[flunkysama]

In this article in wardsauto.com you will find this quote

Light trucks are top priority for Honda and Acura right now, Elliott says – even more so than aggressive development of gas-electric hybrid powertrains, a technology Honda has championed.

I always kinda thought that Honda figured out that if you gave the people what they need (Safe, clean and reliable cars) that in the long run you would be successful because people that bought the cars would be happy. It appears that they are acting like the rest of the industry and giving people what they want for even if it makes them unhappy in the long run.

*sigh*

 

[james]

Don't people need light trucks? Especially light trucks with cleaner, fuel-efficient Honda powertrains - maybe even hybrid light trucks?

I've often wondered why Honda doesn't make trucks. Got a Toyota now, and yes, I can e.g. load it to the top of the cab with logs (for firewood), and haul them out of the mountains on dirt tracks. But it barely passes the smog test every year, and is not what I'd call real good on gas. I'd druther have a Honda

 

[Çhý££ íñ thé Ãír]

GM is releasing Hybrid trucks in 2004 (Sierra & Silverado). I always figured Honda would release one before any domestic company....

Also Toyota appears to be ahead of the "aggressive" Honda development team w/ their superior elecrtic engine synergy system which is going into the next gen Prius and Lexus RX330 SUV (which will be 300HP and still get around 35 MPG!)

 

[Delta Flyer]

A few notes:

- The automakers are responding to what the consumers want. If the market starts agreeing with the Insight owners at this forum, more hybrids and alternative-fueled vehicles will be sold. It takes two to tango. As of this writing, Just Honda and Toyota have hybrid vehicles. Now it's time for the consumers to start buying the kind of cars you want the automakers to build.

- On who is going to offer the first hybrid truck or SUV - Ford was supposed to have had one by now, but it's been delayed. I would not count on GM beating Honda or Toyota to this market. It will be an achievement because a large hybrid will have special challenges.

- Both Toyota and Honda are planning to offer hybrids across their line. Honda seems to be planning to offer the hybrid powerplant without a redesign of their line of cars. The suggestion of an earlier post that Honda is not agressive is simply harsh when you note they entered the hybrid market two years after Toyota, yet is the first to offer two different makes, has the best dashboard for monitoring fuel economy, and makes the most efficient gas engines. Honda is planning a 400 horsepower hybrid S2000. It seems Honda is being confused for Detroit.

 

[Çhý££ íñ thé Ãír]

- On who is going to offer the first hybrid truck or SUV - Ford was supposed to have had one by now, but it's been delayed. I would not count on GM beating Honda or Toyota to this market. It will be an achievement because a large hybrid will have special challenges.

Let me clear up a few things....GM will be offering the Hybrid versions of the Seirra and Silverado in 2004 ONLY to commercial entities. A year later (assuming for the '05 model year) they WILL BE AVAILABLE to the buying public. Its not a matter of counting on anything, this is their schedule for release. The Lexus RX330 Hybrid is slated for release in the '05 model year, so GM is beating Toyota in the truck/SUV hybrid race.

 

[Delta Flyer]

I won't be particular about which maker introduces another hybrid choice. I applaud everyone that has done it so far.

 

[Thorian]

While on my Honey Moon I was talking to a guy in a truck stop out side atlanta who claimed to be a engeneer on the Ford hybrid escape he said that the development has been slowed and it would be closer to 2005 for ford. Now where did I put his card?

 

[Delta Flyer]

If I were a betting man, I'd bet there will be a Japanese SUV available to the American public before Detroit does. Heck, the Boston Red Sox might win a World Series before Detroit does it.

 

[Çhý££ íñ thé Ãír]

Do you have a paypal account? :wink:

 

[Delta Flyer]

I'd fight about the Red Sox except they do a pretty good job of it on their own. :wink:

 

[b1shmu63]

Things may change some day but currently Honda is the number one "green " car company in the world if you look at their overall fleet. I presume their trucks will set new standards for green, and I don't mean cash or paint. :wink:

 

[dazey]

I've often wondered why Honda doesn't make trucks. Got a Toyota now, and yes, I can e.g. load it to the top of the cab with logs (for firewood), and haul them out of the mountains on dirt tracks. But it barely passes the smog test every year, and is not what I'd call real good on gas. I'd druther have a Honda

They do make trucks: http://www.honda.co.jp/ACTY/truck/

Although I don't think we'll be seeing these on the road in the US, they don't have that aggressiveness that seems to be the requirement of trucks nowadays. But I bet with enough plastic molding you could make it look mean, that seems to be what everyone else is doing :lol:

I wouldn't mind seeing a Honda light pickup, I had a Toyota Pickup for a number of years and it got what I considered good MPG ( 25-28 ) especially compared to other new light pickups that barely get 20MPG. It also started to almost not pass smog though, but that was after 11 years of abuse by me and my family and over 190,000 miles. It also went thru 2 clutches and 4 rear bumpers, I swear there were magnets in that bumper.

 

[james]

I may have bought yours It's an '84, and had about 190K on it when I bought it, maybe 4 years ago. It's still under 205K now, which shows you just how much I drive it.

 

[dazey]

Nah, it's living with my parents now in Mendocino county where they don't have to get it smogged. Should still be under 200K as they don't drive it that often.