Honda Insight Hybrid Earns EPA's Highest Mileage Rating Ever
4 October 1999
Honda Insight Hybrid Earns EPA's Highest Mileage Rating Ever; Does Even Better In Highway Competition DETROIT, Oct. 1 -- The Honda Insight, the first gasoline-
electric hybrid powered car to be sold in the U.S., received the highest
mileage ratings ever from the Environmental Protection Agency in its annual
listing of automotive fuel efficiency released today.
The Insight, which goes on sale in December, earned an EPA city rating of
61 miles per gallon and highway rating of 70 mpg, outdistancing several
diesel-powered models by more than 20 miles per gallon. In addition to its
outstanding mileage rating, the Insight also meets California's stringent
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle standard.
In a competition completed today and sponsored by American Honda Motor
Co., Inc., reporters from several publications drove pre-production versions
of the Insight and topped even the EPA's impressive mileage ratings.
Reporters first drove four laps around the 7.5-mile oval at the Transportation
Research Center near Columbus, Ohio; and then drove the Insight on public
roads from Columbus to Detroit, a distance of nearly 200 miles.
Points were awarded evenly for miles per gallon and miles per hour in
hopes of obtaining a realistic driving experience. The drive included some
stop-and-go urban traffic, but was conducted primarily on U.S. Highway 23 and
I-75 between Columbus and Detroit.
The team from Car and Driver magazine, using "special tactics," averaged
121.7 miles per gallon and nearly 58 miles per hour during the highway
portion of the test, and 101.9 miles per gallon on the track test to win the
competition. Car and Driver used a specially altered SUV to serve as an
aerodynamic wind break for the Insight.
Other teams used more conventional drafting techniques to maximize mileage
whenever possible on the drive to Detroit. Second place Popular Mechanics
magazine averaged 83.4 miles per gallon on the highway at 59 miles per hour,
with a track average of 102.2 miles per gallon. The team from Ward's
AutoWorld recorded the best track average of 105.9 miles per gallon and the
highest highway average speed of 61 miles per hour, while averaging 73 miles
per gallon.
Honda will present a check for $5,000 to the charity of Car and Driver's
choice as the overall winner. Honda also decided to present a $5,000 check
to a charity on behalf of Popular Mechanics as "first in class."
The Insight features Honda's innovative Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)
system, combining a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine with electric motor
assist for improved efficiency. The electric motor is powered by a nickel-
metal hydride battery pack. The IMA system automatically recharges the
battery pack, using energy generated during braking. As a result, the Insight
does not require an outside source of electric power and never needs to be
plugged in.
A two-seat coupe, the Insight has an aluminum body which is about 40
percent lighter than a comparably-sized steel body. Total weight for the
vehicle is just 1,887 pounds. The design also provides outstanding safety,
meeting all current U.S., European and Japanese standards; and 2003 safety
standards for side impact and head-injury protection.
Advanced aerodynamic design gives the Insight a coefficient of drag of
just 0.25, making it one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in the world.
The Insight boasts a comprehensive list of comfort, convenience and safety
features including variable assist electric power steering, ABS brakes, power
windows, mirrors and door locks, AM/FM stereo-cassette player, an Immobilizer
theft-deterrent system, remote keyless entry, electronic instrument display
and available automatic air conditioning. It is expected to sell for less
than $20,000 at Honda automobile dealers across the U.S.
