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Honda's Insight Hybrid to Pace NESEA American Tour De Sol 2000

4 May 2000

Honda's Insight Hybrid to Pace NESEA American Tour De Sol 2000 HONDA INSIGHT GASOLINE-ELECTRIC HYBRID VEHICLE American Honda today released the first pictures of its 2000 Honda Insight gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. Slated to reach Honda dealerships across the U.S. this December, the Insight is an ultra-low emissions vehicle that will travel more than 600 miles on a single tank of gasoline. Featuring an ultra-efficient powertrain, super-aerodynamic body and advanced safety design, the 2000 Honda Insight will earn an EPA combined city/highway rate of more than 70 miles per gallon and is destined to be the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S. (PRNewsFoto)[DM] TORRANCE, CA USA 09/06/1999    

    TORRANCE, Calif., May 4 America's first gasoline-electric
hybrid vehicle, the Honda Insight, is the official pace car for this year's
NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) American Tour de Sol road
rally.  The rally pits the country's cleanest-running, most fuel-efficient
cars, trucks and buses in a 250-mile event from New York City to Washington,
D.C. during Clean Air Week, May 12-18.
    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990906/HMCINSIGHT1 )
    "The Honda Insight represents a superb application of advanced
environmental technologies for everyday driving and we are happy to see it
lead the 2000 NESEA American Tour de Sol," said Nancy Hazard, associate
director of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association.  "With its
ultra-high fuel economy and ultra-low emissions, the Honda Insight helps to
conserve natural resources, reduce the impact on climate change and lower
smog-forming emissions."
    In addition to the Insight pace car, a dozen owner-driven Insights are
participating.  They will compete against a field of 50 alternative-fuel
vehicles including manufacturer-built prototypes and futuristic
student-designed concepts.
    "Insight buyers are enthusiastic about their cars and they have a
first-hand understanding of what it means to own a vehicle that epitomizes
advanced, affordable environmental technology," said Robert Bienenfeld,
manager of advanced environmental vehicles for American Honda.  "Some Insight
owners are coming from as far as California to support their cars'
earth-friendly technology and demonstrate their commitment to an event that
showcases environmental advancements."
    At 70 miles per gallon highway and 61 miles per gallon city, the Insight
has the world's best fuel economy for a mass-produced gasoline-powered
automobile.  Each Insight will use less than four gallons of fuel for the
entire 250-mile event.
    A Gold Sponsor of this year's NESEA Tour, Honda has a long-standing
commitment to bringing advanced environmental technology to market, beginning
with the launch of the 1974 Honda Civic -- the first vehicle to meet Clean Air
Act standards while running on regular gasoline.  Honda was also the first to
introduce vehicles meeting California's strict Low Emission Vehicle and Ultra
Low Emission Vehicle standards.  For the 2000 model year, 85 percent of Hondas
sold in the U.S. are equipped with advanced low-emission technology.
    The Insight, launched in December 1999, is certified as an Ultra Low
Emission Vehicle and includes 300 patent-pending features.  The Sierra Club
honored the Honda Insight with the first award for any product in its 108-year
history, for Excellence in Environmental Engineering.
    The Insight pace car will lead the 50-car field from New York City to
Washington, D.C., with special festivals in Trenton, N.J., Cecil County, Md.,
Annapolis, Md. and Washington.  At the three-day kick-off in New York City,
May 12-14, the teams will compete in a variety of qualifying events and be on
display for the public.  The finish-line ceremony will take place on May 18 on
the Mall in Washington, D.C.  (For more details, visit the NESEA Web site at
http://www.nesea.org ).
    Priced at less than $19,000, the Insight features Honda's Integrated Motor
Assist(TM) (IMA) system, which combines a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline
engine with an electric motor for improved efficiency.  The electric motor is
powered by a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery pack, which is charged by the
gasoline engine and by recapturing the vehicle's momentum during braking.  As
a result, the Insight does not require an outside source of electric power and
never needs to be plugged in.

    The NESEA American Tour de Sol is organized by the Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association, the nation's leading regional association involved in
promoting awareness, understanding and development of non-polluting, renewable
technologies.  Headquartered in Greenfield, Massachusetts, NESEA is
celebrating 25 years of working successfully in the fields of transportation,
building construction and renewable energy.