Honda News - Geneva 2009 = Honda Insight + ASIMO
March 8, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Geneva 2009 = Honda Insight + ASIMO
Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Geneva Motor Show
How do you emphasize that your new hybrid is perfect for robot drivers? By introducing it in Europe with the help of ASIMO. That was Honda’s strategy in Geneva recently when the new Insight Hybrid made its European debut. ASIMO, known for conducting orchestras and falling down stairs, was on stage with the leader of Honda Insight’s development team, Yasunari Seki, and posed for some pictures. ASIMO was then put to work doing 54 15-minute public performances over 13 days. For these shows, ASIMO showed off its “ability to run, climb stairs, give and receive objects and interact with people.” As long as it stays on its feet, I’m sure it is mighty impressive.
Gallery: Honda Insight with ASIMO
[Source: Honda]
Geneva 2009 = Honda Insight + ASIMO originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Honda News - Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
February 28, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
One alternative fuel area where Japanese automakers have shown comparatively little interest, until recently, is biofuels. Toyota has announced plans to offer a flex-fuel version of the Tundra and Honda offers flex-fuel Civics in Brazil. Toyota also recently announced a cellulosic ethanol partnership. Honda has now announced plans to build a new R&D facility in Japan that will focus on producing biofuels from non-food feedstocks. The 1,050 m2 lab is expected to be completed and operating by November of this year. Honda has been working with the Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth since 2006 and began operating an experimental production facility in 2007.
So far, Honda hasn’t given any indication that it will offer any flex-fuel vehicles in the U.S. market. Perhaps now that Honda has backed off from its plans to offer diesels in the U.S. market and only plans to offer hybrids in small cars, we may start to see the company embrace ethanol.
[Source: Honda]
Continue reading Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility
Honda to build cellulosic ethanol research facility originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Honda News - Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production
February 26, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production
Since Honda started taking orders for the new Insight in Japan earlier this month, dealers have tripled the original sales target. As a result, the company has decided to crank up production starting in April to meet the demand for the new hybrid. Honda had been projecting world-wide Insight sales of 200,000 a year with 100,000 going to the U.S. and Canada. It remains to be seen how strong U.S. demand will be, especially with a new Prius arriving shortly after the Insight. The Insight’s price should undercut the Prius by several thousand dollars, although it’s also a considerably smaller car than the Toyota. In addition to price, the Insight’s Fit-based chassis should also have an advantage in driving dynamics, which may appeal to some drivers more. The Insight goes on sale in the United States on April 22.
Related:
Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight
Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Live photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: www.autobloggreen.com
[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Honda News - Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production
February 26, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production
Since Honda started taking orders for the new Insight in Japan earlier this month, dealers have tripled the original sales target. As a result, the company has decided to crank up production starting in April to meet the demand for the new hybrid. Honda had been projecting world-wide Insight sales of 200,000 a year with 100,000 going to the U.S. and Canada. It remains to be seen how strong U.S. demand will be, especially with a new Prius arriving shortly after the Insight. The Insight’s price should undercut the Prius by several thousand dollars, although it’s also a considerably smaller car than the Toyota. In addition to price, the Insight’s Fit-based chassis should also have an advantage in driving dynamics, which may appeal to some drivers more. The Insight goes on sale in the United States on April 22.
Related:
Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight
Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Live photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Strong early sales in Japan prompt Honda to increase Insight production originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Source: www.autobloggreen.com
[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Honda News - Branson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs
February 24, 2009 by tsikot · Comments Off
Branson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs
Richard Branson would like to go racing with his Virgin brand that is known around the world. The withdrawal of Honda from Formula One at the close of 2008 provided a perfect opportunity to pick up all the pieces that are needed on the cheap. But you don’t get to be as wealthy as Sir Richard by doing dumb stuff, and Branson is apparently aware of Roger Penske’s warning about using racing to make small fortunes out of large ones. Therefore, before he proceeds with taking on the remnants of Honda’s F1 effort, he wants to see some real change in the way F1 is run.
Branson wants teams participating in F1 to be able to make ends meet - and with sponsors dropping like flies that’s becoming increasingly difficult. The other thing Branson wants is to see F1 get more green by promoting new fuel saving technologies. Aside from adopting hybrid KERS systems for 2009, F1 hasn’t done much in this regard. If anything, most of the recent cost cutting moves have actually tended to choke off innovation rather than foster it. Perhaps Branson should be looking to Le Mans-style racing instead of Formula 1, since series like ALMS are actively promoting alternative energy.
[Source: F1-Live]
Branson wants to buy Honda team only if F1 goes green and cuts costs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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