Honda want to focus on their cheapest hybrid car below 100k. So yeah I guess the new 2012 insight we are getting should be only 2 front airbags.

Was told by Honda SA. they won't be bringing in1.5 insight anytime soon. I'm assuming they don't want to kill the crz market. Now 1.3 insight Is RM99.800 and crz is rm115.00. So how much should they put for 1.5 insight if they really bring in?

Not to mentioned Jazz Hybrid as well

Do not think of it as pure energy conversion. You are thinking along the line of converting petrol to motion to electric (battery) and wonder how you get a net gain as physics dictate loss of energy in conversion. Instead think of it as recycling motion to electric which would be wasted on a normal petrol engine as heat. So even if there is a lost in the conversion, it is still recycled and you are getting something instead of nothing. Yes, there is the additional weight of the battery/electrical motor components but I'm pretty sure the car companies have done their R&D over the years to calculate a positive yield. Afterall this is no longer the first generation hybrid.

The equation would be additional energy required to propel hybrid tech (motor and battery) offset by the positive energy recycled from braking motion and it must be a nett gain.

This post has been edited by sleepwalker: Feb 24 2012, 09:53 AM

But does Honda Japan still make 2 airbag insight?? I don not believe the volume from Malaysia is large enough that Honda Malaysia can custom the specification.

Hondas made for the export market is different from Hondas made for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). They have separate specification for Asian and European markets. Therefore irrespective of volume, I doubt that Honda Malaysia will not be able to custom fit the spec too much unless it is CKD and assembled in Malaysia and replaced with local parts and specs.

This post has been edited by sleepwalker: Feb 24 2012, 09:58 AM

SA told, there will be no 1.5cc version as CR-Z already 1.5cc... just FL version only..

As for 1.3 insight version. If I recall correctly when visited honda.co.jp website. They have 3 versions with different specs and our insight been exported to Malaysia is a different specs from the 3 versions they have.

Not only without assist, sometimes it went into force-charging mode (as the battery deplete further during climb). Still it can climb. I really respect the ICE engine.
Looking at it, Honda came long way and throw in all their technology to make this engine efficient but powerful enough at the same time. Its got I-Vtec, IDsI, IMA, and could match the FC of other so-called full hybrid system.

Insight match the overall power of my old Altis 1.8.
Prius kinda selectable but not as high as 2.3-2.4 for sure. ECO mode felt like lowly 1.5, Power mode, can say feels like 2.0.
Prius C - never drive yet.

The only factor to compare both car is price (almost similar). The real product though, Prius C disappointing, especially the dashboard.

I'm still imagining Insight 2012 comes with 7 airbags and they recall us to fit another 5 for free

Interesting discussion.

Your first suggestion to just equip a 1.5L car with start stop, makes sense. But with current tech, it still not comfortably possible for bigger engine. This is because, in order to seamlessly restart the engine, it needs bigger motor & bigger current, bigger battery. Hence, Honda thought why not the same starter motor assist the car while coasting (which IMA did). One more thing, a lot, i mean really a lot of energy wasted on a car coasting to stop. These bigger electrical system and battery can store some of those energy.
While Prius, even though equipped with entirely different & advance system, base on your facts on energy loss while converting, still only record comparable FC to Insight. The advantage is, because it have even bigger electrical system, it can use the electric motor only to move the car. So FC saving on Prius is immediate, no need to have a certain range like Insight to get good FC. Conclusion, if your daily travel involves shorter range, less than 5-10 km, lots of stops, choose Prius. If your journey always longer (beyond 10km), Insight can always match Prius FC.

2nd question, i would say the most efficient speed for Insight is as fast as we can before wind drag.
Actually too many variable. Depending on the gradient, load of the car, temperature. Yes 40-50km/h drive record the best FC. The ICE and electrical system both operating under ideal mode, have enough time to burnt every drops of fuel while the battery gets a steady current/charge. When we drives faster, say 80-90km/h, electrical system/battery couldn't store all the excess energy due to higher current/regulation (so some convert to heat), hence can't match the 40km/h record. Above 90km/h, wind drag takes over and we will only get increase FC as the speed increase.

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Added on February 24, 2012, 2:51 pmMy eyes or the 2012 Insight use all blue headlight reflector?
http://www.mudah.my/Honda+Insight+Hybrid+N...12-13842770.htm

This post has been edited by watonk: Feb 24 2012, 02:51 PM

The petrol engine is not running purposely to charge the battery.
Get the idea wrong already.

It is about utilising unused/waste engine power to charge the battery, especially driving slow and idle time, whereby engine still running non-stop (which is wasted in ordinary car).
Hybrid is about saving those energy and store in battery, even though there is wastage in term of power conversion, it is miles better than total loss in ordinary car.

That's if driving in power mode, and speeding at high rpm, the hyrbid car may be performing (in term of FC) as same as ordinary car.

It is about saving energy that here and there (idle, regen braking, under utilise the engine time), that give you the better FC.

also, one aspect of the hybrid car that people often forget, most energy are used/wasted during acceleration, which is now assisted by a motor or done by a motor in the prius.. Electric motors have max torque at 0rpm, which makes it much more efficient.

Tried running my insight on the new SM0W-20 engine oil which is specifically catered for hybrid car...
can feel better engine power and more responsive acceleration which is even better compared to the SL5W-40 which I have used during my previous car service
Haven't tried monitoring the FC yet on light-foot mode..

I have a question on the Insight's battery and am not sure if you guys having the same experience.

My wife's insight is almost a year now it has been a very nice car with decent fuel efficiency and good power too.

However, i notice lately that the battery charge status while driving has been not stable. ie. it can be full charge but the next few minutes can be empty, and then full charge again.... on and on. It seems to be usage of battery is very fast and then full charge again. It is on normal town driving with no jam. This worries me if the battery is showing sign of "kong" already.

anyone with this experience????? I am going to get the car 10k service in a week or two and see what the sales advisor say.

it should be normal... Insight battery not very big in MAH around 800mah... so the cycle is pretty quick but IMA system should stop assisting when reach 20% it is a safety to prevent over discharge

for those who requested close up photos of the "Hybrid Intelligent Sports" emblem, here you go





still dont have spare time to stick it yet

This post has been edited by chizzu: Feb 25 2012, 02:17 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I am worry as the battery drained and recharged in full very fast, say s-3 times within 30 minutes of normal driving without jam. I do understand if it is in traffic jam. It goes like that only since about a month ago.

there is no convert petrol to battery mode in insight or prius. both are not a series hybrid which has it's own merits below.



This post has been edited by ar188: Feb 25 2012, 08:45 AM

My handphone has 2450 mAh.

The number u quoted is not correct.

This post has been edited by turbocharged: Feb 25 2012, 06:06 PM

http://www.hybridcenter.org/

Went here to read up on the hybrid technology...


Btw, bmw is using IMA like technology also, seems like the IMA way is getting some real muscle behind it

nice one..where u got it ya?
ideal place to stick it?

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Added on February 25, 2012, 9:51 pmwei how is ur 3m? loving it..haha..just wash and polish my car..Lotsa work being black..but very satisfied! looks great!
any idea if paint coating like sierra glow can be done in perak?
I know only in kl so far..thx guys!

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Added on February 25, 2012, 9:53 pmmy current fc for 100% town use..16.4km/l
is that good haha? don know what is the standard haha...

This post has been edited by brandonseet: Feb 25 2012, 09:53 PM

lol. i got it from Japan to complete my mugen kit. Instruction to stick it on car is on the first pic (tho it is in japanese)