Gizmodo Review Of Honda Civic 2006 Hybrid

[asfafa]

Gizmodo has a video review at:

Gizmodo

of the new Honda Civic 2006 Hybrid.

It's only 2 minutes long or so, but I didn't find it very good or objective. Seems to me like the Civic is a complete rip-off of the Prius, in shape and form, and technology. The guy also seems to think that the Prius can't turn the engine off and on, as he remarks on it for the Civic. Obviously hasn't tried the Prius... The energy 'monitor' looks confusing!

The only good thing that it has over the Prius, is the GPS SatNav screen that slides out to show that there is a PC Card slot and an iPod slot.

Otherwise, I still prefer my Prius, and the Civic doesn't look very good at all.

paul

[Braindead]

Hi Paul

It looks like the Honda is still a serial hybrid in that the electric motor assists the ICE but can't drive the car on electricity alone but the Honda web site seems to neatly sidestep the point.

[KMO]

It can now drive on electric alone, but it's more limited; the electric motor is less powerful than the Prius's - 15kW, I think, compared to the Prius's 25kW. (The Prius's motor is actually 50kW, but it can only draw 25kW from the battery).

The engine does turn while it's on electric, so it's not as quiet as the Prius. They've extended their VTEC system so it can shut all the valves to reduce pumping losses.

[Braindead]

Interesting....so that implies the motor is still in serial with ICE but the ICE can turn with minimal losses and no fuel use?

That being the case any idea how they've acheived the CVT? Is the good old belt and cone system? The Toyota sun/planet/moon idea is so elegant...

[Tawse57]

Honda - obsessed with saloons and not hatches IMPO! No hatch Accord, no hatch Civic hybrid!