2005 Accord V6 Hybrid, best selling car from Honda images released

Source: world.honda.com
Honda released the images for its 2005 Accord V6 Hybrid, gas electric hybrid version of Honda best selling car which will be with dealers for sale later this year. The new hybrid will have power and performance better then its current 240-HP Accord V6 with better fuel economy.

Honda's (VCM) Variable Cylinder Management increases the efficiency of the vehicle by deactivating 3 of 6 cylinder engine during cruising and deceleration with no change for performance of the car.

Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system uses high output electric motor-generator providing more efficient engine operation by capturing electrical energy during braking or deceleration and use of that energy to power the vehicle hence saving valuable fuel. The engine shut off during stops further increases efficiency of the vehicle.

Hybrid car from Hyundai in 2005

Hyundai Motor Co. plans to introduce its first hybrid car in 2005. It would be a hybrid version of Verna sub-compact car and would be only available late next year. Hyundai would be investing around 1 trillion won to make a production line for gas-electric hybrid car by 2009. It aims to make 10,000 hybrid cars anually.

Hyundai claims that the hybrid car would reduce the fuel consumption by 15-20%. They plan to produce trial hybrid models by year end and would get response from users. Hyundai would also be increasing human resources in R&D to 10,000 from the current 6,200 people.

Hybrid car maintenance : mechanics at dealerships

The automakers like Ford is training 1000s of mechanics at dealership for servicing hybrid cars.

If your hybrid car like Escape gets a problem you could visit any mechanic to fix tires, brakes etc. If there is a problem under the hood generally an independent mechanic would not like to fix it and a visit to mechanic at dealership is required.

Reason: Hybrid cars have high voltage cables in which batteries of a hybrid car sends around 270 volts then its regular car counterpart which only send 12 volts. 270 volts is enough to stop heart. The training is generally given to mechanics at dealership which leaves large pool of independent mechanics untrained to handle it.

Without proper training it would be dangerous to handle it. Other reason is that hybrid part for one make is entirely different then the other. So one should be trained separately for different makes. It is too early and most of the cars would be under warranty for a long time which would be between 8-10 years.

2005 Chrysler 300C, 2005 300 Chrysler

You thought "America can't build a big sedan..." Have a look at 2005 300 Chrysler." :)

With 340 HP, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine 2005 Chrysler 300C has a sitting capacity of 5. A body like Lima, it would be joy to ride it on roads. It has 18 in 9 spoke chrome-coated aluminum wheels. It could hold a 15.6 cubic feet of cargo and adding to its beauty is dual exhaust pipes.

Fuel economy for the car is impressive 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway. The interior is very comfortable. Dashboard is elegant with Chrome accents and polished metal.

Base Price: $32,370
Vehicle: 5 Passenger, All wheel drive
Powertrain: 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, 340 HP, five-speed automatic
Torque: foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm
Fuel: 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway
Steering: Rack & Pinion(power)
Curb Weight: 4046 pounds
Brakes: 4 wheel vented discs with anti-lock and braking-enhancement features (power)

Dummy guide to how hybrid engine works.

Hybrid car engines uses both internal combustion engine and electric motor for running the car intelligently. The electronic system decides when to run the car on electric motor alone, when to run it on both electric motor and engine, when to run it on gasoline alone and when to use motor as a generator and convert kinetic energy from the wheels into electricity to charge the battery.

When the car is running at low speed electric motor could alone take the charge. When the car put brakes or goes downhill the battery is charged. As the engine starts and during its initial acceleration electric motor is used for the motion and engine comes in when car needs rapid acceleration. When the car is still engine is shut down and the car runs on electric motor thus saving fuel and reducing emission. During full-throttle acceleration or under heavy load, the motor gets a power boost from the battery.

California board proposes 30% cut in auto emissions

The plan is to check the emissions of gases linked to global warming in 2 steps for cars & trucks during 2009 - 2014 in California. It will be year by year level for cuts in emission for one passenger cars and two light duty trucks category.

It would start from 2.3% in 2009 to 30% in 2014. As said by Catherine Witherspoon, executive officer of the ARB " The proposal protects public health and conforms to the language and spirit of Assembly Bill 1493, which requires the ARB to limit emissions from California passenger cars that contribute to global warming " (day after tomorrow :) )

The plan is likely to go into effect by 2006 and the car makers would have 3 years to meek the guidelines.

It would be difficult for automakers to do the changes if this happens at state by state level. The change would require massive investments and if such laws are passed in only one state then the investments could be delayed.

What is needed is federal government should come forward and should pass a similar plan as a whole. California is leading the way, lets see who all will follow. Most likely next would be New York...

2005 Escape hybrid Price update

Ford has set base price of about $27,000, $3,300 more then 2005 Escape (V6 engine). The front wheel drive car is claimed to 35-40 miles per gallon compared to 20 miles for 2005 Escape with V-6. It would be available with showrooms later this summer. 4 wheel drive version for this car would cost $1,500 more then front wheel drive. Ford hybrid owners would get "clean fuel vehicles" tax deduction of $1,500 for 2004.

There are 4 stages in the 2005 escape hybrid cycle, Stop/Start, Electric Drive, Regenerative Braking and Cruising with Electric Power Assist.The car automatically switches between electric, gasoline, or combined operation to maximize efficiency and performance.

2005 INFINITI G35 Coupe, 2005 INFINITI G35 Sedan

As announced by Nissan's luxury division the new 2005 Infiniti G35 coupe & sedan would have a new coupe model,redesigned instrument panel, new design for exterior for sedan. The major enhancement in the 2005 G35 sedan would be an increase in power to 277 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.The sedan would also have all wheel drive version(already in 2004 model) with new exterior style which will have new hood, grille, bumpers, side sills, taillights and wheels.

The 2005 G35 Infiniti coupe would come with 5 speed automatic transmission or close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. The power would be increased to 295 hp(not confirm but in near range). It would come with 3 models namely Coupe, Coupe Sport A/T and Coupe Sport 6MT.

The G35 coupe & sedan with automatic transmission might be available with dealers around October 2004 and manual transmission by December 2004..

Are you Buying a Hybrid Car ?

If you are going to buy a Hybrid car only for cost advantage then a marginal gain could be achieved with this car. Please have a look at this data:-

Lets assume you drive 15,000 miles a year. The fuel consumed with an average non hybrid car would be around 430 gallons and with an estimated price of fuel per gallon be $2, total cost for the fuel would be $860.

If you drive an average hybrid car with the same number of miles the fuel consumption would be around 312 gallons meaning $624 worth of gas.

This means you save $236 on gas. But with the price of gas going uphill this gap could increase. Now look at the other factors,

1. Fuel saved meaning less dependence for fuel on other countries.
2. Due to less emission less damage to environment.
3. Tax deductions on hybrid cars.

In my opinion buying a hybrid car has more advantages then disadvantage. Go ahead and buy your next car as a hybrid car.

2005 Toyota Alessandro Volta , Future Hybrid cars

Alessandro Volta arranged zinc and copper discs in a column and invented the battery. The car name is derived from the great inventor. 2005 Toyota Alessandro Volta would have 3.3 liter V6 petrol engine located behind rear axle and would be connected to the wheel directly. It would have a carbon-fiber body with a seating capacity for 3.

The power comes from two electric powered engines which would be providing all wheel drive and a much improved safety. It would have a lightweight, carbon-fiber chassis below which would be located a 70 kg battery.

The output would be 300 kW/408 HP and the car would have a maximum speed of 250 km/hour. It could go from 0-100 km in 4.03 seconds. The mileage would be at the rate of 435 miles on a 13.7-gallon tank.

2007 Altima Hybrid, 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid cars

Nissan Unveils 2007 Altima Hybrid mid-size sedan prototype in San Francisco on June 2. The car will be available in the US market from 2006.

The car would have Nissan's four-cylinder gasoline engine and the hybrid components from Toyota(the first maker of cars powered by gasoline-electric engines). The acceleration is quite impressive with performance equivalent to V6 engines and with better fuel efficiency then other compact cars. Nissan is going to make 100,000 hybrid vehicles in 5 year time.

Statement from Nissan is "a breakthrough model, which provides new feeling of driving pleasure to customers with its dynamic acceleration performance, while minimizing the impact to the environment at the same time.