HONDA INSIGHT LEADS NESEA 2000 AMERICAN TOUR DE SOL
Fuel-Efficient, Earth-Friendly Insight Sets Tour Pace as First U.S. Gas-Electric Hybrid
Vehicle
TORRANCE, CA -- MAY 4, 2000 -- America's first
gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the Honda Insight, is the official pace car for this
year¡Çs American Tour de Sol. Organized by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
(NESEA), the Tour will host the country¡Çs cleanest-running, most fuel-efficient cars,
trucks, and buses competing in a 250-mile road rally from New York City to Washington, DC.
The event takes place during Clean Air Week, May 12-18, 2000.
"The Honda Insight represents the first
practical application of advanced environmental technologies for everyday driving and we
are happy to see it lead the 2000 NESEA American Tour de Sol," said Nancy Hazard,
associate director of NESEA. "With its ultra-high fuel economy and ultra-low
emissions, the Honda Insight helps to conserve natural resources, reduce the impact on
climate change, and lower smog-forming emissions."
In addition to the Insight pace car, a dozen
owner-driven Insights are participating. They will compete against a field of 50
alternative-fuel vehicles that includes manufacturer-built prototypes and futuristic
student-designed concepts.
"Insight buyers are enthusiastic about their
cars and they have a first-hand understanding of what it means to own a vehicle that
epitomizes advanced, affordable environmental technology," said Robert Bienenfeld,
manager of advanced environmental vehicles for American Honda. "Some Insight owners
are coming from as far as California to support their cars' earth-friendly technology and
demonstrate their commitment to an event that showcases environmental advancements."
Rated by the EPA with 70 miles per gallon (mpg) on
the highway and 61-mpg in city driving, the Insight has the world's best fuel economy for
a mass-produced, gasoline-powered automobile. Each Insight will use less than four gallons
of gasoline for the entire 250-mile event.
A Gold Sponsor of this year's NESEA Tour, Honda has a
long-standing commitment to bringing advanced environmental technology to market,
beginning with the launch of the 1974 Honda Civic -- the first and only vehicle to meet
the 1970 Clean Air Act standards while running on regular, leaded gasoline. Honda was also
the first to introduce vehicles meeting California's strict Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. For the 2000 model year, 85 percent of Hondas
sold in the U.S. are equipped with advanced low-emission technology.
The Insight, on sale since December 1999, is
ULEV-certified and includes 300 patent-pending features. The Sierra Club recently honored
the Honda Insight with the first award for any product in its 108-year history, for
Excellence in Environmental Engineering.
The Insight pace car will lead the 50-car field from
New York City to Washington, DC, with special festivals in Trenton, NJ; Cecil County, MD;
Annapolis, MD, and Baltimore, MD. At the three-day kick-off in New York City, May 12-14,
the teams will compete in a variety of qualifying events and be on display for the public.
The finish-line ceremony will take place on May 18 on the Mall in Washington, DC.
The NESEA American Tour de Sol is organized by the
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, the nation¡Çs leading regional association
involved in promoting awareness, understanding and development of non-polluting, renewable
technologies. Headquartered in Greenfield, Massachusetts, NESEA is celebrating 25 years of
working successfully in the fields of transportation, building construction and renewable
energy.
Honda's Press Release Regarding the Event