Honda Civic Hybrid Greenlighted for the Philippines?

[niky]

Just to put this out in the open, guys. Please don't merge this with the other Civic thread, I think the Hybrid might deserve its own...

The other week, Honda was releasing flyers/teasers for the upcoming 2006 Civic at the Autofocus show. Included were specifications for the upcoming 1.8, 2.0 and 1.3 Hybrid Civic. Though there is a disclaimer at the bottom stating that specs are not final, the flyers were labelled for "reservation purposes".

I'm not sure if Honda is committed 100% to bringing in the Civic Hybrid, but considering that its current US price comes to about 1.1 million (compared to 850-950k for the LX) and it will probably be CBU, it may never be more than a niche car.

What do you guys think, serious, or not? Anyone have an inside line on Honda? Share!

[ghosthunter]

I think honda's hybrid car ads is their counter-attack to toyota's ads about the Prius.

[gearspeed]

Wow thats good news sayang hindi ko napanood ang autofocus..Sana pwede test drive..

[squala]

One who's gunning for an economical car also wants to get it cheap of course. Buyers who are after fuel savings will certainly not feel the economy benefits of the Civic hybrid if it will be priced near an Accord. Those who can afford it might as well settle for the bigger Honda. Besides, if they can afford the car, they can satisfy its lusty thirst.

Hybrid automakers are still finding ways to cut costs in producing this kind of cars.

[AG4]

being a CBU from Japan plus the importation tax... the Civic Hybrid will obviously cost more than P1.1M...
I guess if people wanted better fuel economy... they'd go for a City 1.3 or 1.5 VTEC.

[ghosthunter]

I guess the answer of the hybrid car is to the public question of who can make a relatively big sedan with the running cost of a small car.

[niky]

Yan nga siguro... After calculating the price difference of the Civic 1.3 IMA and the Prius versus the 1.3/1.5 City and inputting the difference in everyday fuel economy, it's hard to make a good case for the hybrids.

Especially since anyone with half-a-brain (I've seen this!) can get over 50mpg out of a City on an economy run in traffic, while some people are getting 70mpg on the highway. (Paul Tiglo's legendary 60 km/l - 140mpg run was probably a freak occurence that may or may not be repeatable).

But much as I dislike hybrids from a pesos and centavos point of view, it would be undeniably cool if they brought them in.

I think Honda should have started with the Accord Hybrid. Charge 2 million, but make it look special, different. That's the one problem the Accord hybrid has in the US... it just doesn't stand out. Which is a shame, as it's relatively fuel efficient for a big car, is very very fast, and it's roomy.

[ghosthunter]

do that some hybrids aren't designed to save fuel, some are designed primarily to add performance. Nissan's hybrid sedan is an example.

[niky]

As are the Accord Hybrid... and the Eclipse Concept.

It would be nice to have at least some hybrid tech on regular cars... not the heavy batteries, but cylinder deactivation... on cheaper engines, I mean... with balancing shafts, it's possible that we could run 4 cylinders nowadays as 3 or 2 cylinders during low load conditions to save gas. And Honda's integrated thin starter motor/regenerator/assist motor would be a nice power adder to any car.

Also, electric airconditioning. If they can perfect this, I'd gladly convert my car's AC! (More power!)

[zildjian]

hybrids may not be attractive for now but analyst are saying that it will be on the rise if oil crisis continues. imagine nga naman kung hindi ka na makakabili ng gaso dahil nirarasyon na at sa sobrang mahal din. well matagal pa naman yata yan so hybrid and alternative fuel running vehicles will be the future.

[ale828]

I heard people in Honda saying that they are waiting to get Tax breaks for the Hybrid before they release it. I am guessing Toyota is doing the same. Someone did tell me there was a bill or presidential decree or something thats lying in wait that would reduce the taxes of hybrid cars.

[manager]

Unless honda is assembling it here. the government has put a zero tariff on parts for assembly of hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles. so it just might be not as expensive as the accord

[squala]

Zero tariff? In this country? You can't be serious.

Anyway, probably what made the Accord hybrid not stand out is the fact that it had an even goofier rear than the one we have, plus plate-style wheels. Blech!

[manager]

Zero tariff? In this country? You can't be serious.

i kid you not

Parts of hybrid-fuel vehicles get zero tariffs
Jan. 21, 2006

Abigail L. Ho
Inquirer

BOOSTING efforts to promote use of alternative transport fuels, Malacañang has issued an order cutting down to zero the tariff on imported components, parts and accessories to be used in assembling motor vehicles that will run on alternative fuels, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said.

Signed on Jan. 12, Executive Order 488 brings the tariff down from one to three percent the tariff on components, parts and accessories of vehicles that will run on such fuels as bio-diesel, bio-ethanol, compressed natural gas, and electricity, he said.

Lotilla said the order should further encourage automakers to produce hybrid, flex-fuel, electric and CNG-fed vehicles.

It should accelerate the integration of alternative fuels into the mainstream fuel market, he said.

Ford earlier announced a plan to invest $20 million in a plant that will produce "flex-fuel" or alternative-fuel vehicles in the Philippines, which would be its first such factory in Asia.

Lotilla said, "We hope other vehicle manufacturers will follow Ford's lead. Demand projections clearly point to increased utilization of alternative transportation fuels in the 21st century. They need to seize this opportunity if they want to survive."

Pending the issuance of a bio-fuels law, the Department of Energy believes that the executive order will play a significant role in encouraging use of alternative transport fuels, Lotilla said.

The government sees widespread use of indigenous alternative fuels as a key element in its energy independence strategy, particularly with the current uncertainty in the international oil market.

Apart from cutting dependence on imported oil, Lotilla said, use of alternative fuels will also improve air quality as well as promote investment and employment opportunities in the agricultural sector.

[EuroFD]

If Honda won't develop an economical yet powerful diesel engine for the Civic, then they should speed up the importation of the Hybrid. This is good competition for the Toyota Prius, Hybrid-Camry and Focus-Diesel.

[kyle618]

the first thing id replace in a civic hybrid are the rims.... ugly ass rims. with maybe a bodykit and some nice 19s that'll be one sweet green economical car haha.

[niky]

If Honda won't develop an economical yet powerful diesel engine for the Civic, then they should speed up the importation of the Hybrid. This is good competition for the Toyota Prius, Hybrid-Camry and Focus-Diesel.

The problem is... they do have a good diesel... the European 2.2 TDi. They just won't bring it in due to cost considerations. All the other manufacturers are willing to wait and let Ford and Hyundai test the waters (Focus 2.0 Diesel, Elantra 1.6 Diesel) before taking the plunge. The pricing for diesel sedans puts them square in the sights of diesel MPVs and CUVs, which limits their market share terribly.

[niky]

It's official that there's zero tariff on hybrid parts. So if you make the car here, less taxes.

Siguro if Honda assembles the IMA portion of the car here? Are their local facilities up to it, kaya? Ford is already taking advantage of that tax break to assemble multi-fuel engines here (gas-ethanol hybrids).