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Old 04-20-2007, 01:00 PM
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Arrow Hybrid with style in Honda Civic IMA


Hybrid with style in Honda Civic IMA

In a world that's becoming increasingly greener, there is growing awareness of the contribution that hybrid cars can make towards preserving our planet. For the Irish market, Toyota was the first serious hybrid entrant, with the Prius. Now Honda is pushing its offer in front of Irish car buyers in the shape of the Civic IMA. Michael Moroney looks at how the Honda offering compares

Honda's Civic IMA gives better than diesel economy running costs but at the higher price of ?32,069 before delivery charges, is it too much for Honda to ask? UK users report high servicing costs.

In the US and Japan, Honda and Toyota are battling it out for the hearts, minds and cash of the growing green car-buying lobby. Even green lobbyists know that it's difficult to operate without transport, so if you want to do something more than talk about the environment, there is a motoring option or two open to you.

Honda and Toyota have provided the answers in the shape of modern design hybrid cars. The Irish government has also responded to the arrival of hybrids by offering a 50 per cent Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) rebate on hybrids. That has gone some of the way towards making them affordable.

But hybrids need to have wider appeal to bring about a useful environmental impact. That appeal is governed by their looks, performance and price. And that's where the new Honda Civic IMA finds its niche.

If you're thinking about buying a hybrid car then you need to look closely at both the Honda Civic IMA and the Toyota Prius. The newer Civic IMA hybrid leads in terms of strict engine performance. The 1.3 litre Honda engine and 10kW electrical system produces a total of 115bhp, while the 1.5 litre petrol/electric Prius reaches just 76bhp. And the Honda system also develops more torque and can achieve a higher forward speed. God forbid that an environmentally friendly hybrid driver would aim to top the 160km/hr (100mph) mark!

The Prius scores higher in terms of acceleration and economy. It's over half a second faster in acceleration terms; 11.5 seconds versus 12.1 seconds for the Civic IMA in a 0 to 100km/hr race.

More importantly, for those seeking to do their bit to save the planet, the Prius is more economical than the Civic IMA. That's even though the Civic IAM is rated as very clean with a CO2 output level of just109 g/km.

At the heart of the Civic IMA is the new Honda Hybrid System which comprises of a new 1.3-litre 3-stage i-VTEC engine plus Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). The new Honda Hybrid System uses intelligent engine functions.

This new IMA system is claimed to give the performance of a 1.8-litre engine while improving fuel economy, reducing the system size by five per cent and achieving very low levels of exhaust emissions.

The 3-stage i-VTEC engine utilizes three hydraulic pathways to couple and uncouple five-rocker-arm assemblies, providing three stages of valve control depending on the driving conditions, to achieve a combination of responsive driving and fuel economy. During deceleration, when the cylinders are idle, combustion in all four cylinders is halted and the cylinders sealed shut, reducing pumping losses caused by engine aspiration for a ten per cent improvement in recovery of braking energy. Virtually everything possible has been done to reduce friction, including the use of aluminium die-cast pistons.

Honda's electric motor system uses coils with high-density windings and high-performance magnets to achieve high output. The inverter used to control motor speed is integrated with the motor's ECU for more precise digital control. This is claimed to contribute to even greater motor efficiency and fuel economy.

Battery output has been increased by around 30 per cent over the previous model. Honda claims that the more compact, custom-designed battery storage box offers increased cooling performance and vibration resistance for long-term reliability.

Honda claims that the regenerative braking system is engaged hydraulically to permit maximum braking regeneration along with smooth deceleration that conforms to brake-pedal pressure. The car's air conditioner unit features a hybrid compressor that is powered by both the engine and the motor. When the engine is in Idle Stop mode the compressor is powered by the motor; if rapid cooling is required it is powered by the engine and motor combined. When the temperature is stable, it runs off the motor alone, for both improved comfort and fuel savings.

The performance of the Prius and Civic hybrids is rather similar and for me the main plus of the Civic IMA is its styling even though it's based on the US and Japanese style Civic saloon. Honda's stylists have ensured that the appeal of the car matches the tastes of a modern audience. The exterior has a distinctive and modern look. That futuristic style is continued inside to give a car that looks and feels good to drive. The hybrid statement in this car is subtle. It's where it counts, under the bonnet.

The Civic IMA appearance is not that different from the petrol or diesel engine car. The buy-in price is a lot higher at ?32,069 before delivery charges. That's almost ?6,000 more than the base 1.8 litre petrol powered car in the new Civic range, which is a shade more modern and stylish.

The Honda hybrid price is more expensive than that of the Toyota Prius, when enters at ?30,090 before delivery charges. That price difference makes the Honda Civic IMA a hard sell over the more established Prius. They are both distinctive cars - in terms of cleaner motoring - and the Civic IMA is the more subtle take on the hybrid theme.

Source: [url=http://www.galwayindependent.com/motoring/11390.html]Galway Independent[/url]
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