity ...

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    > How many Prius&#146; have been sold over the last 3 years?

    28,000 have been ordered in the last month alone worldwide. That's a significant growth rate.

    What GM is attempting is great, but what are their long-term & volume goals?

    School buses drive a lot of miles too. Will school districts be able to afford that technology? And will GM even offer it to them? For that matter, will other cities get the opportunity to buy? Also remember that the qualified service mechanics will be an issue.

    Toyota has already commited to offering HSD in every non-commercial vehicle they build by 2010. That's empowering consumers, not just a few choice groups that will provide good PR opportunites.

    JOHN
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    ___Here was the specific question. How many Prius&#146; have been sold over the last 3 years? As usual, you don&#146;t answer specific questions but instead try and cover up inadequacies.

    ___Here is the analysis for you nice and simple like ... 235 buses will be introduced with a GM Hybrid Diesel solution. According to the article, it is similar to placing 8,000 Hybrid&#146;s on the road. So one city (namely Seattle) decides to give it a shot and if the COSTS work out, it will do more for our environment and our fuel dependency in that one city alone then every Hybrid sold into that state EVER. I will ask you again, how many Prius&#146; have been delivered in the last 3 year&#146;s? What&#146;s better, those few ten&#146;s of thousands of Hybrid&#146;s on the road carrying usually 1 person or 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 + buses that are either on the road or soon will carrying between 10 and 60 people at a time? I am all for the Hybrid solution for all vehicles but you keep missing the fact that there are more Corolla&#146;s and Camry&#146;s sold in a month then the 01 &#150; 03 and even the 04 Prius&#146; in a year. Why is that? Could it be because people wouldn&#146;t like to receive 51mpg on the hwy or 60 mpg in the city? Could it be because they wouldn&#146;t like to own a PZEV automobile? Not in the least. It&#146;s because Hybrid&#146;s are simply expensive. If Seattle does not see a positive ROI in some reasonable period of time, they won&#146;t be doing another Diesel Hybrid bus pilot program purchase either. I just hope GM has the costs figured out for all of our sakes.

    ___As for the school bus situation, given the average school bus operates for all of maybe 2 to 3 hours per day max, how is a Hybrid solution ever going to work out in that case? It will only work if the costs come down dramatically. Lets all again hope the Honda iCTDi Diesel can be a harbinger for change in that market as well.

    ___Now as far as who can compete, I sure hope someone can because the costs being stated for today&#146;s personal Hybrid&#146;s cannot be justified as you found out with your 01 trade in.

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    > How many Prius&#146; have been sold over the last 3 years?

    Don't like the fact that just 2 years from now Toyota is planning to selling 300,000 hybrid system per year, eh? Current sales rates confirm that's possible.

    The market 3 years ago didn't have a clue how hybrids worked. So sales were difficult, yet the number climbed to 120,000. And today, lots of people still think they can't travel far and need to be plugged in. Look forward, not backward.

     
    > given the average school bus operates for all of maybe
    > 2 to 3 hours per day max

    You obviously don't live in the suburbs. The buses in my area run elementry, middle, and high schools routes. That's 3 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon, and a lot of idling while they wait to pick up students. That's much more running time than your estimates and a heck of a lot miles with the population in the suburbs spread out so much.

     
    > as you found out with your 01 trade in

    Trade in data only counts IF YOU TRADE IN. Many people plan on keeping their vehicle. And focusing on the resale value of a rare, first model year vehicle is kind of silly. It will naturally be lower. Focus on the value of a more established year instead, like the 2005. By then, sales figures will be more in line with other vehicles commonly sold and the vehicle won't be a new concept anymore.

    JOHN
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    I agree it would be great if systems as big as Chicago, LA or New York would adopt the Hybrid buses. Funding is always a problem with transit companies. The technology saves fuel, probably makes the buses more quiet and pleasant to ride, and will reduce emissions. The cities should find the funding.
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    Agree school buses should also be hybrid. GM makes school buses. Schools for the most part are underfunded.

    Paying extra for the buses would mean convincing local taxpayers the long term savings on fuel would more than make up for the higher costs up front.

    Unfortunately, about the only thing voters seem to get excited about when it comes to their local schools are initiatives to stop art programs and ban books.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    is something the EPA should mandate, then help pay for.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    ___When did I ever say I don&#146;t like the fact Toyota will sell any number of Hybrid&#146;s? I really want to know how many they sold in regards to the number of buses being reportedly piloted as mentioned in this thread. As for other threads, they sold 120,000 then? Camry&#146;s and Corolla&#146;s sell that in what, 4 months, not 4 years! This is where the market speaks with its dollars. I also don&#146;t approve of the fact that you and many like you that purchased a Hybrid took a $11,000 + bath on an 01 after just 60,000 miles is all. YOU DID TRADE YOUR 01 IN AFTER 60,000 miles, correct? The Insighter&#146;s are really getting creamed, the HCH&#146;s are getting creamed, and the older Prius owners are getting creamed. If this is the cost of a Hybrid, how can you make it up? And how much was the 01-03 Prius battery pack replacement again? Someone has to change your old Prius out eventually or will they just throw the car away at 120, 150, 180K miles? I will be driving the Corolla through the first mileage marker in another year and a half. I will keep you up to date as to if I had to throw it away at that time all the while getting > 40 + mpg on the hwy with the very low TCO as has already been posted.

    ___Buses in my area usually run ~ 4 hours/day vs. the smaller school districts which run much much less. Again, if the TCO doesn&#146;t work out, they aren&#146;t going to go to a Hybrid. I only hope the GM solution is cheap enough to make it work right out of the box. $&#146;s actually account for something here where it&#146;s being watched.

    ___Logic1, I completely agree but with today&#146;s cost cutting across all sectors of the economy, the numbers and TCO have to work out or it will not be a consideration to the detriment of us all.

    ___Nippononly, the EPA does a lot of mandating but I haven&#146;t seen them pay for anything ;) The real positive to this is that some cities are making a go of it and I can only hope the Hybrid bus system is close enough in cost to make the TCO equal or better over the desired time frame. If it is, we will all benefit from cleaner air and lowered costs for service. Well maybe not lowered cost of service ... If it doesn&#146;t; Hybrid drive automobile/truck manufacturer&#146;s designers and engineers will have to sharpen their pencils a bit before we see it in quantity.

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • snaphooksnaphook Member Posts: 130
    >>Yes, that is a genuine benefit. But the primary purpose of HSD (the hybrid system Toyota uses) is to significantly REDUCE EMISSIONS, not save fuel.

    If that truly is the purpose then Toyota's investment seems like a gigantic waste of money. Ford is about to sell a PZEV Focus whose emissions are said to be as clean or cleaner than the air we breath. How can you "significantly" improve on that? Also, you can't reduce CO2 w/o reducing fuel consumption. Your comment leads me to believe that Toyota does not view reducing this type of emission as a priority.

    The fact is that the primary benefit of a hybrid system is to recapture kinetic energy that is currently being thrown away during decelaration. This is valuable whether your car runs on conventional gasoline, diesel, hydrogen or soybean oil. The greatest benefits will be achieved in vehicles of large mass that make frequent stops. Sounds a lot like a bus to me.

    Granted the technology used on these buses will to some extent have been developed and refined on smaller vehicles. Luckily for Toyota et. al. there are people like yourself willing to subsidize their R&D. If/when these vehicles become profitable for their manufacturers hopefully they will show their gratitude by offering some sort of rebate to you early adopters, unlikely.

    One more point. The efficiency penalty incurred by the additional weight of the battery pack should be largely recovered due to the fact that more weight equates to more energy to recapture.
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    You seem to have overlooked the word "PRIMARY".

    Just because it isn't the top on the priority list doesn't mean it isn't there at all, it's just lower.

    In the case of the PZEV Ford Focus, there is an efficency penalty. MPG is about 2 lower.

    In the case of the PZEV Toyota Prius, there is a very significant gain. MPG is about 25 higher.

    JOHN
  • snaphooksnaphook Member Posts: 130
    I don't think so. I feel fairly certain that if you asked 100 people what they perceived as the "primary" purpose of incorporating hybrid technology in automobiles 99+ would answer greater fuel efficiency. In fact, if I remember correctly from one of your earlier posts on another thread you stated that Toyota could have made their Prius cleaner but it would have been at the expense of fuel efficiency. Why would they do this if their "primary" purpose was reduced emissions?
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    Or, as I like to think of it, excellent performance without sacrificing gas mileage. Most of the hybrid concepts shown by Honda/Acura are actually sport models (DN-X, IMAS, Spocket, RD-X, etc.). A Pop Sci article refered to it as "electric turbo-charging".

    The RX hybrid is a great example, as is the Escape HEV. The rumored RL is another. Hybrid power has quite a few applications. And in the luxury and near luxury level, the cost increase isn't as big a factor.
  • snaphooksnaphook Member Posts: 130
    I agree. The time will probably come where the decision to buy a hybrid is driven as much by a desire for performance as fuel efficiency.
  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi John1701a:

    Quote: &#147;In the case of the PZEV Ford Focus, there is an efficiency penalty. MPG is about 2 lower. In the case of the PZEV Toyota Prius, there is a very significant gain. MPG is about 25 higher.&#148; In the case of a PZEV/SULEV rated Prius vs. Focus, I believe a PZEV rated Focus costs ~ $12,750 or less given the rebates avaiable?

    ___There is an extremely significant cost incurred to acquire a PZEV based Prius over a PZEV based Focus for the sake of fuel economy alone. In fact, it is AT LEAST $8,000 more significant! Besides the fact the Focus is not only extremely fast given its 148 HP/> 150 Ft. - Lb&#146;s of torque engine but is a great handling compact by any reviewers own notes and has a $3,000 cash back for those interested in an 03 PZEV model until 12/03 ... I have the same 2.3 L I-4 engine in my brand new $9600 03 Ford Ranger XLT minus the PZEV HW of course and it is very powerful indeed.

    ___According to CARB, it costs automobile manufacturers ~ $100 to $300 more to design and create an automobile to meet the more stringent PZEV rating ... In fact, you probably lost as much in depreciation on your last Prius then the new PZEV Focus costs in total if all you were going to do is save the environment! Again, if all you were interested in was saving the environment, you could have had almost $10,000 in your pocket to do the same ;) I can&#146;t say the same for greenhouse gases however.

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    The design supports it! Just take a look at how Prius actually operates.

    It runs the gas engine solely for the purpose of heating up the emissions system (for more effective exhaust cleansing). This is VERY EASY to prove too. Just turn the key and listen. Even when the temperature is a comfortable 80 F degrees, no need for passenger heat or the A/C yet the engine will run anyway, even if you aren't moving.

    That is for the sole purpose of lowering SMOG form emissions at the penalty of increased CO2 emissions and the consumption of gas.

    JOHN
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    quantity may be the very thing that is needed to bring the hybrids more into line price-wise. Economy of scale and all that...

    Having said that, Prius seems to be pretty price-competitive now - lots of content and midsize for $20 grand. I do have a soft spot for hatchbacks though!

    Now that the niche of super-high mileage cars has some good entrants, it will be great to see what they can do with vehicles that have lots of extra power (maintaining fuel economy standards rather than bettering them) using a hybrid system.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi Nippononly:

    ___I concur with the larger sales to lower costs ... I also believe Toyota wasted a billion or two dollars by creating the entire Prius nameplate instead of placing 36,000 hybrid motors in the 03/04 Corolla sedan or hatchback ... Subsidize a Hybrid Corolla to the tune of 1 billion and they could charge less for a Corolla Hybrid then a std. ICE based one quite easily! Now watch sales.

    ___As for super high mileage vehicles, I don&#146;t think enough is enough myself. The Tokyo Auto show previewed the Daihatsu UFE-II. As it stands, it appears to be almost an Honda Insight look-alike from the rear and the new 04 Prius from the front. With a measured Cd of just .19, this thing is approaching that of a bullet ;) It is estimated to achieve 130 to 140 mpg in the Japanese Hwy loop ... With only a .6L ICE/Hybrid for propulsion, I have to wonder what its 0 to 60 times are. 0 to 60 in 13 or less would be fine for an actual 100 to 110 mpg here in the US for sure ... Where do I sign up as long as it&#146;s inexpensive! I saw on another site that the UFE-II uses an Atkinson cycle based ICE to achieve its fuel efficiency ala 04 Prius. Although usually gutless, combined with its extremely lightweight body and electric&#146;s, it may just make a hell of a mini! To bad they don&#146;t make a version for the US or Japanese market in the near future? It will have to lose the Gull Wings for practical use however :(

    Here is the pic&#146;s link: http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/gallery/tmb/7440_image.jpg

    ___Would this vehicle replace the std. 4 or 5 door sedans and /or SUV&#146;s that we are used to? Not a chance but what about as a third vehicle for commuting purposes alone? If the costs are inline, let&#146;s say $10 - $11K initial cost, you may just begin to see a swap over to this type of vehicle on the road for work and even some pleasurable commuting. Less congestion, lower emissions, lower fuel dependency, and even more Hybrid&#146;s on the road due to the much lower initial cost. I don&#146;t know what the UFE-II costs so I may be just whistling in the wind but given it weighs half of what most cars on the road do, has seating for just 2 vs. 4 + for most everything else, has only 1/3 to ½ the engine capacity, it simply has got to be cheaper to produce then the Prius or any other Hybrid/Diesel for that matter. Imagine the much smaller NiMH battery pack to propel this lightweight as well?

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
    ___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    I asked myself the same thing: "why not just put a hybrid powertrain in the corolla?" Indeed, this is exactly what Honda did.

    I think there are two reasons. (1) parallel hybrids are not as revolutionary as series ones, like the Toyota system. Parallels can't run on electrics alone. So Toyota wanted to build a showcase for new technology. (2) Toyota foresaw that if the technology took off, they would install it in most of their regular models. In this case, the Prius name can continue as a midsize hatchback, a configuration that Toyota does not have in any of its existing models.

    wayne: I absolutely LOVE your idea of a commute-only vehicle a la UFE-II being a third vehicle in many homes. Alas, with the U.S. consumers that exist today, I don't think they would even pony up the $10-11K you have suggested to have one as a third car. I also wonder if it could really be sold for this price, as Insight is twice the price, and this from a large-scale manufacturer like Honda.

    I do think that in the longer term, say 30-50 years, cars like UFE-II will become commonplace as fuel scarcens, greenhouse gas emissions reach crisis levels, and roads become unmanageably congested.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • nwngnwng Member Posts: 663
    I think that pod thing is the future of our mode of transportation.

    Think about it, it can travel individually, or it can towed together as a group (say a family of four) with the front pod leading the pack (pods are linked together by devices just a little more sophiscated than the laser cruise control) ,and each pod has its own power to propell the wheels. Each occupant has their own entainterment system/intercom to the other pod. You can "airbag" the whole pod and I bet it would be much safer in a crash than sitting in the back seat of a car.

    Of course, there can be two seater version of the pod, if you like touching your occupants.

    Is that some good stuff I am smoking or it sounded real?
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    or other concepts of automated vehicles traveling in well ordered "platoons" on intrumented/interactive highways represent the ultimate demise of personal automotive transportation, in my opinion. Improvements in safety, efficiency of flow and fuel consumption notwithstanding, I can imagine few more boring ways to travel. I doubt that I'm alone, else buses and trains would be far more popular.
  • snaphooksnaphook Member Posts: 130
    While this type of transportation might be boring it is certainly less stressfull than the drive 50ft stop, drive 50ft stop,... type of commuting that more and more of us are facing.

    wayne
    I personally don't see many Americans buying these lightweight, high mileage vehicles as an occasional commuter option to their SUVs, regardless of cost. Most SUV owners, despite what they might claim, did not make the purchase based upon the utility value of an SUV over a traditional passenger car. Many of them like the feeling of riding above the rest of traffic, many also like the increased safety afforded from having a larger mass than the vehicles they might potentially collide with and some actually view driving a SUV as a symbol of elevated status. So while a good argument can be made for the single driver commuting with a more eco-friendly vehicle, IMO, its not going to happen in a culture desiring "super size" .
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    Perhaps for some. For me, few situations are more stressfull than to have zero control or influence over my progress or fate in a dynamic environment and to be totally dependent on a vast, automated system.

    That said, I am in FAVOR of mass transit as the only rational solution to the myriad problems of urban transportation. But I don't want my personal transportation to be a mass transit module. What's the point if you must endure the disadvantages of mass transit and still have to deal with the parking problem? What's more, a vehicle adapted to "pod" use would likely be of little value for other transportation purposes.
    Sounds like the worst of both worlds to me.
  • nwngnwng Member Posts: 663
    the traffic congestion is getting worse and worse everyday, how many of us can say "I really enjoy fighting the traffic to and from work everyday"?

    Keep in mind that the majority of the population do not ENJOY driving.

    The idea of the pod (IMO)is mass transit door-to-door style and with privacy.

    I really don't mind watching TV, catching a snooze, cruise the net, play video games, listening to music or yakking on the cell phone on my way to and from work.

    I also think this pod idea will be more receptive in Europe and Japan, as well as China, where they do not "supersize" everything.

    daysailor, I understand your concern about not having control over your ride. But with the progress we are making in cars (stability (yaw)control, drive by xxx), we are already heading towards that direction.

    As far as parking goes, if you've been to a garage in NYC, what they can do with cars over there, they can do it 10 times easier and faster with pods.

    I like spirited driving too, but unfortunately that is the direction we are heading with transportation.

    Now, getting a date in a pod is a whole seperate issue...
  • logic1logic1 Member Posts: 2,433
    does one have when stuck in bumper to bumper, with alternative routes equally bad, parking lots so crowded you lose 10 minutes driving around for a spot, and parking and fuel prices going back and forth like a yoyo?

    For my commute, I walk to the train station at about the same time every day. The train comes about the same time every day. It takes about the same time to get to my destination every day. I have paid $75.00 a month for a rider pass for the last four years. I never have to worry about my car when I am away from it. In short, the level of control excedes driving myself, imo.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    as I said, mass transit is the only rational urban solution. A personal car, as a "pod" or otherwise, still must be parked. And 'urban control' is an oxymoron, which may explain my aversion to cities.

    But we've drifted WAY off-topic. So far, only Honda offers competition to Toyota hybrids, but neither hybrid manufacturer satisfies my needs.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    as early as 1975 my daily driver was more than competitive with the most advanced hybrids:

    0-60mph in under 7 seconds

    65mpg or more in CITY driving

    Traverse terrain more severe than the most rugged SUV could attempt

    commanding view of the road (and everything else) with unobstructed, 360deg visibility.

    outstanding ventillation system

    $800 MSRP in '75
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    for a motorcycle, even in 1975! The price, I mean.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • drfilldrfill Member Posts: 2,484
    a Hybrid Motorcycle!
  • nwngnwng Member Posts: 663
    the amount of emission alone (which is going to be a big issue)would be a great selling point.
  • daysailerdaysailer Member Posts: 720
    what does THAT cost?
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    hybrid-powered? LOL

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • xcelxcel Member Posts: 1,025
    Hi All:

    ___What do you mean what do they cost? It&#146;s $20,500 and it can mow ~ an 1/60 of an acre in < 11 seconds ;)

    ___Good Luck

    ___Wayne R. Gerdes
  • varmintvarmint Member Posts: 6,326
    Ford sets a date for HEV Escape

    They begin production in July 2004 and expect to sell between 10,000 and 20,000 units. Based on the way the article is worded, I'm guessing this will be a 2WD only model.
This discussion has been closed.