2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Wins 'World Car of the Year Award' for Greenest Car

[tom]

New York April 13, 2006; The completely redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, the most economical and environmentally responsible gasoline-powered Civic ever, has won the World Car of the Year Award for greenest car, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. A jury of 46 international automotive journalists selected the 2006 Civic Hybrid, which achieves an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 49/51 miles per gallon, as the winner of the 2006 World Green Car.


"Honda continues to be a leader in producing environmentally responsible vehicles that set the standard for fuel economy and low emissions," said John Mendel, Senior Vice President, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The award-winning 2006 Civic Hybrid is the latest embodiment of Honda's long-term commitment to the development of environmentally friendly technologies that are also fun to drive."

Characterized by advanced new styling, Honda's all-new Civic Hybrid also offers the latest in safety technology, as well an array of standard features, such as multiple audio entertainment choices, that increase content and value.

Equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard equipment for 2006, the Civic Hybrid can now deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain steady-state cruising situations. Compared to the 2006 Civic Sedan with an automatic transmission, the Civic Hybrid provides a city fuel economy increase of approximately 63 percent and a highway fuel economy increase of 27 percent.

Standard features on all 2006 Civic Hybrids include:

Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) (ACE(TM)) Body Structure
1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine with 20 horsepower electric motor (combined 110-horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 123 lb-ft. torque @1000-2500 rpm)
New lighter, more powerful and efficient Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system with greatly enhanced energy regeneration capability and electric-only operation
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) as standard equipment
49/51 mpg city/highway*
AT-PZEV emission technology in all 50 states
Exclusive interior styling includes IMA instrument panel meters, two-tone seating surfaces and new blue interior option
Honda first introduced U.S. consumers to hybrid technology with the Insight in December 1999. It launched its second hybrid vehicle, the Civic Hybrid, in March 2002, followed by the first-ever V6-powered hybrid, the Accord Hybrid, in December 2004. Destination and handling charges for all 2006 Honda vehicles are $550.

[abraham]

Originally Posted by tom

New York April 13, 2006; The completely redesigned 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, the most economical and environmentally responsible gasoline-powered Civic ever, has won the World Car of the Year Award for greenest car, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. A jury of 46 international automotive journalists selected the 2006 Civic Hybrid, which achieves an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 49/51 miles per gallon, as the winner of the 2006 World Green Car.
"Honda continues to be a leader in producing environmentally responsible vehicles that set the standard for fuel economy and low emissions,"

with the harmful effects of global warming system Honda is taking the lead to demonstrate to the rest why environmental-friendly cars are in great demand. A Honda fan forever!

[d16man]

my question is this...If there are all these new hybrids and flex fuel vehicles out there..why isn't the price of gas dropping? There should be a lower demand for gas.

[FragSource]

Ehh...hybrids... yes they are less harmfull to the enviorment, and the price of gas isnt dropping because a main majority of car users still use non-hybrid(gas) cars, and plus driving season is coming up, thats why prices arent dropping...

[harleysneak]

Just to add to this, I was just doing some research and saw that the Honda Insight, a hybrid vehicle, has the best gas mileage of any vehicle out there. 60 mpg for city driving and 66 mpg for highway driving. Why aren't we all driving one of these? It seems like that would save us so much money on gas!

[ninikins]

Well, we can still do better and I am sure that Honda will do better at some point..after all it's still a hybrid, what we need is solar powered cars But erm..the government would lose out on taxes and stuff. I'm sure they'll find a way around that one though.

[harleysneak]

Yes, I'm sure the government can find their way around anything, they will do whatever they can to tax us. As far the cars, I'm sure what we'll be driving in 20 years will hardly be recognizable from today's standards.

[Whirling Dervish]

Actually, the gov't is offering tax breaks to people who purchase hybrids. A lot of state gov'ts are as well. There are also a lot of dealers who are offering higher prices on trade-ins to buy a hybrid. In most cases, this covers more than the amount the hybrid exceeds the price of a gas car.

Not only that, but I know you can't test drive a Prius in some places because they can't keep them in stock. People test them when the dealerships get an ordered model and call people to come and drive it before it gets delivered.

So it's catchign on.

[harleysneak]

That is good to know. I will have to keep that in mind and that puts buying a hybrid as an even bigger option for me, save money on the price of a car and on gas, that's the best way to go.

[Whirling Dervish]

As far as solar powered cars, keep your eyes on the solar car races sponsored every year or two by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It's a cross country road rally comprised mostly of university physics departments, I believe; compare the changes year to year.

I would tell you about it all but I haven't checked in a long time (slaps own wrist). Bad girl.