Regis Philbin
Jun 6th, 2007, 11:33 PM
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/06/business/hybrid.php
Honda to drop hybrid version of Accord sedan due to low sales
The Associated Press Published: June 6, 2007
NEW YORK: With gasoline prices reaching record highs and increasing public interest in environmentally friendly technologies, any car labeled as a hybrid might be expected to sell easily.
But Honda Motor announced Tuesday that it would discontinue the hybrid version of its Accord sedan, citing disappointing sales.
Analysts said that despite the Accord's superior performance compared with some of its higher-volume competitors, it just doesn't fit with the current consumer demands for the smallest, cheapest hybrids with much better fuel economy.
Brian Chee, an analyst with the vehicle research firm Autobytel.com, said the Accord's relatively low fuel economy and high price tag compared with other hybrid vehicles made it a tough sell.
"It was a pretty perky performance car that it was fun to drive, but it was expensive and it was not exactly what people were looking for as far as a hybrid," Chee said. "It was a clean-burning performance vehicle, but people wanted a hybrid with fuel economy."
The hybrid Accord gets an estimated 28 miles to the gallon, or 12 kilometers to the liter, in the city and starts at about $31,090, while the hybrid version of the company's smaller Civic sedan gets about 49 miles per gallon and starts at about $22,600, according to Honda's Web site.
By comparison, Toyota's market-leading Prius model can get up to an estimated 60 miles per gallon and carries a $22,175 price tag; the Toyota Camry hybrid can get about 40 miles per gallon and has a $26,000 sticker price.
Honda to drop hybrid version of Accord sedan due to low sales
The Associated Press Published: June 6, 2007
NEW YORK: With gasoline prices reaching record highs and increasing public interest in environmentally friendly technologies, any car labeled as a hybrid might be expected to sell easily.
But Honda Motor announced Tuesday that it would discontinue the hybrid version of its Accord sedan, citing disappointing sales.
Analysts said that despite the Accord's superior performance compared with some of its higher-volume competitors, it just doesn't fit with the current consumer demands for the smallest, cheapest hybrids with much better fuel economy.
Brian Chee, an analyst with the vehicle research firm Autobytel.com, said the Accord's relatively low fuel economy and high price tag compared with other hybrid vehicles made it a tough sell.
"It was a pretty perky performance car that it was fun to drive, but it was expensive and it was not exactly what people were looking for as far as a hybrid," Chee said. "It was a clean-burning performance vehicle, but people wanted a hybrid with fuel economy."
The hybrid Accord gets an estimated 28 miles to the gallon, or 12 kilometers to the liter, in the city and starts at about $31,090, while the hybrid version of the company's smaller Civic sedan gets about 49 miles per gallon and starts at about $22,600, according to Honda's Web site.
By comparison, Toyota's market-leading Prius model can get up to an estimated 60 miles per gallon and carries a $22,175 price tag; the Toyota Camry hybrid can get about 40 miles per gallon and has a $26,000 sticker price.