06 Civic Hybrid engine information from Honda -Very refined!

[Romir]

Wow! It looks like there are enough improvements to consider this a true second generation IMA system. It even has a low speed EV mode!

Honda Announces Development of New Honda Hybrid System Featuring 3-Stage i-VTEC + IMA

Almost 10 minute movie demonstrating the new engine

Simply beautiful, what an advanced engine/motor package.

How well will it hypermile though?

[clett]

Thanks Romir, that's a great link!

I was wondering how they'd manage to get an EV mode without stepping on Toyota's patents. Closing all the valves - well it's inventive at least!

[Dougie]

Wonder if they will do something "wierd" about the car styling so everybody will know that the driver is saving the earth...

[chrs]

I was pleased to see that they added a brake control system that, from the sound of it, does the right thing by only kicking in mechanical brakes after regen is maxed out, and making a smooth transition between the two.

It may well be that hypermilers will be able to get more out of the new HCH with this than the Insight--except for an Insight with MIMA.

Charlie

[flunkysama]

NOW I'm getting excitied about a next generation Insight. If this technology is applied to a sub 1 liter 3 cylinder and put in an Insight-like body, we could be seeing EPA ratings of 80mpg plus!

Instead, and this is just a guess, the next gen civic hybrid will get around 60-65mpg, and allow honda to discontinue the Insight and still have the highest MPG car in the US.

[chrs]

According to this
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... efer=japan
there will be a model "smaller and cheaper" than the Civic. It doesn't sound like it will be an insight--for example no Al body. But if there's a hybrid version with all the technology going in the HCH, maybe it could at least equal the Insight on mileage.

Charlie

[Armin]

Originally Posted by Romir

Almost 10 minute movie demonstrating the new engine

I wish they were as careful selecting technology for their press releases as they are using it in their vehicles. Flash just sucks for streaming video. Couldn't they have used Quicktime? Or Realplayer or even (shudder) M$MediaPlayer?

[kapps]

Originally Posted by Armin

I wish they were as careful selecting technology for their press releases as they are using it in their vehicles. Flash just sucks for streaming video. Couldn't they have used Quicktime? Or Realplayer or even (shudder) M$MediaPlayer?

LOL...I was thinking the exact same thing when I was attempting to watch that sad excuse for an amazing video.

[stoner]

Originally Posted by chrs

According to this
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... efer=japan
there will be a model "smaller and cheaper" than the Civic. It doesn't sound like it will be an insight--for example no Al body. But if there's a hybrid version with all the technology going in the HCH, maybe it could at least equal the Insight on mileage.

Charlie

That sounds exciting, could it be the Honda Jazz? - the car that currently shares the combustion part of the Civic IMA engine here in Europe (I think)?
Maybe it is getting a re-design too??

[Resist]

Sounds good but what kind of fuel mileage will all this give us?