On my way to the P St. Whole Foods this morning, I drove (as I always do) through the Washington Convention Center (well, the street that cuts through it) and saw a car I had never seen before in person – it was the new Honda Insight. You know, the one that looks almost exactly like a Prius.
And right behind it? A whole series of other green cars, from plug-in hybrids to turbo diesels.
I had to stop and check this out. Parking my 7 year old Honda Civic Hybrid around the corner, I ran back cursing myself for not having my camera along. Follow me over the jump for more car geekery.
The first cars I saw on returning were German attempts at high-mileage cars – a Touareg Diesel, which they claimed got better gas mileage than 'most' Hybrid SUVs. Considering that only the Escape has decent numbers, this neither surprised nor interested me.
Far cooler was the little GM sports car a few feet down the road that was advertised as all-electric. Right behind it was one of those golf-cart type cars, but thereafter, things go a whole lot more interesting: A Ford Escape plug-in Hybrid. Just the sort of thing to make a geek like me light up.
The two fellows with Ford hats standing next to it must have seen my reaction, because they invited me to have a seat inside and a chat with the driver (I think they were all waiting for press coverage or something)
Inside, the Escape looks like an updated version of their current Escape Hybrid – not too surprising. The main difference is that this car can go 40 miles on just electricity (as long as you don't go over 45 mph), recharges in 6-8 hours off of normal 110 Volt current, and is given a rating of 120 mpg.
These cars are currently being built, but Ford is going slow on their introduction. Thus far, only carefully selected corporate partners are being given them, not only to work out any kinks in the car's technology, but also to try to get a handle on the social aspects of use. As an example, the driver/salesman pointed out that the question as to what to do if you drive this to your grandmother's house. How can you ask Gramma to pay for your electricity?
Furthermore, there are still issues about where the batteries will be built. Apparently, though, Ford is partnering with Johnson Controls to build a battery plant in the US, to make the large numbers of Li-Ion batteries that are needed for the car.
I hope that all these issues will be dealt with sooner rather than later, but they still won't be for sale until 2012. I guess I'll have to take good care of my car for another 3 years!
As I was getting out of the Escape, high on new-car-fumes (I think this car had under 1000 miles on the clock) and new technology, a Ford Fusion, Ford's new Hybrid, pulled up behind. This time, the Ford guys invited me to take it for a spin around the block. (The Fusion will be for sale in a few weeks)
The first thing I noted was the instrument panel: Other than the central speedometer, which is the classic dial, the rest was all glass-panel: To the left and right of the speedometer are two rounded LCD displays, which can be programmed, as well as changing their display given what the car is currently doing. So, when I put it into Drive and pulled away, the display that showed the current state of the battery switched over to a tachometer.
The car also has a large display in the center, much as what the Prius has. But the rest of the display is a real jump over anything I've ever seen before.
The car handles well (at least at the 25 mph I was doing) and seems like it's well-built. In general, a real improvement over any US car that I've driven lately. It is set to compete with the Camry Hybrid and apparently gets better gas mileage at 41 city, 36 highway.
My only worry? That the displays are co-branded with Microsoft. I can only hope that they're using some version of XP, and not Vista.
Price? Just under 28k, which I think is competitive with other mid-sized Hybrid.
When I put it into reverse to park it, the central screen showed the view from the back, and, as I got close, a beep started sounding (from the back of the car, which I thought was a great little tweak on that idea) to indicate that it was time to put it into Park and get out.
As I got out, I saw another Ford that had just pulled up - an all-electric Focus. Unfortunately, several press folk had shown up by then, so no chance to check that out, too.
In all, I was impressed - by all of these cars. I have been quick to complain about Ford's rhetoric, and especially in how poorly it aligns itself with the Excursions/Expeditions that they have been selling. Who knows if these cars will bring back Ford's standing in the world. I would hope so, and these cars seem like a move in the right direction.
After all, these are the first US-built car in a long, long, time that I would consider buying. I wish Ford all the best with their plans over the next couple years, and maybe I'll be a customer in 2012.