Crafty Concepts

Here's a couple of crafty concept cars built on technologies that looks to conserve and looks that seek to tempt. Both are from car companies at the fore front of advancement. Toyota has taken charge of the Hybrid Electric market while Honda's Variable Cylinder Management is a cool mechanism.

Toyota's FT-HS Concept pictured above is a hybrid electric that is likely drawing on the Lexus GH450 3.5L V6 drive-train and will deliver 400bhp as well as 0-60mph in less than 5 seconds with an MPG boast too. The best number may still be the expected less than $40,000 price tag. Times certainly have changed. These figures used to be the domain of for-the-rich-only cars.

Honda has released its 8th generation styling for the Accord Coupe. Honda promises added performance (possibly 300bhp which should be good for 0-60 in less than 6 seconds) and its Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). VCM is a great mechanism that shuts down 2 cylinders in the V6 at higher speeds when due to inertia the extra 2 cylinders are practically worthless. This technology is already available in the 2006 and newer Honda Odyssey models. A hybrid electric version could follow in 2009. Pricing is expected in the low $30,000s.

Conventional Wisdom

Watch out Toyota and Honda!

Boy am I impressed with what Nissan has done with its 2007 Altima. That's what I have been talking about folks. A full size sedan weighing in at over 3000 lbs. with 175bhp that has city/fwy average of 30 miles per gallon! Way to go Nissan! By comparison both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry fall about 1 or 2 mpg short and cost an extra $2 - 3k. It matches the Honda Civic in MPG for Pete's sake! And, its a looker too. Sharp and catchy designing on the interior and exterior.

No longer are we confined to sacrifice by keeping smaller sedans if we want to stay atop the 30mpg mark. The mark has moved and others need to catch up. Nissan is also launching a hybrid version of the Altima by April 2007 that will join the Camry Hybrid amongst 40mpg family sedans. All wonderful news.

While we turn heads at the foray of vehicles pouring out of new technology it is easy to miss the sheer magnitude of the market that lives off the conventional fossil fuel. And hence, a small dent in this area goes a long long way. Nissan will probably sell more Altimas alone than the entire hybrid electric market in 2007. And so its commendable that they have taken the charge and come out on top in the fuel efficiency category of the economy family sedan market.

Like I said, Honda & Toyota, do take note.