2007 Motorist Choice Awards

IntelliChoice.com, in conjunction with AutoPacific has released the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards. Now in its second consecutive year, the Motorist Choice Awards aims to determine vehicles in 25 different segments that offer the best customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership.

So if you are planning to purchased a new car this year, check out these winners of the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards to help you out choose the best model for ya.

Aspirational Luxury Car Lexus IS
Compact Car -- Mazda Mazda3 Sedan
Compact Crossover SUV -- Chevrolet HHR
Compact Pickup -- Toyota Tacoma
Compact Sport Utility/ORV -- Toyota FJ Cruiser
Economy Car -- Honda Fit
Image Compact Car -- Volkswagen GTI
Large Car -- Toyota Avalon
Large HD Pickup -- Chevrolet Silverado HD
Large LD Pickup -- Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Large Luxury Car -- Cadillac DTS
Large Sport Utility -- GMC Yukon XL
Luxury Crossover SUV -- Acura MDX
Luxury Mid-Size Car -- Nissan Maxima
Luxury Sport Utility -- Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Mid-Size Car -- Volkswagen Jetta
Mid-Size Crossover SUV -- Honda CR-V
Mid-Size Sport Utility -- Toyota 4Runner
Minivan -- Honda Odyssey
Premium Luxury Car -- Lexus LS
Premium Mid-Size Car -- Nissan Altima
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV -- Nissan Murano
Premium Sports Car -- Lexus SC
Sports Car -- Porsche Boxster
Sporty Car -- Scion tC

Meanwhile, George Peterson, president of AutoPacific commented:
"Those who monitor the industry closely are probably not surprised by the performance of the Cadillac DTS. Across all segments, the DTS came in a close second to the overall winner Lexus LS, and it was the top ranked vehicle overall in AutoPacific's recently announced Vehicle Satisfaction Awards. It's a car that can definitely challenge the other elite brands."

Peterson added: "There were 25 outstanding vehicles scoring 700 or better," said Peterson. "Some vehicles scored high but didn't make the list because they lost out to other high-scoring vehicles in their segment. These include the Lexus GS, Lincoln Town Car, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Acura RL, BMW 5-Series, BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz GL450, Chevrolet Suburban, Lexus RX, Toyota 4Runner and Hyundai Azera."

Chinese Car Fans are Thumbs Down to These Models

Gasgoo.com, a news website for the Chinese automotive industry and the rest of the world has compiled the list of the unlucky car models that are least popular in China. The automotive industry in China boosts every year by over 20%, making it as the 3rd largest automotive market in the world.

Well, as for these unpopular car models for Chinese peeps, maybe they can rise to fame in some other automotive markets. Check out The Top 10 Most Unpopular Cars in China ass released by Gasgoo.com, along with brief descriptions for every model.

1. Honda's Acura TL
"Last September, one of Honda's most popular models was released in China with hopes of American like popularity."

2 Mitsubishi Galant
"The half-year result for Galant is 4062 units, not even half of Toyota Camry's monthly sales, though both models belong to the same D-segment."

3. Fiat Perla
"Fiat Perla, which is developed by Fiat and its Chinese joint venture partner, went on sale last September."

4. Kia Rio
"The automaker, Dongfeng Kia, expected to sell more than 5000 units per month, and considered the model as its bread and butter, but since it's launch early this year, Rio only sold 4,996 units up to now."

5. FAW Vitz
"Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co. sold 904 units of Vitz during the first half of year."

6 Suzuki Liana
"Suziki Liana's half year sales are 5,416 units, which didn't sell as expected despite considerable discounts offered."

7. Hyundai Sonata
"Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai's joint venture in China, sold 7,808 units of Sonata. This model is a success in the European and American markets, but not in China."

8 . Ford S-Max
"The S-Max minivan posted a wholesale volume of 2,260 units in its first half-year."

9 Toyota Prius
"Toyota Prius' half-year sales-176 units-were restricted by the prohibitive price and the yet-unformed eco-fashion."

10 GM Park Avenue
"SAIC GM sold just 934 units of Park Avenue during the first six months."

Mazda2 Heading to UK!

Our fellow British auto enthusiasts will get their first hand on the Mazda2 5-door hatchback model this coming September 8th when the vehicle rolls out in Mazda dealer showrooms all over the UK.

The Mazda2 for the UK market comes in three model trim levels: TS, TS2 and Sport. All of these three models come with exclusive power plant options.

Check out what the three Mazda2 models has in store for the UK market, along with their respective base manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP).

Mazda2 TS - £8,499 ($17,268 USD)
- 1.3-litre 75 PS engine
- 15-inch steel wheels
- Anti lock braking systems (ABS )with Brake Assist
- Electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD)
- driver and front passenger airbags
- remote central locking with deadlocks
- electric front windows
- driver seat height adjust
- CD radio with AUX jack and two speakers
- multi-function glovebox with magazine rack
- Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobilizer
- electric door mirrors

Mazda2 TS2 - £9,999 ($20,317 USD)
The Mazda2 TS2 comes with a 1.3-litre 86 PS petrol engine. It also features the same components like the Mazda2 TS model, but with additional features like:

- 15-inch alloy wheels
- side and curtain airbags
- electric folding door mirrors
- four audio speakers
- steering wheel-mounted audio controls
- leather steering wheel and gear knob and air conditioning

Meanwhile, the top of the line Mazda2 Sport boasts a 1.5-litre engine pumping out 103 PS. The car is also equipped with a full sports styling kit, and other standard features found in the Mazda2 TS. Additional components include:

- 16-inch alloy wheels
- dynamic stability control
- traction control
- cruise control
- fog lights
- rain sensing wipers and auto lights
- electric rear windows, trip computer
- speed alarm
- six audio speakers
- climate control air-conditioning.

MSRP for this model is £11,799 ($23,979 USD)

Saving Gas Even Without the Hybrid

Having a hybrid car is nice especially these days when the soaring gas prices make going to the pump a torture of some sorts. Hybrids, big for their environmental value, are also big gas savers. But do you really need a hybrid to save on gas?

A recent analysis by NADAguide.com of fuel economy information in the New and Used car sections of the company's website http://www.nadaguides.com/, say that car buyers have plenty of options when it comes to saving fuel (and the environment too) and those options aren't necessarily limited to only buying Hybrids.

"Even though there are less Hybrids produced on the market today than standard gas-powered cars, these numbers are still extremely significant," said Don Christy, Jr., president and CEO, NADAguides.com. "This analysis demonstrates that car buyers have options when it comes to buying an economical car, whether it's a Hybrid or a standard gas-powered vehicle."

Check out the results of the recent fuel efficiency analysis at NADAguides.com:

New Cars with Best Fuel Mileage (EPA Estimates and Base MSRP)

1. 2007 Toyota Prius Hybrid - 51 Highway/60 City - $22,175
2. 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid - 51 Highway/40 City - $22,600
3. 2007 Toyota Corolla - 41 Highway/32 City - $14,305
4. 2007 Toyota Yaris - 40 Highway/34 City - $11,150
5. 2007 MINI Cooper - 40 Highway/32 City - $18,050
6. 2007 Honda Civic Sedan - 40 Highway/30 City - $15,010
7. 2007 Honda Civic Coupe - 40 Highway/30 City - $14,810
8. 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid - 38 Highway/40 City - $26,200
9. 2007 Honda Fit - 38 Highway/33 City - $13,850
10. 2007 Kia Rio - 38 Highway/32 City - $10,770

Used Cars with Best Fuel Mileage (EPA Estimates and Clean Retail Value, Base Models)

1. 2000 Honda Insight Hybrid - 70 Highway/61 City - $8,025
2. 2006 Toyota Prius Hybrid - 51 Highway/60 City - $21,775
3. 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid - 51 Highway/49 City - $17,310
4. 2004 Honda Civic - 51 Highway/48 City - $11,600
5. 2002 Volkswagen Jetta Wagon - 50 Highway/42 City - $9,000
6. 1998 Volkswagen Passat - 50 Highway/39 City - $5,400
7. 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle - 49 Highway/42 City - $6,025
8. 1999 Volkswagen New Golf - 49 Highway/42 City - $4,875
9. 1998 Chevrolet Metro - 49 Highway/41 City - $2,175
10. 1999 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan - 49 Highway/40 City - $4,275

So if you’re not about to buy a new car, exactly how can you save on gas you’re your current vehicle? NADAguides.com has the following tips to help you significantly improve your vehicle's overall fuel efficiency whether it is a Hybrid or gas-powered car:

1. Reduce your Speed
2. Drive Consistently
3. Stop "Stopping" and "Starting"
4. Resist Tire Resistance
5. Lighten your Load

For more information on this check out www.nadaguides.com.

New amphibian vehicles launched

New amphibian vehicles are developed with high-speed and roadworthiness for use as taxi cabs in Manhattan, Miami, Los Angeles and Detroit.

Alan Gibbs, an entrepreneurial New Zealander trained in engineering and economics and formerly a diplomat and car dealer revealed products and plans for ‘high-speed,’ amphibious vehicles to an interested band of journalists in Detroit.

Gibbs became interested in developing high-speed, amphibious vehicles in the 1990s at his farm near Auckland where the harbor nearby has a mile-long tidal range making recreational boating quite tough. He has spent almost $100 million and a million engineering man-hours into the project with enough success to bring the first two vehicles to market.

The sports car called Aquada has already been welcomed in Europe and is being federalized in the U.S.

Characteristics:
1. Looks quite an older Mazda Miata roadster but wider with three seats across.
2. There is a transverse engine, transmission and power-take-off inside the composite body behind the triple seat
3. When on land, the engine and transmission work conventionally; the PTO powers the jet pump for propulsion in the water.
4. It is a fully automatic transition.
5. Aquada can do 110-mph on land and 32-mph in the water, a record for amphibious vehicles.

The driver pushes one button, as he/she approaches the water, to tell the car of the coming change in surface and then he/she just drives straight into the water. In just a few minutes, the vehicle sensors initiate the transition to water-jet propulsion steering by the jet. One really amazing thing is that all four wheels are positioned into the body out of the way to prevent the hydraulic drag that has aggravated amphibious vehicles then.

That notable complex collapsing suspension is common to all these amphibious vehicles and dozens of patents protect it all.

Neal Jenkins, Chief engineer, notes that the struts along perform five different functions. The other production-ready amphibian introduced is called Quadski – probably because it is a crossbreed of a quad ATV and a jet-ski. Like a sports car, the Quadski’s transition from land to water is automatic. They are hoping to use this in some practical applications at around $15,000.

I wonder if a BMW compressor can replace its compressor when it is already worn out.

The New 2007 Locus PLETHORE

The Canadian super car manufacturer Locus is preparing to launch its latest creation that revs up “750 hp” or “1300 hp”. The new super car is named PLETHORE with nickname the “Quebec Bomb”. The 2007 Locus PLETHORE is the first ever Canadian super car that will feature an exotic design matched by an amazing amount of power.

The PLETHORE is the designed by Mr. Luc Chartrand, who happens to be an electronic and composite material specialist. The new Locus super car is made completely out of carbon fiber which is a lightweight racing material. It has also a central driving position similar to that of the McLaren F1 which means to prepare yourself for one hell of a driving experience.

The designer, Mr. Chartrand passionately comments about his creation saying, “Not only does it offer incredible visibility from the central driver position, the car also provides room for as many as three people up to 6’6” in height… a first for this class of vehicle.”

The new 2007 Locus PLETHORE will have a tag price of $330,000 CDN and it is expected to become a hit once launch in the market. And another thing, if you want to snatch one of these babies better make an advance reservation since only 400 PLETHOREs are to be produced per year. The first orders of the vehicle are to be taken by the end of the summer of this year.

BMW X6 Rear Trunk spied

When one of BMW’s X6 prototypes appeared to become not functioning on the shoulder of a devastated California road, its engineers ran into a little hassle and bustle in the 128-degree desert heat. The preoccupied testers accidentally left the prototype's rear hatch open as they prepared to hook up a tow line to its X5 support vehicle. As a result, it revealed the true shape of the X6's rear quarter panel pillars and tailgate. And that is because of a timely sequence of drive-by shots of our folks at the World Car Fans (www.worldcarfans.com). I thank the automotive website for grabbing those shots. Had it not been for those, I may not able to write this article.

And now, it is exactly completely clear how much of the rear camouflage is simply a hard plastic shell, or should I say, most of it.

This contour is specifically interesting on the X6, because BMW is applying an aggressive application of the four-door-coupe concept that was first seen on the Mercedes CLS, to the SUV genre. The X6 is taking a unique styling approach which appears to be the most form-over-function SUV design effort seen to date, though there have been a number of performance-minded SUVs on offer. After the B-pillar, the roof line begins arching downward and continues plunging right to the X6's rising waistline. As a result, the second-row headroom and rear cargo volume are both severely compromised.

Due to the BMW X6’s heavy camouflage paneling, it is still hard to get the emotion of the vehicle’s overall design; it will still take more than an open hatchback to do that. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to catch how BMW stylists can balance the design in an attractive way, given the heavy SUV front and the slimmed down rear.

Top-20 sales eaters in U.S. through June 2007

Reuters, a well known financial market data provider and a news service that provides reports from all over the world to newspapers and broadcasters, published the 20 top-selling vehicles in the United States through June of 2007 as reported by the automakers.

With the increasing need for a mode of transportation despite increasing gas prices, though last month, total sales of the top 20 vehicles climbed 4 percent higher or 116,756 units to 3,003,179.

Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units.

RANK VEHICLE

1 Ford F-Series P/U
2 Chevy Silverado-C/K P/U
3 Toyota Camry
4 Toyota Corolla
5 Dodge Ram P/U
6 Honda Accord
7 Chevrolet Impala
8 Honda Civic
9 Nissan Altima
10 Honda CR-V
11 Dodge Caravan
12 GMC Sierra P/U
13 Ford Focus
14 Chevrolet Cobalt
15 Ford Econoline/Club Wagon
16 Toyota Prius
17 Ford Escape
18 Toyota-RAV4
19 Toyota Tundra
20 Honda Odyssey

It is really amazing with the fact that fuel prices continue to boost, vehicle sales are still increasing. Yes, some vehicles in the list experienced a decline in sales, but majority are increased, and these majority are mostly foreign cars (the small ones).

The figure in the chart largely depicts the effect of gasoline consumption to the size and type of vehicle. Such results, I am sure, has again shaken the American cars, giving them a puzzle to solve how to constantly increase their vehicle sales.

Guides for Car Maintenance this Summer

Jim MacPherson, an automotive expert and writer for The Hartford Courant shares his knowledge in automotive maintenance, as well as driving know hows for the harsh summer season. In addition, Mr. MacPherson also hosts a car care radio program in Connecticut so he is really fired with knowledge in automotive maintenance.

Well, without further endue, here are the ten maintenance guides from Jim MacPherson:

1. Cooling system
"When your engine is cold, check your coolant and make sure your radiator fins have not been clogged by dirt or debris. Be sure to keep fingers away from the electric cooling fan while doing this and never remove the radiator cap if the engine is warm. In addition to coolant, keep an eye on the oil level and the fluids for power steering, brakes and transmission."

2. Temperature Gauge
"If your temperature gauge moves into the red zone or the high temperature warning light goes on, pull over to a safe location and stop your engine. Do not open the radiator cap. Driving a car while the engine is overheated can cause serious damage."

3. Oil
"When the temperatures are high, you need oil that provides extra protection for your engine. A fully synthetic oil such as Mobil 1 is a good choice; it’s designed to protect your engine at any temperature and provides fuel economy benefits. Fuel economy grades provide excellent fuel savings compared to higher viscosity grade oils. (For more information about Mobil 1, go to www.mobiloil.com.)"

4. Belts and hoses
"Inspect all belts and hoses, looking for signs of wear such as blistering or cracks in the rubber. If they show signs of wear, replace them now."

5. Tires
"In high heat, under-inflated tires are more likely to blow out. Once a month, check the pressure of all tires. To find the correct pressure rating for your vehicle, look inside the driver’s doorframe or your owner’s manual."

6. Windshield wipers
"The rubber on your wiper blades is susceptible to the summer heat. Examine your blades, and if they show signs of wear, invest in a new set."

7. Battery
"Hot weather can shorten the life of your vehicle’s battery. Inspect the batteries and battery cables for corrosion, cracks and dirt. Many service centers can check the condition of the battery and charging system. If the battery is weak, replace it."

8. Lights
"Check your headlights on low and high beam, as well as your brake lights, turn signals, side marker lights and emergency flashers. If you’re towing anything, check your connections to ensure your trailer lights are working properly."

9. Vehicle Exterior
"Wash your vehicle regularly to preserve the finish. After it has dried, apply a coat of wax to the exterior to protect the surface."

10. Emergencies
"Keep an emergency kit in your trunk with some basic items in case your vehicle breaks down. Be sure to include a quart of oil, a gallon of drinking water, jumper cables, windshield washer fluid, basic tools, gloves, a flashlight with some spare batteries and a first aid kit."

Try to remember these tips from MacPherson before hitting the gas pedal. This will ensure your safety when taking the road this summer and avoid car troubles.

The 2008 Nissan Titan Truck

The Nissan titan Truck is here again guys, back with full power and outstanding performance. The new truck is given a new fully-back ladder frame and given more horses on its standard engine V8. With longer length that starts with a tag price of $23,700, just right for that fully retuned extraordinary driving experience.

I visited their official website at nissanusa.com and found out more about the new truck. The Nissan Titan has two switch options. The King Cab and the Crew Cab. The King Cab’s mechanical specification is composed of fully-revamped engine parts, powerful drive train capable of producing more power than any other trucks, brakes as power suspension and steering. Here are the mechanical specifications of the new King Cab I found on their official website.

Engine

VK56DE — Endurance 5.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 engine
317 hp @ 5,200 rpm
385 lb-ft of torque @ 3,400 rpm
Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV)1
Emissions — LEV
Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS)
Nissan Direct Ignition System
Platinum-tipped spark plugs
Electronic drive-by-wire throttle
Alternator (130 amps)
Battery (650 CCA)
Heavy-duty battery (710 CCA)
Oil pan skid plate (4x4 models)
Fuel tank skid plate
Transfer case skid plate
Lower radiator skid plate
Additional 7-pin wiring harness
Trailer brake pre-wiring

Drivetrain

Front engine/rear-wheel drive
Switch-operated 2-speed transfer case 4-wheel drive (4WD high — 1.000; 4WD low — 2.596)
5-speed automatic transmission with Tow/Haul Mode
Final gear ratio (2.94); similar to a 4-speed automatic 3.73 ratio
Lower final gear ratio (3.357:1); similar to a 4-speed automatic 4.10:1 ratio
4-wheel Limited Slip (ABLS) — 4x4
2-wheel Limited Slip (ABLS) — 4x2

Brakes

Front and rear vented disc brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
Brake Assist [AB] [AB] [AB]

Supspension and Steering

Front: Independent double-wishbone with stabilizer bar and Dana® axles. (Dana® axles on 4X4 only)
Rear: Multi-leaf with solid Dana® axle
Rancho® off-road performance shocks
Engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering

Their car safety parts have never been so better and secured like this. The new car has been supplied with standard safety features that will make you confident in driving. A new LATCH System is available. Other than that, factory installed safety airbags are also available on the new truck with rear and front airbags as well as the roof mounted supplemental airbags for side impact. More specified features are found also on their website. Here are the complete list of the safety car parts mounted on the new King Cabin truck.
Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant-classification sensor
Roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags for side impact and rollover protection for front and rear occupants
Driver and front-passenger side-impact supplemental air bags
Front-seat Active Head Restraints
3-point ALR/ELR passenger seat belt system (ELR for driver)
Front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters
LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children)
Zone Body construction with front and rear crumple zone
Hood buckling creases
Energy-absorbing steering column
Pipe-style steel side-door guard beams
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Nissan describes it with unmatched versatility. The interior parts are well developed with convenience and more smart storage. It has an oversized center console so big that you can store your laptops, mobile phone and any other gadgets you’d love bringing on your travel. It has bigger opportunity of exploring every space because the new Titan King Cabin has a full sized wide opening rear door, big enough for bigger innovations. The interior parts is filled with more entertaining accessories like the 7.0-inch color LCD monitor and Information Center that lets your passengers enjoy their rides while having fun watching their favorite TV shows or videos. It also has the Bluetooth technology that makes you talk on phone while driving. The air conditioning has also developed into more comfortable ventilation. Here are the specific car parts installed on the truck:

Convenience

Nissan Navigation System with GPS, DVD-ROM atlas, 7.0-inch color LCD monitor and Information Center
Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System
Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control
Air conditioning
In-cabin microfilter
Power door locks
Power front windows
Remote keyless entry with remote front windows down
HomeLink® Universal Transceiver
Cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls
Tilt steering column
Variable intermittent speed-sensitive windshield wipers
Door courtesy lights
Footwell lights
Auto-dimming rearview mirror and outside temperature display
Digital compass
Multi-functional information center
Digital clock
Retained accessory power
Battery saver
Transmission temperature gauge
Dual 2-way sun visors with extenders and dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
Power adjustable pedals
Six cup holders and two bottle holders
Grocery hooks (rear cab)
Overhead center console

Seating/Appointments

40/20/40-split bench front seat with center console
Front captain's chairs with driver-side manual lumbar
8-way power driver's captain's chair with manual lumbar support
6-way front-power passenger's captain's chair
Heated front seats
Fold-down front-passenger's seat (N/A with split bench front seat option)
60/40 split fold-up rear bench seat
Memory system — driver's seat, mirrors and pedals (remote-activated)
Cloth seat trim
Two-tone cloth seat trim
Leather-appointed seats
Embroidered leather-appointed seats
Column shifter with manual shift mode
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Leather-wrapped floor-mounted transmission shifter
Metallic-tone accents
Wood-tone accents
White-faced gauges and red stitching

So if you are looking for the best truck, the 2008 Nissan Titan might just well be the truck for you. The new truck’s exterior paint job is available in nine gorgeous trimmings.

Radiant Silver
Blizzard
Red Alerts
Red Brawn
Smoke
Majestic Blue
Dessert Stone
Timber Line
Galaxy Black

The Interior part is also offered in 8 indispensable skins.

XE Almond Cloth
XE Charcoal Cloth
SE Almond Cloth
SE Charcoal Cloth
PRO-4X Charcoal Cloth
PRO-4X Charcoal Leather
LE Almond Leather
LE Charcoal Leather

There you go guys. Now you have all the reasons to replace that old faithful in your garage. Get one now while the trucks are still fresh.

Honda the new Accord Hybrid to challenge the Toyota Prius

VS

We all know that Toyota Motor Corporation decided to delay the production of its third generation Prius which was promised to have the lighted rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. The delay was made because of some security reasons. These battery packs are found on cell phones, laptops and PDAs. But because the battery is noted to produce heat when used for a long time, the Japanese automaker decided to stop its production. However, they said they are doing more studies on perfecting the Li-ion batteries on the next generation Prius. Meanwhile, they will be producing the new Prius sporting the Sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) on the famous hybrid car.

Honda Motors Corporation, the maker of the first hybrid car the Insight, has been able to learn how Toyota makes its hybrid car which is just right on timing since hybrid buyers prefers to have real time hybrid cars like what Toyota did. And so, Honda is planning to reveal a hybrid car that will set a huge competition on the ongoing Prius.

According to the Japanese car company, they will reveal a new car that does not only excel because of its hybrid but because of its one-of-a-kind styling and more specifications added compared to its previous models. This was according to the vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda Motor Corporation Incorporated Dan Bonawitz.

The new hybrid car coming from Honda is said to be on the slot below its fellow Honda model Civic Hybrid. Honda also released that the new hybrid car will be on the market in 2009.

Bonawitz have made an effort to survey the hybrid customers about their need for a separate model. The Honda US president said, "They broke 50-50," he said. "But in the marketplace, the Prius went one way and we went the other." This survey was done before the roll out the two new Civic and Accord hybrids on the market. We all know they never experience to be as successful as the Prius.

With the constantly changing demands of the consumers, Honda made a twist on its course. Bonwitz said, "Now buying a hybrid is very much about making a statement. Obviously, this is leading us to bring a new hybrid to market that is uniquely styled. The new car, while lower in price than the Civic Hybrid, will still be a family car, and will not be a tiny commuter car like the Honda Insight. Despite the car's low price, Honda will not lose money on it. It will not be a loss leader.”