Honda will make its latest pitch for recognition as a leader in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles when the sleek 2019 Insight prototype bows at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday.
The handsome, five-seat sedan will look right at home alongside Honda’s hot-selling Accord and Civic. I expect prices to overlap those two cars’ lineups, from the mid-$20s to low $30s.
Honda was the first automaker to sell a hybrid in the U.S. with the 1999 Insight hatchback, and it galls the company that it hasn’t been acknowledged as a hybrid leader since then.
The bullet-shaped, first-gen Insight taught Americans that a combination of gasoline and electric power could deliver a previously inconceivable combination of fuel economy, performance and fun.
Despite that, Honda’s star two-door hatchback was soon eclipsed by the relatively stodgy Toyota Prius four-door. To Honda’s infinite chagrin, Toyota rode the Prius to a decade of unprecedented sales growth and an image as the global leader in hybrid technology and fuel economy.
Honda calls the Insight debuting at the Detroit show a prototype, but the production model due to go on sale in the summer should be virtually identical.
Fuel economy figures aren’t available yet, but Honda promises a combined EPA city/highway rating “in excess of 50 mpg.”
The EPA rating and sticker price will probably be key to the new Insight’s success.
Based on Honda’s pledge, it could still trail the 2018 Prius, which scored 56 mpg combined rating with its most efficient Eco model. The Insight has a better chance of at least matching the best-selling ’18 Prius model, which the EPA rates at 52 mpg combined. Prius prices start at $23,475, while the Eco model starts at $25,165.
The new Insight looks great, with a long hood and fast windshield and rear window. The looks of the grille and narrow LED headlights and taillights are consistent with other Honda sedans. Honda’s U.S. design studio styled the Insight.
Honda will build the Insight alongside the Civic and CR-V in Greensburg, Indiana.
Power will come from a 1.5L engine connected to two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery.
In most conditions, the Insight runs on electricity alone, with the gasoline engine powering a generator that in turn sends power to the front wheels. The gasoline engine connects to the Insight’s wheels only occasionally, when the car is running at a steady speed on the highway and the system locks up to send power directly from the engine to the front wheels for greater efficiency.
The interior features an 8-inch touchscreen in the middle of the center stack, above the shifter but below the dashboard vents. It manages navigation, audio and other systems. Traditional buttons and knobs handle climate control. The shifter is the same push-button control most Honda and Acura vehicles use.
The batteries are under the rear seats. Those seats are split 60/40 and fold to increase cargo space.
Available features will include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition.
The new Insight appears to be longer than the Prius, though the Toyota may have more passenger and cargo space, thanks to its hatchback layout.
This is the third time Honda has sold a car called the Insight. The second-generation 2009 Insight was a four-door compact hatchback that looked a bit like a Prius but didn’t approach the Toyota’s fuel economy. Its main claim to fame was being the least-expensive full hybrid, but it never caught on with buyers.
Sumber : http://www.bendbulletin.com
a HOW TO INVEST The Importance of Financial Investments
If you're just starting out, beginning an investment program may be something that hasn't been on your radar. You may be more concerned with how to pay for items like food and gasoline. However, if you can scrape together even a small amount of money for investment purposes, you'll be on your way to creating a much rosier financial picture in the years to come.
Beating InflationIn addition to making for uncomfortable sleeping, stuffing your money under a mattress does little to mitigate the impact of inflation over time. Putting your money in a regular bank savings account won't help much either because of the typically minuscule interest rates. While placing your money in investment vehicles, such as stocks and mutual funds, introduces an element of risk, you stand a much better chance of outpacing the inflation rate throughout a period of years.
Saving for Retirement
Depending solely on social security benefits as your source of retirement income probably won't cut it unless you plan to subsist on a diet of rice and water. Unless your company offers a sizable pension plan, you will probably need to start an investment program as early as possible to ensure a comfortable retirement. IRAs offer an easy way to invest for retirement and also provide certain tax benefits. If your employer offers a 401k plan, you can benefit from the matching funds that many companies will deposit in your account on your behalf.
Putting Your Money to Work
If you have a job, you're undoubtedly familiar with the concept of working for your money. Investing allows you to turn the tide by making your money work for you. Through the magic of compound interest, for example, your accumulated interest actually earns additional money without you having to lift a finger. Consequently, your original investment can multiply greatly over time. For example, if you invested $1,000 at an interest rate of 7 percent compounded annually, your investment would grow to $7,612.26 after 30 years.
Financial Resource
Some investments can fulfill more than one financial purpose and serve as a valuable resource. For instance, when you purchase a home, it may appreciate in value and yield a handsome profit when you sell it. Additionally, as you make your monthly mortgage payments you build up equity, which is the amount of your ownership stake in the property. You can borrow against your accumulated equity by taking out a home equity loan or home equity line of credit to help you more immediate financial needs.
HOW TO INVEST Five Key Points to Consider Before Investing
So you and your special someone are thinking about beginning an investment program. That's a wise move because the earlier you start investing the more time your nest egg has to grow. Invest only $250 a month for 20 years at 5 percent interest and you'll have $102,758. Increase the rate of return to 8 percent and the total jumps to $147,255.
Financial Fitness
Before you start socking away money in an investment account do a fitness check on your finances. Your savings account should total from three to six months of living expenses before you start playing the stock market. It doesn't make sense to invest money until you've paid off your credit card balances. The average credit card interest rate on new credit cards as of June 8, 2012, is 14.9 percent according to FoxBusiness.com.
Risk Tolerance
Different types of investments have different levels of risk. A savings account has very little risk, but then the rate of return is low as well. Money markets are rather safe. Mutual funds spread the risk because a number of companies make up the mutual fund's portfolio. Investing in individual companies can pay off handsomely or help you lose money. If you get butterflies at the mere thought of losing any of your investment then consider a low risk investment strategy.
Goals
Determine your goals. Sit down with each other and your favorite beverage and hash out why you want to invest, how much you plan on investing each month and what you hope your investment portfolio will total at the end of one year, two years, five years and 10 years. Consider that as your life changes your goals may change. While your current goal may be to save enough for a down payment on a home, in 15 years you may be looking at funding your kids' college education.
Diversification
All your eggs in one basket is a bad investment strategy. In other words don't put all your money in tech stocks, gold or your cousin's Vinny's pizza parlor. Diversify your investment portfolio, so that if one investment tanks, the others won't be affected. That includes any investing in your employer's stock. If your employer goes bankrupt, not only have you lost your job, you've lost your investments. Consider liquidity as well as risk. Getting cash out of your money market takes place nearly instantaneously. Artwork, collectibles and antiques may take weeks to sell and depending on the market, may not yield as much as you hoped.
Time and Knowledge
Getting up to speed on what to invest in takes time and knowledge. If that doesn't appeal to either of you, consider a financial planner or adviser. Planners are paid on a commission based on what you invest in or a flat fee based on how much time he spends with you.
Advertisement