Honda to Axe Gas-Powered Civic in Japan, Drop Acura RL Globally

[AutoGuide.com]

Honda is set to make some big changes to its product lineup, at home and abroad, eliminating the Acura RL and dropping the gas-powered Civic model from its lineup in Japan.

We can't say we're surprised about the demise of the slow-selling RL, especially after Acura recently released the TL SH-AWD model with the same engine, essentially making the RL redundant. Many blame the lack of a V8 and a true rear-drive architecture for Acura's lack of success in the full-size luxury segment. The RL is sold as the Legend in other markets. In addition, Honda will also eliminate the Elysion minivan.

The biggest surprise, however, is that in Japan Honda will no longer offer a gasoline-powered Civic. Hybrid cars are increasingly becoming the norm in Japan, and so Honda will continue to offer the Civic in Japan, only in hybrid form.

Instead, Honda will focus on models like the Insight and other green models, as well as more entry-level cars.

This news comes via Japan's Nikkei business paper, which also reports that the new Civic will debut in the Fall of 2011.

More: Honda to Axe Gas-Powered Civic in Japan, Drop Acura RL Globally on AutoGuide.com

[ZDX-guy]

I bet if it weren't for the millions of civic lovers in North America they would've axed the gas powered civic here as well.

[Microcosm]

Even if gas were $10/gallon in Japan (maybe it is, I don't know) it's hard to see the economics of driving a hybrid there, unless there are huge government tax breaks or something.

For one thing, its a small island. You can't go very far in a single trip. For another, its not like hybrids get astounding mileage. Yes, they get better, but is it enough to pay back the premium cost of the car?

[Barbosa]

I have been reading about Honda introducing electric plug in rechargeable hybrids in three years maybe it was sooner. This may be the first indication of things to come.

[Microcosm]

Is anybody wondering about this whole plug-in electric car thing? Like the power has to come from somewhere, and that is our electrical generation infrastructure... all of which uses a variety of (except hydroelectric) fuels to generate the power.

Coal, nukes, natural gas and so on... and each have their environmental consequences. It is pretty foolish to believe the "non-polluting" marketing bumpf about plug-ins.

[ZDX-guy]

Originally Posted by Microcosm

Is anybody wondering about this whole plug-in electric car thing? Like the power has to come from somewhere, and that is our electrical generation infrastructure... all of which uses a variety of (except hydroelectric) fuels to generate the power.

Coal, nukes, natural gas and so on... and each have their environmental consequences. It is pretty foolish to believe the "non-polluting" marketing bumpf about plug-ins.

Thats been debated for a very long time already and several studies already proved that the carbon footprint of making and driving a hybrid car is a lot more than the carbon footprint of making and driving of a gasoline powered car. The battery making process for the hybrids causes a lot of pollution on its own. The big 3 car manufacturers have enough resources that they silenced most of these studies.... Also Top Gear in the UK did a driving test of a BMW M3 against a Smart car. Both of them had to drive around their test track at a steady 100km/h for the whole track. The Smart car ended up using a lot more gas than the M3. The M3 was barely utilizing all its power while the Smart car was already pushing out as much as it can.

[Microcosm]

Just took a minute to look some stuff up. According to the World Coal Institute the energy generation by coal is shown as a percent of the total in these countries:

Coal in Electricity Generation
South Africa 94%
Poland 93%
PR China 81%
Australia 76%
Israel 71%
Kazakhstan 70%
India 68%
Czech Rep 62%
Morocco 57%
Greece 55%
USA 49%
Germany 49%
The world average is 41%.

According to Statistics Canada, coal accounted for 76% of all the fuels consumed to generate electricity in Canada in 2007. In 2009, eight new coal-fired power plants came online, generating 3200+ megawatts, according to the DOE. (Three Mile Island had a capacity of 800 mW)

So, there is still a significant portion of coal powering those "pollution-free" vehicles.