In my younger days I worked for a number of advertising agencies the most well known of which was McCann Erickson. As a result I still have a keen interest in advertising especially on television where the commercials tend to be the most memorable. Every once in a while an advert comes along that really sticks in the mind, often long after you have forgotten what the actual product being advertised was.The famous ‘Cog’ advert for the Honda Accord was first aired on British television back in 2003. Honda has a huge diverse market in the US but in the UK the appeal has always tended to be towards older buyers perhaps with the exception of the high performance models. The creative brief for the 2003 campaign must have incorporated a section which said something like we need more mass appeal for the Accord and how do we target a more youthful aspiring and ultimately trendier buyer?

Cue the ‘Cog’ advert to the soundtrack of “Rappers Delight” by the Sugar Hill Gang. The agency must have pitched the concept impeccably and how the suited Honda executives approved the advert we may never know. At the time it was a creative stroke of genius, the advert was two minutes long so the media budget alone would have been huge. Although the running time was subsequently reduced the message had certainly been delivered in style. The advert consisted of a visually stunning chain reaction of car components rolling together to create a domino effect which culminated in a finished car effortlessly rolling off a balanced trailer and coming to rest before the camera. The cleverly chosen voiceover of US author Garrison Keillor then delivered the line “Isn’t it nice when things just work?”

I first saw the advert at the cinema and was fascinated by the attention to detail. I have subsequently found out that the advert took over 600 takes to complete and utilised only minimal amounts of CGI. That was the brilliant thing about it, someone had lovingly and meticulously arranged all the individual components to move at just the right moment and it must have taken hours to set up just for one relatively short commercial. I can’t remember what film I saw but I remember the Accord advert so there’s the power of advertising for you!

Echoing the sentiments of the commercial it is nice when things work especially cars as let’s face it they are a means of getting us from A to B without letting us down. This has been the appeal of the Accord and for Honda and Japanese cars in general. Critics would say that the Accord doesn’t have the flair or Gallic charm of French cars or the sheer status of German Marques but after having once owned a Honda I realised what owning a reliable car is all about. They always start first time, mine never needed any oil between changes and it never let me down once. The trouble is you can easily take this for granted, something that I later discovered when I decided to return to a French car which although had bags of character it always managed to leave me stranded in the middle of nowhere in the rain.

The Accord has been getting people to work on time and not blowing up on family holidays since 1976 and is now in its eighth generation. Honda has developed a diesel engine which is the envy of the competition and has exemplarary standards of emissions and fuel economy which is becoming ever more important in this age of increasing fuel prices. The latest Accord is larger than its predecessors and has a high quality feel and outstanding build quality. Bullet proof reliability now comes as standard and with the popularity in the US the Accord doesn’t need clever advertising it just seems to sell itself.

Just after Toyota’s announcement, that the production of the Plug-In Prius is fastened, Honda revealed the concept of new Honda Insight. The Honda Insight will be the world’s cheapest hybrid car ever, with a price of roughly $18,000, it will undercut the best selling hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, by at least $5,000. Honda announced the company’s goal is to sell around 200,000 Insight’s annually, 50 percent of that in the U.S. The Toyota Prius was sold 181,000 times last year, so Honda aims to build a best-seller.Honda will officially debut the concept of the new Insight at the Paris Autoshow next month. Although only a concept car, the Insight looks down-to-earth and ready for production. Honda declared the new Insight will look almost the same as the concept car, except some minor changes.

The Insight will be offered as a five-door hatchback, with five seats for the passengers. Honda’s new hybrid car will be built on a lately engineered platform. Power will be produced by the Honda Civic’s IMA electric motor coupled with a gasoline engine. The company also revealed the car will feature a lighter and weaker electric motor than the successful Honda Civic Hybrid. Thanks to the lighter engine, Honda managed to reduce the price of this vehicle. The company also promised the Insight will achieve an unbelievable 60 miles per gallon.

The new Honda Insight will be built in Japan and go on sale in the U.S., in Japan and on the old continent, Europe, in the middle of 2009.

• Nissan Altima Hybrid: Getting fired up by the Hybrid rush, Nissan also choose to unleash its dragon- the Altima Hybrid. This 4 door family sedan has a capability of seating 5 people and does not have any variants. Equipped with 2.5 litre I4 hybrid engine that gives a mileage of 33-35 mpg with 158 Hp, Altima comes with a variable speed automatic transmission as standard.

• BMW 5 series: An already powerful, sophisticated and technologically advanced vehicle got a face lift in the year 2008. The major changes in the BMW 5 series happened in the exterior design and engine power area. BMW 5 series is available in six variants and caters to everything from super luxury sedan, luxury sports sedan to luxury wagon. The basic variant of this car starts with 528i sedan and has a 3.0 litre 16 valve engine that gives 230 Hp with 18-28 mpg in city and highway; this has a 6 speed manual transmission. The 550i sedan is the top end model of the 5 series line-up and comes in 4.8 litres, V8 engine which churns a 380 Hp with 15-22 mpg in city and highway; this variant also has a 6 speed manual transmission as standard and an optional 6 speed automatic transmission.

• Audi A4: 2008 came with another striking performer - the Audi A4. Sharing the visual appeal of the Audi A5, the Audi A4 is a visual masterpiece created to work wonders both inside and out. One of the major features of the Audi A4 is the presence of Daytime running lights and Drive select which make it distinct from the tough competition form BMW 3 series and the Mercedes C-class. With the press of just one button, the drive select feature can adjust the suspension, steering ratio and related knick knacks for a comfortable or sporty ride. Available with 10 variants, the Audi A4 2.0 litre 2.0T SE Avant Quattro Tiptronic gives a mileage of 19-27 with 200Hp and comes with 6 speed automatic transmission as standard.

• Honda Accord Coupe: Being one of the flagship models of the Honda brand, it was necessary to upgrade the Honda Accord Coupe to meet the likes of Nissan Altima. Honda Accord Coupe is a 2 door family coupe which has a 5 passenger seating capability. It is also available as a sports coupe. With a 5 speed manual transmission as standard, the basic LX-S 5-Spd MT has a 2.4 Litre I4 engine that gives 190 Hp and has a mileage of 22-31 mpg in city and highway. The top-end EX-L V-6 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System comes with a 3.5 Litre V6 engine that can cruise with 268 Hp while achieving a mileage of 19mpg on city roads and 28mpg on highways, it has a 5 speed automatic transmission as standard.

Overall car production in 2008 has remained on expected lines however some companies did experience a slowdown in demand owing to the economic slowdown in many countries.

The Price

The biggest disadvantage of hybrid cars is definitely the price! For instance, the 2008 Toyota Camry costs about $19,000, while the hybrid version costs almost $25,000. That is approximately a $6,000 difference, which is a lot of money. Another example is the 2008 Honda Civic with a base price of $15,000, while the Civic Hybrid is costs $7,000 more. On average, the hybrid version of a car costs between $2,000 and $4,000 more than the non- hybrid version.

Dangerous in Accidents

Although the electric engine gives you more mileage and helps you save gas, it can be also dangerous in a collision. Most hybrid cars use metal hydride batteries and the high voltage that they store can be really unsafe when the wires are exposed, thus there is a chance the driver will get electrocuted when involved in an accident.

The Battery

As mentioned above, the batteries in hybrid cars can kill theoretically. There are some other issues with the battery. Hybrid car manufacturers include warranties to cover the batteries for 80,000-100,000 miles. The carmakers also say the car’s battery will last forever. But what if something unforeseen happens and the car’s batteries are not under warranty anymore? Unfortunately batteries cost a fortune! The other problem with the batteries is that it needs to be recharged at least every second week. So, if you go to vacation you might need to find a “car-sitter” to take care of your car. Some hybrid car owners also report problems with the battery in cold weather.

Performance

No offense, but most hybrid cars are slow! They have slower acceleration and a lower top-speed than conventional counterparts. If you are in need for speed, hybrid cars won’t satisfy your needs! Hybrid cars will make you drive slow, which is actually not a bad thing!

Despite all these drawbacks, hybrid cars are the way to! Car manufacturers are working to eliminate these disadvantages. I am pretty sure hybrid cars in the near future will be lighter, safer and provide better performance!

Here are the top reasons not to buy a hydrogen conversion kit or invest in a hydrogen car:

1. Do I look like a mechanic? I’ll never figure it out! Hydrogen conversion kits are too complicated.

2. I’m not made of money! I can never afford a hydrogen car!

3. It will damage my car and then I’ll be out of several grand.

4. These are nothing but scams. There’s no way this hydrogen conversion kit can work, despite all evidence to the contrary.

5. I really like spending my money at the gas station. It gives me a reason to stop and buy candy and soda.

Let’s look at these items one at a time.

1. Building and installing a hydrogen conversion kit is a bit of a task, but if you are the kind of person who changes your own oil, you can make your own hydrogen car modification.

2. The instruction manuals are cheap these days. Most starting around the sixty dollar mark and the majority of the hydrogen conversion kits come with a money back guarantee. You can’t beat that.

3. Hydrogen conversion kits give you instructions to only produce hydrogen on demand, making it much safer than a hydrogen fuel cell car.

4. There have been papers written on the subject of hydrogen conversion kits. As well as a plethora of videos uploaded to YouTube from people like you who achieved success. The truth is, whether you believe it or not, people are getting positive results from creating hydrogen cars with hydrogen conversion kits they have bought online. Currently they are being bought and installed on thousands of cars. If hydrogen cars were not a viable option car manufactures such as Honda, Toyota, and Chrysler would not be wasting their time developing hydrogen car prototypes. Whether you believe it or not, it’s hard to deny the fact that hydrogen can be extracted from water and that hydrogen generators are currently working on thousands of cars.

5. If you really like spending an average of fifty dollars a week on gas, or more, then a hydrogen car isn’t for you. If you want to spend this summer home rather than on a family road trip, you should pass on the hydrogen conversion kit. Just keep on walking.

Honda unveiled the next generation Pilot with some mixed reviews about the design. The new 2009 Pilot has a boxier, brawnier look than the previous version but this design could take a little getting used to.The body is larger and longer and looks less like a crossover but instead like a small SUV. The headlights are also boxy and are much larger and winder than before. The enormous grill, which is becoming a staple of Honda’s 2009 line-up, reminds me of the large grill on the new Acura MDX.

The rear quarter panel is more boxy than before and similar in style to the 2008 Jeep Liberty. The back also looks similar to another Chrysler vehicle, the Chrysler Aspen from some angles. The rear taillights are also a bit similar to the new Dodge Caravan. Inspiration from Chrysler? Maybe, maybe not.

Moving inside the steering wheel has been redesigned. A major change is the relocation of the shifter from the column to the lower dashboard.

Even though technological practicality is the theme of the interior there are more buttons which on the center console and arm rests. This ads functionality to the vehicle and more options for the driver but it can seem like you’re in the cockpit of a 747 if you’re not familiar with the interior layout of Honda vehicles. Kind of like trying to cook in someone else’s kitchen.

Despite rising gas prices Honda surprisingly does not have a hybrid version of the Pilot. According to a New York Times article, “Honda feels that hybrid powertrains are best suited for small vehicles.” Shouldn’t Honda automakers have hybrid versions of all there models by now? Nonetheless, the Pilot is set to be a hit with die hard fans.

Though, the new design might send other consumers to choose the Ford Escape or the Toyota Highlander.

The highly acclaimed Civic and Accord saw Honda make rapid international progress. Today, the company makes everything from cars and motorbikes, robots, jets and jet engines, to lawn and garden equipment. Honda’s current crop of cars includes the Accord, CR-V, Civic, FR-V, Jazz, Legend and S2000.

HONDA HISTORY
In 1948 Honda’s founder, Soichiro Honda, started a new company: Honda Motor Co. They soon came up with the “batabata”, a motorised bicycle named after the sound the engine made which became a huge hit across Japan. Later, Honda’s most popular model, the Dream, could be spotted all over the Japanese islands.

Honda introduced its first car in 1957, the N360. In 1958, the American Honda Company was created. In 1972 Honda entered the American market with the small fuel efficient Civic - just as the energy crisis was hitting economies. In 1986 Honda introduced a luxury line of cars and in 2007 Honda announced plans to launch low-priced hybrids.

HONDA FACTS

• Type: Public company
• Founded: September 24, 1948
• Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
• Key People: Soichiro Honda, Founder. Takeo Fukui, CEO
• Industry: Automobile & Truck manufacturer & Motorcycle
• Products: cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, electrical generators, robotics, marine equipment, jets and jet engines, and lawn and garden equipment, Acura vehicles.

FEATURED MODELS

• HONDA ACCORD - manufactured since 1976, first as a compact hatchback and then evolving into a premium large family estate and saloon car
• HONDA CIVIC - a compact car first manufactured in 1972 and now in its eighth generation. The Civic Type-R is a widely respected hot hatch, while the Civic IMA is a hybrid with an electric motor and petrol engine
• HONDA CR-V - public demand for a sport-utility vehicle from Honda led to the creation of this compact crossover SUV in 1996
• HONDA FR-V - a clever six seat MPV, which features three seats in the front and three in the back
• HONDA JAZZ - a five-door hatchback car first produced in 2001. It rivals the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris and is known as the Fit in Japan, China, and America
• HONDA S2000 - a two-seat roadster created to celebrate Honda’s 50th anniversary and launched in April 1999
• HONDA LEGEND - a large luxury car which is currently in its fourth generation

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Honda Cub motorcycle is the best-selling vehicle in history, with around 50 million sold worldwide
• Soichiro Honda was president of the Honda Motor Company until retiring in 1973. He was labeled “the Japanese Henry Ford” by People magazine in 1980
• The first passenger vehicle in the world to have four-wheel steering technology was the Honda Prelude in 1987
• In 1964, Honda entered Formula One racing for the first time, recording its first victory the following year. It’s current F1 campaign is headed by British racer, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello from Brazil
• In 1991, Honda posted its 10th consecutive win in the Isle of Man TT.

Honda Civic gas mileage must be really good! Most top ten automobile rankings based on fuel efficiency have put this model on their lists, with majority of them ranking the Civic as the best car in terms of fuel economy. Why is that? What has this model got that others don’t? Let’s find out.Honda civic gas mileage has been touted as the best in the current market. The 2008 hybrid model in particular has received rave reviews for its fuel efficiency. It records a combined EPA mileage rating of 42 mpg - 45 mpg highway mileage and 40 mpg city mileage. A number of individuals who have driven the car even claimed that it can go to as high as 60 mpg, depending on the skill of the driver and the driving techniques used.

The hybrid features a 1.3 L, 93 horsepower engine with a 2 speed CVT and overdrive capabilities. Aside from its gas mileage, the hybrid has also received high ratings for its sound system and safety features. From airbags to halogen headlights to ignitor unit or ignition disable feature, the hybrid can be said to be complete.

Some car experts have suggested that the fuel efficiency performance of the Civic can be further improved by careful maneuvering. The automobile does not have the ability to launch in all electric mode which actually helps the driver save gas in stop and go road situations. Owners of the hybrid and other 2008 Honda Civic models have claimed that the best performance of the car will occur after its break-in period, normally after six months of regular use. During this time, the Civic has been reported to produce superb highway mileage and a 10 to 15 percent increase in fuel efficiency.

Those who have tested the Civic have warned, though, that the first five to ten minutes of driving will not provide a sterling mileage performance. However, owners and drivers of the vehicle should not feel discouraged because once it has gathered enough time to warm up, the car will produce the mileage performance for which it has been praised.

The Honda brand has received numerous awards and citations throughout the years, and its hybrid and 2008 Civic models continue to prove that the name Honda is parallel to high quality automobiles. The Civic has been built for safety and quality and is offered at around $22,000; a price worth every penny considering its fuel economy, safety features and design.

The Honda Civic gas mileage performance has made its mark in the automobile market mired in skyrocketing fuel prices and environmental problems. Because of its fuel efficiency and environmental-friendly features, the Civic has become a popular choice among automobile experts and consumers.

Honda Civic Type R - oxygen not suppliedThe hatchback brings with it two main demographics that tend to part with their cash more than anyone else in society - the very young and the very old. For the old, a shiny hatchback represents an economical, safe and pleasant way to get to and from the shops, bingo and church. The Honda Civic range has been king of the grey-haired brigade for decades and brings with it an unassuming, sensible and reliable transport solution for getting from A to B.

For young people - mostly males with fluff stuck to their upper lip, the Honda Civic and it’s hatchback rivals represent the cheapest way of getting a car, insuring it and then thrashing it to within an inch of it’s life every night in a McDonalds car park. The fun doesn’t stop there either. Since the initial conception of Max Power magazine in the early nineties, car modification has gone through the roof. Even Hollywood has got in on the act with the Fast and the Furious trilogy seeing more neon lights in cinema car parks than an Ibiza club.

Much like the punk movement, it’s the DIY aesthetic of personalising your car from a million different options and standing out from the crowd that appeals. With its bullet proof reliability and extensive catalogue of performance and styling parts, the Honda Civic has simultaneously become the favoured choice at both ends of the circle of life - but for very different reasons.

Honda aren’t stupid and having seen the mass market appeal for ‘hot hatches’ thought they’d better produce one for the British market - and thus was born the Civic Type R in 2001. Top lip fluff brigade were beside themselves with excitement. Grey haired brigade were happy with the standard issue model. Either way, Honda was onto a winner with a huge percentage of the population.

The Type R was an exceptional car too, with a 0-60mph time of 6.6 seconds and the ever-eager VTEC engine revving to 8,250rpm. Stylistically it wasn’t too different from the standard model, with 17 inch alloy wheels and a spoiler adorning the rear the main differences. It was on the road that the little Honda Civic really delighted with the Japanese firm clearly utilising their Formula One programme for the good of their hot hatch. The Civic Type R became the biggest selling performance hatchback in the noughties - with over 35,000 units sold - so it was no surprise at the 2006 British Motor Show when everyone’s legs turned to jelly when they clasped eyes on the new one.

The new Civic is all triangles and space-age - a highly risky direction change for a company happily catering for such a diverse range of customers. However Honda have always wanted to shed their image of being an old-persons car maker and the newest Civic is a styling exercise with the sole intention of keeping its young fan base and stealing the middle aged away from their Volkswagen Golfs. The Type R for the record didn’t just turn my legs to jelly at the motor show - I needed a crash team and some oxygen.

The production model is only a tad watered down from the final concept in 2006, with the body kit identical. That means that unlike the previous Civic Type R, you don’t need to check the badge to know this isn’t the base model. I don’t know where to start to be honest - seeing one will say everything I need to, as you’ll either love it or hate it. It looks as though a spaceship has crashed into the Pyramids and driven off - but for me, it works.

Crucially Honda haven’t messed with the engine, so the new Type R retains the 2.0 litre, 197bhp engine from its predecessor. Although this will of course save on Honda’s design costs, it’s a clear case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Honda say they have made this new model more refined, with a suspension that isn’t as racy the previous model, yet it’s somehow firmer and unfortunately not refined in the slightest. This criticism aside, the new Type R has every reason to feel confident in an already crowded market place most notably featuring the Ford Focus ST, Renault Clio 197 and Volkswagen Golf GTi.

Brand loyalty counts for a lot and when the last model sold 2333% more than anticipated, the fluff brigade are surely going to be reaching for the oxygen and their cash too.

What Makes a Car a Hybrid?

Essentially, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that runs on two different fuel sources. A great example would be a sailboat that runs on rowing as well as electric power. Hybrid cars on the other hand run on both fuel and electricity. It then allows the car to run longer on lesser fuel. That makes the hybrid car an environmentally and wallet friendly vehicle.

Hybrid Cars and the Environment

Other than consuming lesser fuel, hybrid cars also generates lesser amounts of harmful car emissions compared to other vehicles. Here are a few ways that Hybrid cars save on fuel.

SUFFICIENT BATTERIES - The secondary power source of Hybrid cars are the batteries. Hybrid car batteries are capable of saving and reusing energy. It works similarly to electric cars, sans the plug, making it more convenient.

GASOLINE/ DIESEL CHOKE - regular cars use up a lot of gasoline when the engines continue running even when the car is at a standstill. Hybrid cars supplement that. They are designed to shut off the gasoline or diesel engine when it is not moving. During this time, the car relies on the power provided by the battery. A decrease in fuel use also means a decrease in car emissions.

Top Hybrid Cars in the Market Today

Hybrid cars are all the rage today because not only are they fuel efficient, they do the environment good too. The top three hybrid cars available today are as follows.

TOYOTA PRIUS - The Prius has been in the market for nearly a decade. Such longevity can only attest to the quality of the vehicle. It is the best car if you want to save money. This little beauty can run for miles and miles and still have a gallon or two to spare. The great thing about the Prius is that its manufacturers have made it functional as well. Unlike other hybrid models, the Prius comes with a spacious cargo hatch. It is also one of the most affordable hybrids in the market today.

SATURN VUE GREEN LINE - It may not be considered as a full hybrid, but the Saturn Vue Green Line can certainly hold off on fuel use. And, if you are looking for an SUV and save money on fuel at the same time, then this is the hybrid car for you. The only problem with this SUV hybrid is that it’s doesn’t have a 4-wheel drive option.

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID - The Honda Civic is one most recognizable car in the world. That is why it’s such a treat that the company has come up with a hybrid version. The Civic Hybrid can run up to 54% longer on a full tank of gas compared to a regular car. Not bad. As an added bonus, the Civic Hybrid is also a great car to drive.