HONDA UNVEILS NEW
HYBRID VEHICLE
HONDA UNVEILS NEW
HYBRID VEHICLE
The 35th Annual Tokyo Motor Show got underway setting the stage for Honda Motor Company's unveiling of its new Civic Hybrid. The new auto, which seats five passengers, utilizes an advanced, lean burning, 1.3-liter engine that is assisted by an high-tech electric motor. All of this engineering results in a car that achieves more than 69 miles per gallon fuel efficiency, the highest in the world for a five-seater gasoline-powered production vehicle Honda notes.
Honda points out that this car employs the company's continuously variable automatic transmission, which allows for a virtually unlimited gear selection. During acceleration and other times of heavy engine load, the electric motor assist system contributes much of the needed torque, resulting in both lower fuel consumption and powerful acceleration. At cruising speeds, when engine load is lower, the motor assist system shuts down. Then, during braking, the motor converts the dissipated energy into electricity.
The new Civic builds on the technologies developed for the Insight, a two-seater that gets about 57 miles per gallon. Like the Insight, the new Honda's engine shuts off automatically when stopped, such as at a traffic light, then restarts immediately when the driver steps on the accelerator pedal. This automatic idle-stop system contributes to both greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
In addition, the onboard battery system has offers increased efficiency in a 30 percent smaller package than previous units.
Technical Specs
Overall length: 4,455mm; 4,455mm; Overall width: 1,695mm; Overall height: 1,430mm; Wheelbase: 2,620mm
Power unit: (1.3-liter i-DSI engine (lean-burn upgrades + VTEC Cylinder Cut-off System)) + Motor Assist System (ultra-thin DC brushless motor + IPU)
Transmission: Honda Multimatic S continuously variable transmission
Suspension: Front toe-control, link-strut suspension; Rear active-link, double-wishbone suspension
Maximum power output: 63kW (86PS) / 5,700rpm (engine); 10kW/4,000rpm (motor)
Maximum torque: 119N/m (12.1kg/m) / 3,300rpm (engine); 49N/m / 1,000rpm (motor)
Fuel efficiency: 69.4 mpg (Best in the world for a 5-seater gasoline-powered production vehicle-based on in-house measurements, 10-15 mode.); Clean-burning-recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as an Ultra Low-Emissions Vehicle, with emissions of less than 25% of those allowed under year 2000 emissions regulations
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