I was also nervous – after peeking inside many Toyota Prius models parked on my block, how would I operate that funny looking shifter-thing? Luckily, Insight (or, at least this model) had your average, run of the mill shift stick – Park, Neutral, Drive, etc.

I got in, set my radio to HOT97.1 (New York’s Home for Hip-Hop and R&B), and took off. Here’s what I thought:

Pros: The 2011 Honda Insight offered a very smooth ride, even over pot holes littering Williamsburg and Greenpoint streets. I was also shocked at its acceleration, believing a stereotype that hybrids were not known for speed. This was tested during a close call with traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge. Side note: Insight’s horn is decently loud.

My happiest reflection is on Insight’s cargo room. That was why I needed a Zipcar to begin with. Dropping rear seating forward, I loaded 6 very large (and heavy) boxes full of the ex’s junk, without obscuring my rear view. Note, these were being sent to a friend’s apartment, and not dumped into the East River.

Cons: Ok, here’s where I get a little cranky. I enjoyed my Insight experience overall, but two glaring annoyances stick out:

One – GIANT Blind Spots. I understand it’s a scientifically proven aerodynamic design, but looking out the rear was horrifying. In a place where parallel parking skills should be implanted at birth, huge plastic chunks blocking one’s back-up view can be disastrous. I have heard some of these issues were addressed on the 2012 Honda Insight Hybrid.

My other complaint focuses on an unfamiliarity with hybrid vehicles, specifically start/stop technology. At every traffic light (of which there are many between North Brooklyn and Midtown Manhattan) I felt like Insight was stalling. In the future, I’m sure drivers will be comfortable with this. But as a new person to hybrids, it weirds me out.

If you are in the market for a pre-owned hybrid car, I would suggest Insight. Pros far outweigh cons, and these vehicles (even new) are quite affordable.

2011 Insight Specs/Pricing:
40 / 43 MPG
Sedan, Hybrid
MSRP: $18,200

2012 Insight Specs/Pricing:
41 / 44 MPG
Sedan, Hybrid
MSRP: $18,350

Callum W. is a freelance blogger and writer. He contributes to many online periodicals, ranging in topics, and submits regularly to our sister-site: automopedia.org.

They just don’t make ‘em like they did 30 – 40 years ago. The Japanese auto maker reminded fans of this fact, showing off a 1975 Honda Civic 3-Door at the 2011 SEMA Auto Parts Enhancement Show:

To make up for this generation’s Civic, Honda invited tuners to come and “re-do” the 2012 variant. Here are two of the best additions (in our opinion) seen at SEMA:

Bisimoto Civic Si
The Bisimoto Civic Si (pictured at the top of this post) has one flashy “race-inspired bright blue paint scheme” along with (get ready) 1,004-horsepower turbocharged factory-based K2427 four-cylinder engine. Yikes!

Bisimoto Civic is front-wheel-drive, and enhanced with steel rods, Turbonetic turbocharger, upgraded injectors and camshafts, along with Portflow headers. Falken 18-inch tires wrap around Eins Gramm alloy wheels.

Tjin Edition Civic Si

Designed as a “livable daily driver with an added dose of style,” Tjin Edition Civic features a custom wrap by Daley Visual and Wraptivo. Its front grille, roof, rear wing and diffuser are made of carbon fibers. Purple 19-inch alloy wheels by Rotiform BLQ are used down below. Inside, black leather seats with contrasting purple diamond stitch are added. There’s a set of Recaro child seats included, appealing to the “family-friendly attitude” of this design.

Sources: LeftLaneNews | CNET

What’s the other “Most American” car on the list? Toyota Camry. So, how do two Japanese automobiles become more American than Americans?

The list, compiled for automotive aficionados at Cars.com is part of their annual American-Made Index – ranking the most-American vehicles. Each is based on the percentage of their parts made domestically, where they are assembled and how many are sold to US customers.

Toyota’s Camry and the all new 2011 Honda Accord both are made with 80% of their parts coming from US manufacturers. Most are assembled in the US – Camry in Georgetown, KY., and Accord in Lafayette, Ind.

“In today’s global economy, there’s not an easy way to determine just how American a car is,” said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com editor in chief. “Most cars built in the U.S., for example, are assembled using at least some parts that come from somewhere else. Additionally, many U.S. automakers assemble vehicles in Canada and Mexico, while foreign automakers have opened plants on U.S. soil. Our index is another resource that car buyers can use to help guide their purchase decision.”

God Bless Japan… I mean, America!

Source (ironically enough): USA Today

While the interior is mostly untouched, Honda installed new seat upholstery, additional sound deadening material and thicker rear windows. Furthermore, the Type-S has faux metallic trim and red ambient lighting.

Under the hood, engine options carryover with minor modifications for improved efficiency and reduced emissions. Most notably, the 2.2-liter i-DTEC engine has 148 hp. Other changes include a tuned suspension and active cornering headlights with High Beam Support. The latter option uses a CMOS camera sensor to detect oncoming traffic and automatically activate the low beams.

Source: WCF

Sure, the cars look great (check out our photos) and we can bet both sedan and coupe variants will be sporty – although the real news come from Civic’s boost in efficiency.

According to Kicking Tires: “Starting in terms of best fuel efficiency, you have the Honda Civic Hybrid in sedan only, which is estimated to return 45 mpg city/highway combined. That’s 4 mpg better than the combined mileage of the outgoing Civic Hybrid and Honda Insight. It will be powered by a 110-horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and for the first time, a lithium-ion battery pack. It will be teamed to a continuously variable automatic transmission.”

Honda is also including a Civic HF “High Fuel economy” sedan, which generates an estimated 41 mpg highway, thanks to the same aerodynamic bodywork shared with Civic hybrid.

“The Civic HF will be powered by the same 140-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine as the standard Civic sedan and coupes. All will be mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The regular Civics are estimated to return 39 mpg on the highway, up 3 mpg from the current generation. The Civic Hybrid, Civic HF, standard sedan and coupe, and a natural-gas-powered Civic GX will also feature the Eco Assist system the company has put in its CR-Z hybrid coupe.”

Finally, there’s a high-performance Civic Si sedan and coupe. Each of these trims offer 200 horsepower with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. EPA estimates are expectantly a bit lower, with 31 mpg highway.

Source: Kicking Tires

The CR-Z also is expected to be the only hybrid in the country offered with a manual transmission – so you young folk who only know automatic better get back to driver’s ed and learn the basics. The six-speed stick CR-Z is fun to drive while delivering a government fuel economy rating of 34 miles per gallon combined. Highway mileage alone is rated at 37 mpg!

Early reports says the CR-Z may be small, but the car doesn’t look for feel “cheap.” Honda used its top of the line materials to usher in a whole new era of hybrid sportscar driving. At just 150inches larger then the MINI Cooper, Honda homes to dish out 15,000 in the United States alone during this 2011-2012 model year.

According to our sources, “the CR-Z body is wedge-shaped, with a cargo liftgate that’s so high off the ground it comes to near chest level on me. To aid driver views out the back of the car, both the liftgate and small, upright rear area above the bumper have glass in them, a la the Honda CR-X sporty car.”

For all the spunkiness of the CR-Z around town and in passing maneuvers, the gasoline engine is pretty much the same one as in the Honda Fit: A 122-horsepower, 1.5-liter, single overhead cam four cylinder with Honda’s variable valve technology.

But unlike the Fit, the engine is mated to a 10-kilowatt electric motor that adds up to 13 horsepower at a very low 1,500 rpm. The electric motor, which comes on and off on its own as needed, also contributes up to 58 foot-pounds of torque at 1,000 rpm, which explains the decent acceleration.
Regular gasoline is all that’s needed, and the electric motor recharges on its own from the engine and regenerative brakes. To save gas, the CR-Z also turns off its gas engine on its own when the car is coming to a stop.

The latest ad campaign from Honda Australia asks this very question – The “Jazz” (as Honda’s Fit is branded in the land Down Unda’) squeezes more horsepower, fuel economy and storage page into it’s hatchback than previous generations. But just how many fixed gear bicycles, vintage vinyl records and Jack Kerouac books can we keep in there? Let’s find out:

Thanks to Jess for the heads up on this post!

In America, at least, we obsess over the trendy and hip – being green and pretending to live a minimalist lifestyle. But in the end we still like our spacious cars, and why not? We send hours a week sitting on our overly congested highways. But we shouldn’t pretend we rock the tiniest cars around.

pic via Jalopnik

As Top Gear’s piece mentions, the Toyota Prius has sold over a million units worldwide – but it’s also been around for almost a decade. On the downside it’s expensive…and lately has been attempting to kill drivers/passengers due to Toyota’s faulty accelerator issues that have yet to be solved.

Honda’s InSight offers similar speed/amenities/MPG ratings as the Prius, but with a cost of several thousand dollars under the Toyota model. Honda even promotes InSight as the world’s most affordable hybrid.

In the end it all came down to “The Jump” – You see, this wasn’t your average test drive: The Stig wanted to see who got the most air. That award went to Honda’s InSIght, which also landed with the touch of a feather, “Honda was infinitely better at landing than the Toyota, maintaining a much more natural flight path and plopping to the earth without fuss.” So, if you want a bit of fun and performance in you inexpensive hybrid, and you don’t want to be traveling down a California highway at 90+ MPH against your will, seems the Honda InSight is the best bet.

The Source: Top Gear

The Odyssey Concept dramatically departs from conventional minivan styling with its low and wide stance, highlighted by a “lightning-bolt” beltline that further distinguishes the vehicle’s profile. Compared to the current Odyssey, the Concept’s slightly lower roofline (-1.0 inch) and wider stance (+1.4 inch) contribute to a sleeker, stronger and more dynamic presence with improved aerodynamics that help increase fuel economy. Forthcoming improvements to the production Odyssey’s interior are designed to further enhance the current model’s accommodating space for people and cargo.

“The Odyssey established its reputation by providing families with what they most want in a minivan – great functionality, an emphasis on safety and good fuel economy,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of American Honda product planning. “Odyssey then further delighted customers with its surprisingly engaging, fun-to-drive and dynamic nature. The next-generation Odyssey promises to take these strengths to a higher level while adding more style and personality.”

The steeply raked front and rear roof pillars, unique side-glass profile, chamfered roof line, and tapered rear cabin shape combine to create a dynamic and distinctive appearance from any perspective. The lightning-bolt beltline dives toward the rear of the vehicle emphasizing the new Odyssey’s sporty appearance while enhancing outward visibility for third-row passengers. Aggressive body-to-wheel proportions reduce the perception of vertical height common to most minivan designs. Fender flares further accent the vehicle’s securely planted and stylish persona. The concept vehicle’s projector beam headlights, LED taillights and form-fit fog lights further heighten the sophisticated quality of the design.

Enhanced aerodynamics and advanced powertrain technologies will contribute to the next-generation Odyssey’s increased fuel efficiency. The all-new 2011 Odyssey is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating1 of 19 city/28 highway miles-per gallon on select models (preliminary estimate determined by Honda).

Currently in its third generation, the Odyssey’s unique array of features, including its superior driving dynamics, 3rd-Row Magic Seat® and efficient i-VTECTM V-6 engine with three-mode Variable Cylinder ManagementTM (available) all combine to offer a sophisticated environment with room for up to eight people (seven on Odyssey LX). The Odyssey has been America’s best-selling minivan since 20082 and is produced exclusively in Alabama by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (using domestic and globally sourced parts). Both the concept and production vehicles, along with all development activity for the 2011 Odyssey, are being designed at Honda R&D Americas in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio.

The Odyssey has won numerous awards and critical acclaim. Recent accolades include the Edmunds.com 2010 “Top Recommended” minivan award, U.S. News and World Report 2010 “Best Minivan for the Money” award, Automotive Lease Guide 2010 “Best Minivan for the Money,” the Kelley Blue Book award as one of the ten “Best New Family Vehicles of 2009″ and “2009 Best Resale Value Award” in the van category, which recognizes vehicles that are expected to have segment-leading resale value after five years of ownership.

Odyssey Concept Basic Dimensions:
Length (inches) 202.8
Width (inches) 78.5
Height (inches) 68.3
Wheelbase (inches) 118.1

Source: Honda PR