Friday, April 1, 2011

New posts from Gas 2.0!

New posts from Gas 2.0!

Honda Hybrid Sales Up 111%

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 03:15 PM PDT

Was it the entry-level Insight that made the difference, or the availability of the new CR-Z that pulled the numbers up?  Maybe the economy really is looking up – if only for Honda’s target demographics?  Whatever the reason, Honda’s line of hybrids saw huge year-over-year sales increases for the month of March, surging 111.8%.

Granted, that’s still “only” 4900 (ish) total hybrids sold, but it has to be a huge psychological victory for Honda after years of the Toyota Prius‘ market dominance.  Good on them!

Full press release, below.

TORRANCE, Calif.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted March sales of 133,650, an increase of 18.9 percent based on the daily selling rate*, the company announced today. March marks the sixth straight month of double-digit sales increases for American Honda. Year-to-date sales of 307,978 represent an increase of 18.5 percent based on the daily selling rate*.

Sales of fuel-efficient Honda vehicles led the division to March sales of 121,039, an increase of 20.7 percent compared to March 2010. March sales of Honda cars increased by 29.1 percent to 74,168, led by the Accord, up 11.2 percent to 33,616; the Civic, up 33.8 percent to 31,213; and the Fit, up 43.4 percent on record March sales of 6,955. Honda hybrids also posted strong sales, with the Insight up 62.2 percent on record March sales of 2,782. The CR-V, the best-selling SUV in America, posted record sales for the second straight month, up 42.7 percent to 21,998.

“While we are extremely pleased with this month’s sales performance, our foremost thoughts are with the Japanese people during this difficult time,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. “We know there will be challenges in the coming months as we continue to deal with supply chain issues resulting from the devastating earthquake in Japan, and we continue to appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.”

Acura Division posted sales of 12,611 for March, an increase of 3.6 percent. The Acura MDX led the division with sales of 4,113, an increase of 20.7 percent, followed by the TL with sales of 3,995.

Source:  Honda.

Secrets of Red Bull’s F1 Dominance Revealed

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 03:00 PM PDT

Red Bull Racing began the 2011 Formula One season the same way it ended the 2010 season:  by winning.  Much journalistic ink has been spilled about the Adrian Newey-designed RB7‘s dominant performance, with rival teams accusing Red Bull of gaining an unfair advantage through the use of special wings (these complaints were made un-ironically).

Earlier today, an article appeared on Crash.net that claims to have discovered the real scoop:  it’s not the wings, it’s the fuel.  More to the point, the LACK of fuel used by the RB7 racecar.  According to the article, a Red Bull Racing mechanic was seen swigging from the fuel hose – and a sample taken clandestinely from the “fuel tanks” in the dead of night has since confirmed that the mixture going into the cars of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber is, indeed, the very energy drink that the team is promoting.

Formula 1′s sanctioning body, the FIA, has yet to comment on the disclosure, but rival teams are reportedly in talks with energy drink companies Rockstar and Buzz Cola in a bid to close the performance gap.

Keep checking in later, as I plan to try this in my own vehicle this afternoon.  After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Source:  Crash.net, via Total F1.

GM Renames All Models Prius, Sues BBC Over Top Gear Episode

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 11:00 AM PDT

While the rest of the automotive world simply stared at the news reports about Toyota’s decision to name all its new 2012 model-year cars and trucks “Prius” in a move to further cash-in on the small hybrid’s brand-equity, GM’s legal eagles leaped into action – renaming all of its new 2012 model-year cars “Prius” and filing a lawsuit against the BBC’s hit show Top Gear.

A source within GM’s legal team was willing to speak with Gas 2.0, explaining that “GM brass is sick of people calling them ‘Government Motors’ on account of the bailout, when one of the lawyers said ‘You know, there are some advantages to being ‘Government Motors’ we haven’t really played up.  We might as well roll with it.’  Then everyone started talking about the US government’s sovereign immunity and the marketing guys started getting all excited.”

“Sovereign immunity” is, in short, a provision within the US Constitution that states that the federal government cannot be sued without its consent.  Once the lawyers explained the idea to the marketing guys, they all realized that, by embracing their role as a federal agency, GM could say and do just about anything it wanted.  The end result, of course, is today’s announcement that GM’s new cars and trucks will be named “Prius”, effectively preventing Toyota to continue using the name within the US.  Our source went on to explain that “the general attitude was that Toyota’s lawyers could stuff it.”

GM’s attorneys then decided to go after the BBC’s hit show Top Gear, which is also in a legal battle with Tesla Motors over a 2 year-old episode which falsely showed an electric Tesla Roadster running out of “juice” just 55 miles into the test, and being pushed into a garage by 4 men. “We own the Prius name now, and of course there’s the Chevy Prius Volt, so we have a stake in electric cars.  The BBC is making all EV manufacturers look bad, so we’re losing business because of it as well.  Besides, we’re the government now.  We have the nukes.”

At this point, I inquired about whether GM had spoken to Congress or to President Barack Obama.  “No, we haven’t,”  she said, “but we have a little something else we’ll be rolling out this afternoon which I think will get him to ‘see things our way’.”  and showed me the hastily-drawn logo, below.

GM’s official announcement of the “Prius” change-over is scheduled for later this afternoon – if you plan to TiVo the press conference, be sure to double-check today’s date.

Source:  Ms. April Fuhlz, Esq.; within GM legal department.

Toyota Renames All Models Prius, Makes Everything a Hybrid

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 05:11 AM PDT

In a strange twist of events Toyota, the world's largest automaker, has announced that it will be changing the name of every model in its lineup…to Prius.

At a press conference this morning President and CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda came out with a brief statement explaining why they are making such a sweeping change.

In the wake of the awful tragedy that has struck our nation, Toyota has recognized that perhaps now is the best time to reinvent ourselves, and our country, for the 21st century.

For over fifty years, Toyota has built some of the most recognizable car nameplates on the planet, including the Camry, Corolla, Hilux pickup, and the world's best selling hybrid, the Prius.

It is this last nameplate, Prius, that has come to be more than just a car though; it is the vanguard of a movement to cut our oil use, and maximize the efficiency of the fuel we do use. To date, Toyota has sold over 3 million hybrids in a decade, many of these vehicles the Prius. Our research shows that Prius is the car many American and Japanese car owners now associate with Toyota, and when the word "hybrid" is mentioned, again it is Toyota Americans and Japanese citizens think of.

After the enthusiastic response our Prius V, Prius Plug-in, and Prius C Concept received at the Detroit Auto Show, it became clear that Americans love the Prius hybrid and that that love cannot be contained to a single brand.

Therefore, we are announcing that, beginning in January of 2012, every model we sell in the U.S. and Japan will bear the Prius name, including the Camry Prius, Tundra Prius, and Landcruiser Prius.

Of course, we would not simply attach the Prius name any gas guzzler. Rather, we are taking every vehicle in our lineup and offering them solely as a hybrid. That means Toyota will be the only maker of hybrid pickups, compact cars, and minivans. This will also carry over to our other brands, Lexus and Scion.

In addition, we will induct all new Toyota Prius vehicle owners into a green lifestyles program called "The Prius Way." Here, we will teach new hybrid owners how to maximize their gas mileage, all the ways they are saving the world, as well as the best comebacks for common criticisms of "The Prius Way." Entry into this program is free and mandatory for all new hybrid owners as we seek to convert the masses to a better way of driving.

We hope you are as excited by this news as we are, and we will release specific information regarding the new full line of Prius automobiles and The Prius Way. Thank you.

I am without words at this shocking revelation. Thoughts?

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can read about his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout or follow his non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.
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