Honda hybrids
The hybrid race heats up with reports that Honda will launch a hybrid version of its Fit hatchback in the second half of 2010. If that schedule holds true, the car will hit the market a full year and a half early. With the CR-Z Hybrid launch about the same time, Honda will have a full-range of sub-compact hybrids.
A car lot in Beijing, China. (Associated Press)
China's standards
China is boosting its version of the U.S. federal fuel economy standard to require passenger vehicles to achieve a fleetwide average of 42.2 mpg by 2015. That's almost 19 percent more than the 35.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy by 2016 that President Barack Obama announced.
--Wheelbase Communications
2 Comments
By disappointed on July 15, 2009 8:34 AM
The 1987 Honda CRX that I owned decades ago got 60 mpg every day of the week, even with over 100,000 miles on the clock. That was normal fuel mileage for that model. I struggle to understand why over 20 years later we're barely able to get 50 mpg out of compact hybrids.
By regulations on July 16, 2009 5:27 PM
It's called weight. Emissions, safety, regulations, etc. have led to cars being a lot heavier over the years as well as standard features being more than they once were. Weight has a huge play into gas mileage. It looks like a CRX HF is about 600 lbs. less than the current Civics; that makes a big difference in gas mileage. Imagine the difference of 4 adults in your CRX HF than just by yourself...