Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
#1
07-05-2007, 12:08 PM
Site Founder
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,623
Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Honda learned from Toyota's success with the Prius that hybrid customers want their decision to drive a hybrid to be visible, so the company is planning a dedicated hybrid model that will feature its own unique styling rather than simply being a hybrid-powered version of an existing model, according to Dan Bonawitz, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
The new hybrid-specific model will be the previously announced car that will slot in below the Civic Hybrid in price, he said. Honda has said that the car will debut in 2009.
The new hybrid-specific model will be the previously announced car that will slot in below the Civic Hybrid in price, he said. Honda has said that the car will debut in 2009.
#3
07-05-2007, 01:41 PM
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 955
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Yes, it was. I'm interested in the assertion that hybrid drivers want their decision to drive a hybrid to be visible. The Insight was a unique-looking car, but not as succesful commercially as the Prius. The article also asserts that the desire by many hybrid buyers to make a statement is a new thing. I wonder if that's really so. Do we really think this is a new thing, if it is in fact the case that many or most hybrid buyers now want to really SHOW that they are driving a hybrid?+
#4
07-05-2007, 03:30 PM
Hybrid True Believer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 881
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Wasn't there an article somewhere that hinted that the 2009 mystery hybrid might look something like a Suzuki Areo, but made by Honda?
I would love to be able to buy a small hybrid hatchback in the $18-$20k range.
I would love to be able to buy a small hybrid hatchback in the $18-$20k range.
#5
07-05-2007, 03:52 PM
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 523
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Yes, it was. I'm interested in the assertion that hybrid drivers want their decision to drive a hybrid to be visible. The Insight was a unique-looking car, but not as succesful commercially as the Prius. The article also asserts that the desire by many hybrid buyers to make a statement is a new thing. I wonder if that's really so. Do we really think this is a new thing, if it is in fact the case that many or most hybrid buyers now want to really SHOW that they are driving a hybrid?+
#6
07-05-2007, 05:00 PM
Energy Independence
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Richardson, TX
Posts: 1,282
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
I'm not sure I wanted to SHOW that I'm driving a hybrid so much. I certainly didn't want to enough to buy a Prius or Insight, instead of my HCH-II. But I absolutely do not MIND telling people about my hybrid experience, and letting them know the positives there are about them, and squashing the false negatives.
My MAIN reason for buying the HCH-II was economic-based.
Over 100K miles, which vehicle (that I would consider owning) is likely to have the least TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). By my calculations/estimations, the HCH-II won out slightly over the regular Civic EX. Depending on the near-future price of gas, this difference could be quite small or pretty significant ($5/gallon gasoline will make the numbers favor the HCH-II much more quickly and substantially).
Since the HCH-II appeared to be at least a slight economic winner, I jumped on it, because using less fuel to boot (another pretty strong conviction of mine) made it a no-brainer for me.
Much cleaner emissions? A bonus (and a good thing).
My MAIN reason for buying the HCH-II was economic-based.
Over 100K miles, which vehicle (that I would consider owning) is likely to have the least TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). By my calculations/estimations, the HCH-II won out slightly over the regular Civic EX. Depending on the near-future price of gas, this difference could be quite small or pretty significant ($5/gallon gasoline will make the numbers favor the HCH-II much more quickly and substantially).
Since the HCH-II appeared to be at least a slight economic winner, I jumped on it, because using less fuel to boot (another pretty strong conviction of mine) made it a no-brainer for me.
Much cleaner emissions? A bonus (and a good thing).
#7
07-06-2007, 07:20 AM
Pretty Darn Active Enthusiast
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Dry Heat, AZ
Posts: 311
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Actually, one of the reasons I bought an Escape Hybrid was because it is so hard to tell that it's a hybrid....guess I'm in the minority. Seems like Ford gets a double whammy, most people want everybody to know they're driving a hybrid, which the FEH doesn't really do; and with the FEH, you can readily compare price to the very similar non-hybrid.
#8
07-06-2007, 03:30 PM
Hybrid-Hugger
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Posts: 111
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
I just like good looking vehicles. The hybrid portion is a huge bonus and I like how Honda at least gave us some unique features. I would love to see a design like their new Fuel Cell vehicle. And even more, bring over some more of the European syling (but then again, I am Canadian and like the hatch-back styles they have in Europe).
#9
07-06-2007, 03:46 PM
Ridiculously Active Enthusiast
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 955
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
So DesertDog, let me be sure I get you- you bought the FEH because it's hard to tell it's a hybrid, but you think that most other buyers do not feel that way? Because that's the baseline assumption behind this article, but I'm not sure I buy it.
#10
07-07-2007, 06:59 AM
Engineering first
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Huntsville, AL
Posts: 5,613
Re: Honda To Challenge Prius With a Dedicated Hybrid Model
Hi,
There have been two, distinct hybrids:
1) Honda Insight
2) Toyota Prius
One is no longer sold and the other seems to be doing pretty good. The 'wolf in sheeps clothing' hybrids are selling although perhaps not with the numbers of the Prius. It begs the question of whether Toyota sold a gas-only Prius, would Prius hybrid sales fall off?
In our case, we had a choice in 2001 between a Prius and an Echo, the Echo won. In 2005, the choice was between a Scion and used Prius, the used Prius won. Requirements drove both choices and I find it hard to believe we're the only ones who make purchase decisions based upon our requirements.
So if the hybrid skeptics want to claim hybrids are 'style', fine, since when has a verbal bully ever gotten a clue? The right answer is to 'embrace' style with the hard savings and requirements met by our rides. Tell them you like the style of 'cash in my pocket' or 'no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning'. Embrace the style of 'we've got money and keep it and you don't.' Enjoy the style of our 'quiet, smooth cars, a quality ride.'
Bob Wilson
There have been two, distinct hybrids:
1) Honda Insight
2) Toyota Prius
One is no longer sold and the other seems to be doing pretty good. The 'wolf in sheeps clothing' hybrids are selling although perhaps not with the numbers of the Prius. It begs the question of whether Toyota sold a gas-only Prius, would Prius hybrid sales fall off?
In our case, we had a choice in 2001 between a Prius and an Echo, the Echo won. In 2005, the choice was between a Scion and used Prius, the used Prius won. Requirements drove both choices and I find it hard to believe we're the only ones who make purchase decisions based upon our requirements.
So if the hybrid skeptics want to claim hybrids are 'style', fine, since when has a verbal bully ever gotten a clue? The right answer is to 'embrace' style with the hard savings and requirements met by our rides. Tell them you like the style of 'cash in my pocket' or 'no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning'. Embrace the style of 'we've got money and keep it and you don't.' Enjoy the style of our 'quiet, smooth cars, a quality ride.'
Bob Wilson
