UNCOMMON `INSIGHT'; HONDA TOUTS ULTRA-EFFICIENT COUPE.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Honda Motor Co. said Tuesday that its entry into the low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicle race will get an estimated 80 miles per gallon Noun 1. miles per gallon - the distance traveled in a vehicle powered by one gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel unit, unit of measurement - any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange; "the dollar is the United States unit of when it goes on sale later this year. Japan's third-largest automaker said the aerodynamic two-seat coupe, unveiled in prototype form earlier this year at the Detroit auto show An auto show, or motor show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is commonly attended by automobile manufacturers. Most auto shows occur once or twice a year. , will be called ``Insight'' and will be the world's most fuel-efficient, gasoline-powered, mass-production vehicle. The Insight uses a lightweight, 1-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine gasoline engine: see internal-combustion engine. gasoline engine Most widely used form of internal-combustion engine, found in most automobiles and many other vehicles. assisted by a small electric motor. The highly efficient ``hybrid'' powertrain, combined with the addition of lightweight plastic and aluminum body panels, results in the high mileage Track listing
According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. preliminary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and estimates released by Honda, the car will get more than 70 mpg in combined city and highway driving and close to 80 mpg on the highway. Rival Toyota Motor Corp. was the first to sell a hybrid gasoline-electric car in Japan, the Prius, in 1997. It will go on sale in the United States and Europe next year. Honda plans to beat Toyota to the U.S. market by placing the Insight on sale nationwide in December. The car will go on sale in Japan in the fall, in Europe in December and in Canada next spring. The cars operate differently. While the Prius shifts between gasoline engine and electric motor, the Insight always uses the engine as its primary power source. The electric motor is used instead to boost the engine's power during hard acceleration, said spokesman Andy Boyd. An advantage of the Insight system is its battery is half the size of the Prius battery, which results in significant weight savings, Boyd said. Toyota's Prius also uses a conventional steel body, while the Insight makes extensive use of aluminum and plastic. Honda said that resulted in a 40 percent weight savings over a conventional steel body. Honda also said it has developed a new catalytic converter that will make vehicle emissions 50 percent cleaner than required by Japanese regulations slated for next year. Initial sales of the Insight are expected to be modest. At the Detroit show in January, an American Honda executive said the company expected U.S. sales to be fewer than 5,000 a year. Honda said the Insight will be priced below $20,000 in the United States, and will include anti-lock brakes, electric power steering Electric power steering (EPS or EPAS) is designed to use an electric motor to reduce effort by providing assist to the driver of a vehicle. Most EPS systems have variable assist, which allows for more assistance as the speed of a vehicle decreases and less assistance , dual air bags and an anti-theft system. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) HONDA INSIGHT |
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