Green Options » Hybrid Synergy Drive

Do Cars Really Need to Look Like UFOs to Save Gas?

Nick Chambers — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:47:12 +0000

With the world focused on fuel economy, advanced car design seems to be converging around one point in space. And I do mean, literally, a point in space — a point sometimes seen flying over Roswell, or crashing in the Bermuda triangle.

Regardless of what you think about this type of design, it begs the question: do cars need to look like alien spacecraft to get decent fuel economy?

It’s True: Honda Has Prius Clone — Designers Lack Creativity

Nick Chambers — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:19:31 +0000

Last month I reported on some Car & Driver spy photos that indicated Honda would be building a hybrid-only car that looked almost exactly like the Prius. Today, Honda confirmed that those spy photos were genuine — and that their designers don’t have any creativity.

Late to the High Gas Price Party: Honda Building Prius Clone

Nick Chambers — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:36:54 +0000

Car and Driver has reported on an upcoming as-yet-unnamed Honda hybrid electric vehicle aimed squarely at unseating Toyota as the undisputed king of hybrids.

Although we can’t reproduce the photos here due to copyright issues, suffice it to say that the Honda test model looks almost exactly like a Prius. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — but in this case Honda appears to have crossed the line to outright copycat.

With the exception of the headlight and taillight shapes, the Honda is a carbon copy.

I mean really, I’d expect the Honda designers to have a bit more creativity.

Check out the original Car and Driver article and pictures.

Toyota Prius to Get Solar Power

Nick Chambers — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:29:27 +0000

Toyota’s next generation Prius, due out as early as next spring, will be outfitted with solar panels to help run the on-board electronics, according to a report from the Nikkei newspaper.