July 14th, 2008 by admin

Mixture of fuel in the car, combined with the power of gas, has become the focus of the motor industry expects production of environmentally friendly cars that work in the real world.

Latest Honda, the Civic IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), not a special car built, such as the precursor of Insight and the Toyota Prius competitor – who does not fit well with the benefits that conventional cars – but only one in the Civic model range. This means that the results look good and knowledgeable.

IMA system that works through an electric motor between the engine and gearbox. During acceleration the electric motor to provide a host of gas-powered assistance, while the braking time he acted as a generator, using energy that was lost to recharge the battery.

Thanks to the electric motor, which develops 89bhp IMA, which is more than enough output for the 1.3 liter engine. However, the performance is still limited, with only a top speed of 105mph and 0 to 62mph time 12sec. Combined with the consumption of 57.7mpg is a little better than that offered by Civic diesel 56.5mpg.

IMA is of substantially lower emissions, at 116g/km of CO2 compared to 134g/km for the diesel but only 3% surcharge on diesel engines – which will disappear in two years – make that IMA is more tax-efficient company cars. Private buyers are entitled to a £ 1000 PowerShift grants, creating an effective retail price of only £ 13,995.

At that price the IMA is equipped with leather upholstery, climate control, alloy wheels, CD player, and crucially, immunity from Ken Livingstone as the standard.

You do not need special skills to encourage the IMA. Will not start without your foot on the clutch, if you have left in the tooth, and then using the electric motor for a fire engine so that it does not have chug starter motor. Akan completely cut off electricity to save energy at the traffic light, but if it is business as usual.

It feels impressively strong at low engine speeds thanks to its ability to produce more torque from idle on the 1.6 Civic can peak at, and as long as you do not try to get maximum performance, it is quite smooth.

IMA is not only the most convincing gasoline / electric hybrid, but he must also attract people who really do not care about the environment and carbon dioxide chucking us into it. For the first time will find many drawbacks to its small enough not to violate the deal.