Hyundai i-flow Concept Diesel Hybrid Sports Cars

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:50:55 +0000

We are witnessing the emerging of the new generation of cars.
The new Hyundai i-flow is a powerful car concept with an imaginative and magic exterior, wise engineering under the hood and in the unbelievable beautiful car interior.

At the 2010 Geneva motor show debut, Hyundai i-flow gets the silence and wonder from the present press and spectators.

New Hyundai i-flow is a technological wonder with an animal shape. The car is standing still but the spectator had a feeling that the i-flow will jump ahead in any moment. It is like a big predator ready to wake up and jump on his pray.

The interior of Hyundai i-flow is like a space ship. During the development a help from the BASF which is one of the leading automotive suppliers and expert in new space edge materials.

New Hyundai i-flow is a diesel electric hybrid with a fuel consumption of only 3 liters per 100 kilometers. If we have in mind that i-flow is a car with an overall length of 4.78 meters and 2.8 meters of wheel base this result is amazing. With i-flow, Hyundai is bringing a new quality and set up a new hard to reach standards in the European D-segment. The width of the car is 1.85 meters and height is 1.42 meters.

The engine of this sporty sedan is a diesel electric hybrid. The U2 1.7 liter oil burner is packed with two stage turbocharger and Hyundai lithium ion-polymer battery. Transmission is a dual-clutch with 6 speed gear. The CO2 output is only 85g/km and the fuel consumption is 1 liter on 33.3 km.

My overall impression is that Hyundai just made a quantum leap in the automotive technology. The competition will need to work hard night and day to get near where Hyundai is now. We do not need to be automotive experts or prophets to see the new bright future for the Hyundai Motor Corporation. The whole article seams to be completely purposeless because the Hyundai i-flow photos say all.

For more info about Hyundai i-flow, diesel hybrid power train and BASF space age materials download the Hyundai i-flow press release.

2009 Honda Insight – Attack of the clones?

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:59:14 +0000

Is it Prius…? Is it Insight…?
Is it some updated model of Toyota Prius or is it the brand new Honda Insight? Is this Toyota Prius brought by the competition at the Insight presentation?

The presentation of the new Honda Insight, start with these questions in my mind. Probably if you like to fight with a gunman you must bring a gun to the fight. That was the philosophy of the Honda engineers while they were designing Insight.

Insight is a hybrid* car with a modern design similar to Prius. A long time Honda was hiding the name of the new hybrid and then they just brought the same name of their first hybrid – Insight. The first Insight was hybrid car produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback.

Honda Insight will be cheaper than Prius and the promise for the base price was around $19.000, but now Honda Insight price tag for the entry model is $20.510. This was possible with achieving a cost reduction in the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist).

The gasoline 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 98 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), placed at the front of the vehicle, will be the main source of power. The lightweight, ultra-thin electric motor between the engine and transmission with 10 kilowatts (13 horsepower) will assist during start up, passing, acceleration and in other situations when extra power will be needed. The flat nickel metal hydride battery pack/block and control unit will be placed at the rear end beneath cargo space.

A happy owner of 2007 Toyota Prius can get 46 mpg on average and Honda Insight is rated at 43 mph. That is 30 mpg less than the old 2005 Honda Insight which was capable for almost 70 mpg. We must be fair to the new Insight which is not two seats car like old one but full size five-door hatchback.

Compared to Toyota Prius, Honda Insight is smaller 2,5 inches, with a noticeable smaller space for the rear passengers. It offers more agile drive which will be a reason plus for the clients under 35. Price comparison show that base model of Honda Insight LX ($20,510) is $2.640 cheaper than Prius II ($23,150). With a gas price around $3 this means that if you choose Honda Insight the first 15580 miles are on the house.

With a price comparison of the more expensive model like Insight EX ($22,010) and Prius II the savings is still on the side of Honda Insight with a $1,140.

It is clearly that in this battle of the Hybrid wars, the Honda Insight is a clear winner. But the other car producers are not sitting on their hands. We have announcements for more hybrid vehicles coming in the next few years.

Below are the photos of 2010 Honda Insight USA version, showing some minor differences on the front grille and the fog lights. There is also an undrestadable difference at the back, where the US-size license plate is located.

*A hybrid car or hybrid vehicle is a car/vehicle that uses two or more different power sources to move the vehicle. The term hybrid car most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), which combine a gasoline engine and one or more electric motors.

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Hyundai i-flow Concept Diesel Hybrid Sports Cars

2009 Honda Insight – Attack of the clones?