Honda Insight Test drive since 2009 hatchback

Honda Insight. The first test

The first serial hybrid, under the name Insight Honda, led to orbit ten years ago in the 99th. A small three -door compartment with an interesting aerodynamic form of an aluminum body on the conveyor lasted until 2006. Over the seven years of the conveyor life of machines, it was very few, after all, this Insight is too distinct. But it was only a trial ball ...
The main sales of the Honda hybrids were on Civic. The premiere of the first generation with a combined drive took place in 2003, and two years later he was replaced by a more advanced second-generation Civic Hybrid (based on the last eighth Civic), which is released to this day. Where there are three, there are four. And five Honda does not stop working on environmentally friendly cars for a minute. The Japanese are still on the main emphasis on hybrids, so soon you need to expect hybrid Jazz and even Accord! But that's all later. Today we are in Valencia then to get acquainted with the new generation of hybrid Insight.
The five -door Hatchback Insight is built on a universal platform, which formed the basis of the new Jazz and Civic. The American branch of the company insisted on creating an insight in the sedan version. But the leadership, despite the fact that the main sales of hybrids were and will be in the States, approved a five -door hatchback. Strange move? Not at all, just Honda wants to popularize the model in Europe as much as possible. Sedans in the Old World are not as popular as hatchi, and from the point of view of aerodynamics, the latter are preferable.
The insight power installation includes a 1.3-liter gasoline eight-clad with double consistent ignition (a similar unit is placed on JAZZ), IMA electric motor (Integrated Motor Assist), multi-disc wet clutch and variator (borrowed from Civic Hybrid). The torque is transmitted to the front wheels.
ICE is not God the news, what powerful. From his 1339 cubes, he gives out only 88 hp. Power and 121 Newton meters of torque. But it is no longer necessary from him, the Japanese at the forefront of economy, with her, the engine is all right. No wonder it is equipped with a cylinder disconnection system and a gas distribution mechanism SOHC I-VTEC, changing phases. The new electric motor is easier and more compact than on a hybrid Civic. The engine is also not of the strong men in the maximum of only 14 horses, but it is extremely moment for 1000 rpm develops the maximum 78.5 Newtonians.
What is the meaning of the use of a hybrid power drive? It allows you to store gratuitous energy and use it again. During braking, the energy of a conventional car using brake mechanisms due to friction is simply converted into heat, which is scattered into the surrounding space. When the machine is inhibited by the engine, absolutely the same kinetic energy is extinguished by the inhibitory moment of the engine created during compression (and hence the heating) of the air admitted to the cylinders.
The hybrid drive allows part of the energy energy to save and use again. A certain fraction of the brake moment in a hybrid car is always created at the expense of an alternating current electric motor. During slowdown, working as a generator, he produces electricity and recharges traction batteries (recovery regime). In established modes, the car is driven by an internal combustion engine. But as soon as the need for acceleration arises, the electricity stored in batteries goes into consumption by the electric motor again goes into the traction mode and begins to help the main motor. The fuel consumption is reduced by as much as the energy in the batteries was stored during previous braking (minus mechanical losses, losses in the resistances of the electromechanical part of the system, etc.).
Many complex hybrid systems allow some time to move exclusively at the expense of the electricity at low speeds. What for? In order not to smoke in traffic jams, closed parking lots or when moving in residential areas. So, for example, they allow you to make sophisticated Toyota HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive) on Prius and hybrid Lexus or the famous ECVT (Electronicly Continouse Continously Variable Transmission), developed by joint efforts of BMW, GM and ChRESLER
But Honda has IMA drive system (Integrated Motor Assist) is much easier. The Rotor of the electric motor and crankshaft in Insight rotate at the same time, there are no complex planetary gearboxes, couplings and clutch between them. And that means we cannot talk about a one hundred percent electric traction. The electric motor here is only as an assistant (hence the name).
But this is quite enough to save on fuel pretty much. In the urban mode, Insight drinks only 4.6 liters per 100 km, in a combined cycle 4.4, on the highway 4.2. This is a consumption received according to European test methods, taking into account their measured traffic in conditions of dense, but non -streams, their climate, their roads, on which, wherever the traffic lights, then the circular motion
And what about realities? The test record for the maximum consumption of 7.7 liters per hundred in a mixed cycle in Sport mode with the air conditioner. At a time when 90% of the time of the gas is in the floor, and the tachometer arrow with each acceleration is good half a minute (after all, here the variator) is in the most erected state. For 12.6 s to 100 km/h, maximum worshipers of 186 km/h, and a torn mode with energetic accelerations, appetite can be considered moderate.
The minimum consumption in the mixed mode, which I managed to achieve, is a little more than 5 liters per 100 km. From passport 4.4 liters, this is not so far. To achieve such results, I had to do two things: to forget about the frisky starts and the main in this car with a green button to activate the economical mode of operation of the hybrid.
In ECO mode, the maximum power and moments of engines are slightly reduced for the sake of low consumption and minimal emissions, and the gas pedal becomes less sensitive to short intense presses. The performance of the air conditioner also becomes slightly lower. Unlotted, except that only in S mode, the Start/Stop system also contributes to significant fuel savings.
Environmental genes involve a calm and measured ride, for the races of the Insight chassis is not intended at all. Controllability? Not to mushrooms, an artificial steering wheel with an electric power power power plant does not differ in sensitivity, and the hybrid is too eagerly rolled in turns. AND here the suspension is comfortable vegetable growers. It will like. More than the rest I liked the dead brakes. By the way, here they are completely non -trivial. Inhibition under the strict control of electronics is headed by a complex electro -hydraulic system. If you press the pedal slightly, the car will slow down at the expense of the power plant (recovery mode) of the brake moment create both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. With more intense braking, hydraulic brakes equipped with a pressure battery enter the work as necessary. Praise to engineers information of the drive is almost perfect, and the uneven slowdown is almost not felt!
 
Dumerly driving like that, you say! Neither accelerate, nor light ... specifics, my friends! A stick about one end of savings implies a lack of drive. However, you don’t have to get bored, the Japanese, in order to entertain drivers and passengers invented an interesting chip. In addition to the usual economy meter and indicator characterizing the operation of the drive, the Insight is equipped with a system, thanks to which you can find out how environmentally you behave on the road.
Eco Assist on a multifunctional monitor, in the middle of the tidy, takes a pictogram with the image of five trees. The less you press on the gas, the more leaves of leaves grow on the trees. The maximum number of leaves is 25, for our trip I collected only eight if you collect all points after time and kilometers, the cup is given as a presentation, and then everything is again ... It would be nice to come up with some bonus for each cup, for example, a discount on Another service. A good incentive not to smoke how much would have turned out in vain!
The game in the leaves, of course, is funny, but I am quickly tired of it. But my wife would definitely like it. She travels carefully, and her responsibility to probably, to a greater extent, than me, is aware of nature. Knowing her love for the country flora, I am sure that she would not only grow leaves on the display, but even spoke to them
So. Technology is, of course, good. How are things with consumer qualities? Everything is in order with this, believe me. Even in the basic configuration, the car is packed in the most I do not want. Six airbags, including curtains, strict stabilization system, climatic system yes, there are a lot of total. The salon is good. I remember that Civic Hybrid has a static back of the rear chair, behind it is a traction battery and a converter block. On the insulation, the entire electric power was migrated in the underground, it became more convenient. The backs are folded, you want Christmas trees, you want a stick.
In Japan, Honda Insight is sold from the first of February, where its cost starts at $ 20,700. In the United States, the hybrid will begin to be sold in late March (from 18,500 dollars), and the European start of the model is scheduled for April 18. By the way, a direct competitor to Toyota Prius, having a more complex and advanced drive system, is more expensive. In the USA, for example, prices for it will start from a mark from $ 22,000. We will also have an insight when a matter of time. Maximum two years later, the Japanese say. Or maybe before. Honda plans to sell about 200,000 cars a year all over the world. Half of this quantity will fall on the United states of America.
Vitaly Kabyshev
   
   

 

A source: Auto.mail.ru