- Joined
- Aug 17, 2007
- Messages
- 433
The new Honda Insight premired this week a the Paris Auto Show:
(kind of looks like a 4 door CRX doesn't it)
Also the Civic is to get redesigned for 2010. Rumors have it that Honda will have a Civic Hybrid Type R! So is a Insight Type R coming in the forseeable future?
I have been around the block for a while and I see a couple of trends in autobiles within the last 50 years or so (NO I AINT THAT OLD). During the 1960 and early 70's there was a boom in the sports car industry. Sports cars were producing anywhere between 300 to 500whp, STOCK! Then something happened, in 1973 there was an oil crisis caused by OPEC that caused a shortage of oil and the price of gas to skyrocket.
Then after 1973 cars got smaller, and engines got less horsepower. More and more people started buying Japanese cars because they were smaller, cheaper, and more fuel effiecent then domestic models. Thus the import car era began. This lasted from about the mid 1970's until the mid 90's. During this time the import cars started losing its dominance in the industry the the Sports Utility Vehicle. Where in SUV's, engines started getting bigger and have more horsepower (now where have I seen this before...hmmm???). This trend in SUV's started spilling over into the sports car industry. Where as today we see a majority of sports car producing anywhere between 300 to 500whp, STOCK! (now where have I seen that before)
Then in 2003 OPEC, once again, jacked up the price of oil! (about the same time Bush invaded Iraq... coincidence???) OPEC claims this price hike on a number of things other than the turmoil on the Middel East. OPEC claims that they are losing profits to alternative fuel vehicles, which only take up a VERY small percentage of the market. OPEC also claims that they are running out of oil, all false. In fact, since 2003 OPEC has made more of a profit then it has in history!
But im getting carried away here (rant). The point I am trying to make is, why is it that right before there is a fuel crisis we see a jump in automobile performance. It peaks, like it did in the 70's, and then it plummets. Right now it is peeking, it is set due to plummet, around 2010. Which brings us back to Honda.
The new 2010 Civic, which is still on the planning stage, is set to have a 1.4L Hybrid engine ONLY, even on different trims. If you read right, it will have less horsepower than the K20's of today. The new Hybrid Civic Type R is rumored to have a 1.4L Hybrid that will produce 130-140whp. This goes along with Honda's philosophy of 100whp to 1L ratio that has served them well. As you can well understand 140whp in a car that weighs about 2,000lbs, while lightweight, does not produce big performance numbers. Also if we see a Hybrid Civic Type R, could we see a Insight Type R as well?
Well that's enough of my thoughts on the subject. Since everyone on this site seems like pretty astute people, I thought i would post up my thoughts on the subject. What do you think of the future of the Type R. In my opinion, it looks pretty grim!
(kind of looks like a 4 door CRX doesn't it)Also the Civic is to get redesigned for 2010. Rumors have it that Honda will have a Civic Hybrid Type R! So is a Insight Type R coming in the forseeable future?
I have been around the block for a while and I see a couple of trends in autobiles within the last 50 years or so (NO I AINT THAT OLD). During the 1960 and early 70's there was a boom in the sports car industry. Sports cars were producing anywhere between 300 to 500whp, STOCK! Then something happened, in 1973 there was an oil crisis caused by OPEC that caused a shortage of oil and the price of gas to skyrocket.
Then after 1973 cars got smaller, and engines got less horsepower. More and more people started buying Japanese cars because they were smaller, cheaper, and more fuel effiecent then domestic models. Thus the import car era began. This lasted from about the mid 1970's until the mid 90's. During this time the import cars started losing its dominance in the industry the the Sports Utility Vehicle. Where in SUV's, engines started getting bigger and have more horsepower (now where have I seen this before...hmmm???). This trend in SUV's started spilling over into the sports car industry. Where as today we see a majority of sports car producing anywhere between 300 to 500whp, STOCK! (now where have I seen that before)
Then in 2003 OPEC, once again, jacked up the price of oil! (about the same time Bush invaded Iraq... coincidence???) OPEC claims this price hike on a number of things other than the turmoil on the Middel East. OPEC claims that they are losing profits to alternative fuel vehicles, which only take up a VERY small percentage of the market. OPEC also claims that they are running out of oil, all false. In fact, since 2003 OPEC has made more of a profit then it has in history!
But im getting carried away here (rant). The point I am trying to make is, why is it that right before there is a fuel crisis we see a jump in automobile performance. It peaks, like it did in the 70's, and then it plummets. Right now it is peeking, it is set due to plummet, around 2010. Which brings us back to Honda.
The new 2010 Civic, which is still on the planning stage, is set to have a 1.4L Hybrid engine ONLY, even on different trims. If you read right, it will have less horsepower than the K20's of today. The new Hybrid Civic Type R is rumored to have a 1.4L Hybrid that will produce 130-140whp. This goes along with Honda's philosophy of 100whp to 1L ratio that has served them well. As you can well understand 140whp in a car that weighs about 2,000lbs, while lightweight, does not produce big performance numbers. Also if we see a Hybrid Civic Type R, could we see a Insight Type R as well?
Well that's enough of my thoughts on the subject. Since everyone on this site seems like pretty astute people, I thought i would post up my thoughts on the subject. What do you think of the future of the Type R. In my opinion, it looks pretty grim!
