When asked why the Fit didn't make the cut for the Green Rebate program (dubbed the "Yaris rebate" by presenters Jeremy Cato and Michael Vaughan), you could hear Miller's disappointment. "The policy was biased against cars that were green and safe. We build an efficient and safe car, but safety equipment adds weight." The exclusion of the Fit from the program prompted Honda to revisit the Fit to try and extract better mileage. Miller added "you can't just 'dial' in a fuel economy number, but were looking into it".
One could take a few things from listening to these gentlemen for a few hours. First off, the internal combustion engine isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and will only continue to get better and better.
Green diesel is going to be huge -- for its efficiency, power and new levels of refinement. It's big elsewhere in the world where fuel is far more expensive, and it's coming here now.
And despite challenges facing the automakers in their green ventures, partnerships with other companies and the government, as well as innovation, will be key in developing and selling the technologies we'll all be affected by as motorists in the future.
photo:BMW, Nissan, Honda
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| 2007 Honda Fit |
One could take a few things from listening to these gentlemen for a few hours. First off, the internal combustion engine isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and will only continue to get better and better.
Green diesel is going to be huge -- for its efficiency, power and new levels of refinement. It's big elsewhere in the world where fuel is far more expensive, and it's coming here now.
And despite challenges facing the automakers in their green ventures, partnerships with other companies and the government, as well as innovation, will be key in developing and selling the technologies we'll all be affected by as motorists in the future.
photo:BMW, Nissan, Honda