Toyota and Honda Lead Japan Carmakers’ Output Cuts Amid Recession

By Kiyori Ueno and Makiko Kitamura

Toyota Motor Corp., Japan’s biggest automaker, and Honda Motor Co., the second-largest, led a drop in production among the nation’s carmakers last month as rising unemployment sapped North American sales.

Toyota’s production fell for a 12th straight month, declining 20 percent from a year earlier to 576,074 vehicles, the company said in a statement today. The number excludes Toyota’s affiliates Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. Honda’s output fell 24 percent to 258,972, while Nissan Motor Co. built 265,623 vehicles, down 16 percent.

The production cut at Toyota was its smallest in nine months as government incentives spurred demand in the U.S., Japan and Europe, according to Bloomberg data. The company’s Corolla and Camry models were among the top five purchased under the U.S. “cash for clunkers” program, which ended Aug. 24 and generated almost 700,000 sales, according to the Transportation Department.

source

Honda ahead Toyota at least for one year in a of hybrid cars production

Honda to launch hybrid Civic in India this month
Honda Motor Co. said on Wednesday it would start selling a hybrid version of its Civic sedan in India from the end of this month as it chases Toyota Motor Corp. in the green car race.
Honda, Japan’s second-largest automaker after Toyota, said it would be the first gasoline-electric hybrid car sold in the fast-growing India market. They will be imported from Japan and priced at 2.15 million rupees ($50,220), the firm said.
Toyota beat Honda to the hybrid market by two years with its Prius in 1997. The vastly improved second-generation Prius in 2003 became an instant hit, helping Japan’s top automaker win a reputation overnight as the front-runner in green technology.
But Honda is hoping to change that. It aims to sell about 500,000 hybrids a year by 2015 — nine times what it sold last year — rivaling Toyota’s own goal of boosting hybrid sales to a 10th of its total sales after 2010.
Honda said it had sold more than 210,000 units of the Civic hybrid since its launch in 2001

Toyota will add 2 all-new hybrids next year
As $4-per-gallon gasoline drains Americans’ wallets, Toyota Motor Corp. last week promised two new hybrid vehicles.
The two hybrids — one badged a Toyota and the other a Lexus — will debut in January at the Detroit auto show and come in addition to the third-generation Prius, also due in 2009.
Masatami Takimoto, executive vice president in charge of r&d, did not say when the two new vehicles are due in U.S. showrooms. But he said they will both run on nickel-metal hydride batteries, and the Toyota vehicle will be larger than the Prius.
“It’s a totally new car,” Takimoto said here last week at a press event.
For the redesigned Prius, Toyota will stick with the current generation’s nickel-metal hydride batteries.
The company also plans next year to start producing powerful lithium ion batteries, designed to help Toyota keep its lead in hot-selling hybrids.

Top10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars of 2008

The Environmental Protection Agency's new fuel economy sticker can be found on all new vehicles for sale, giving customers a quick way to compare models before making a purchase. The following photos show the most fuel-efficient 2008 model year vehicles, as determined by the EPA.

1. The Toyota Prius Hybrid
2. The Honda Civic Hybrid
3. The Nissan Altima Hybrid
4. The Ford Escape Hybrid
5. The Mazda Tribute Hybrid
6. The Mercury Mariner Hybrid
7. The Toyota Camry Hybrid
8. The Toyota Yaris
9. The Toyota Corolla
10.The Honda Fit

source

Toyota Prius vs Honda Fit Review

Performance
Both the Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius are likely to feel slightly slow because of their high horsepower-to-weight ratio.

Handling
The Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius have approximately similar tires. With their comparable turning radiuses, the Prius and the Fit definitely handle about the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Toyota Prius packs quite a wallop compared to the Honda Fit when it comes to torque, which is roughly equivalent to acceleration. The Honda could learn a lesson or two from the Prius as far as torque.

Utility
The Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius can accommodate the same number of passengers.

Comfort
Taller drivers will substantially enjoy the extra head room in the Honda Fit's front cabin compared to the Toyota Prius. The ampler interior dimensions of the Prius make it considerably roomier for your passengers than the Fit.

Dimensions
Both the Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius are likely to feel somewhat slow because of their high horsepower-to-weight ratio. The Honda Fit's tank is roughly the same size as the Toyota Prius's, though the Toyota Prius's is a tad more capacious. The Honda Fit and the Toyota Prius compete for the same parking spaces. The Toyota Prius's longer wheelbase will likely result in a smoother, more stable ride; however, the Honda may give a sprier feel in daily traffic.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs about the same to get the Honda Fit to the dealership as the Prius. As far as MSRP, the Fit costs tremendously less than the Toyota. As far as out-the-door cost, the Honda costs tremendously less than the Toyota Prius. The Honda will cost you a bundle in gasoline every year compared to the Toyota Prius.

Overview
The Toyota and the Honda Fit have the same basic warranty.

from here

Toyota Yaris vs Honda Fit vs Nissan Versa

Economy Car Comparison

Fuel costs continue to rise, and you've been digging for coins under the couch
to fill the tank. Time for a reality check: subcompacts are no longer just for
the credit-card challenged.

By Allyson Harwood, Photography by John Kiewicz

Back in the halcyon days of $2.50-a-gallon gas, subcompacts were perceived mostly as transportation for college students. If there wasn't a Delta Tau chi sticker on the back window, you could expect to see a rental-car frame around the license plate. Either way, premium unleaded isn't getting cheaper, and you have to stop raiding the kids' piggybank to fill up your prized sport/utility. No wonder subcompact gas-sippers are becoming more appealing-and more sophisticated. Variable valve timing, side-curtain airbags, and six-speed transmissions are now standard equipment in some of these cars-and most of them now cost less than $13,500. Add to that three hot new entries from Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, and the niche that was once a punch line is now all grown up.

The Honda Fit, known as the jazz around the world, is a five-door that slots into the American lineup below the Civic. It's the smallest offering from Japan's big Three, but, as is Honda's way, contains concentrated doses of ingenuity and Versatility. The Nissan Versa is a more powerful version of the Tiida hatchback. It has the most European styling of the trio, along with the longest wheelbase and heaviest curb weight. Like the others, the Toyota Yaris has already been on sale in Europe and Japan. It's offered here as a three-door hatch or a four-door sedan, but for a fair interior comparison, we put the sedan up against two hatchbacks. Our testers were the loaded models, equipped with optional transmissions and all available safety items, including ABS and front, front side, and side curtain airbags.

The styling of all three fits their differing personalities. Despite the limited success of the tall-wagon-meets-micro-hatch in America, the Fit's design works and is instantly likeable. It's clear Honda's aiming at a younger market, and this car's lines and attitude are edgy enough to steal sales from Scion. The Versa, which one staffer describes as "a Quest that shrank in the dryer," takes longer to get used to. Most of the lines are pleasant enough, but the rear side windows that slant forward at the bottom, countered by the back-sloping rear hatch, creates an odd triangular c-pillar (a combination that won't be in the sedan, available in early 2007). The attractive if nondescript four-door Yaris takes on a familiar shape: Meet the corolla jr. The Yaris doesn't need to appeal to the youth market-that's what Scion's for. This one will bring more conservative subcompact buyers to dealerships.

While none is lightning fast, all do an admirable job of getting up to speed. The Yaris and Fit have 1.5-liter fours with variable valve timing, producing 106 and109 horsepower, respectively. The Toyota uses a four-speed automatic, and our Fit Sport came equipped with a five-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mount EZ paddle shifters. The Versa, the heaviest of the three, is powered by a 122-horse,1.8-liter four, controlled by a CVT for improved fuel economy and performance. The Nissan has the second best weight-to power ratio, but its gearing advantage over the four-speed Toyota made it the best performer at the track, reaching 60 mph in9.7 seconds, over two seconds faster than the Fit (11.9) and 0.7 second faster than the Yaris. It also clinched the quarter mile, reaching that distance in 17.4 seconds at78.6 mph. The middle-of-the-road Yaris came in second-best in acceleration, braking, and handling. The Fit, however, is the agile go-kart-like handler of this test: it ran the slalom at 64.1 mph, a speed 2.1mph higher than the Yaris's and 3.5 better than the Versa's.

The Yaris has the most comfortable freeway ride. Its soft suspension absorbs road irregularities and potholes better than those of the other two-though its numb steering does a poor job of communicating road feel to the driver. That's fine for stop-and-go traffic, but a real letdown anywhere else. The Versa is sportier than the Yaris and slightly quicker getting up to speed, and with much more responsive steering, it's a nicer drive on freeways and in canyons. The CVT doesn't let you do much to control what's going on-there's an "O/D Off" button, and low for downhill engine braking-and its whirring sound without an audible gearshift payoff isn't for everyone, but it allows a decent compromise between fuel economy and enthusiastic driving. The Fit is easily the runaway sporty car of the three. Its steering is quick and smooth, and the suspension is firm, but not jarring. You can push the Honda in corners, and it stays well planted. The ride isn't as comfortable as the others on the highway but is certainly acceptable. While the Fit is the slowest in a straight line, its paddles let you control the shifts to get the most out of the power it does have.

Anyone who endures the grind of the daily commute has certain needs: interior space, flexible layout, a good stereo, and cupholders. As expected from these three automakers, Fit and finish are excellent, even in the preproduction Versa. Each contains a unique definition of "attractive" seat cloth, and there are budget-minded hard-touch plastics, but the interiors all have style. The Fit's is the sportiest, with brushed-metal-like accents, backlit blue gauges and radio display screen, and a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel. The Versa has the most interior space overall and offers the most shoulder room, but the Fit has the most supportive seats, the most headroom, and, though the narrowest, provides the most hip room. The Fit also has by far the most transformable cabin. Its interior passenger volume is greater than the 88.0 cubic-feet in the Accord coupe and is almost as much as the Accord sedan's The second row's seat bottoms can flip back, making room to accommodate something tall behind the driver; if you need to carry larger items, fold the seats forward (without removing the headrests) to reveal a near-flat load floor. if that's still not enough space, the front passenger seat can recline to make room for items up to 7.8 feet long. And, if you need a place to catch some shut-eye, the front seats can ratchet back flush with the rears, creating a decent place to rest.

Each car is a fine commuter-there's more room than you'd think, with plenty of standard items and cool options, and they're great values. it comes down to what you want. The Yaris gets the best fuel economy (34 city/39 highway), has the best weight to-power ratio, and has the softest, most comfortable freeway ride. but it's the least engaging drive and the cabin doesn't have enough flexibility-so it earns third place.

At a close second, the Versa has the lowest estimated EPA fuel economy but second-best observed mileage on our drive and the most space inside, and is the fastest through the quarter mile. It's a good compromise between comfort and sportiness and impresses with its levels of polish and sophistication. but, at an estimated $17,000 (as tested), it's too pricey: The interior's not as Versatile as it should be, the fuel economy isn't good enough to justify the extra cost, and being faster to 60 is nice, but not worth the added money.

The winner: the Honda Fit Sport. It combines excellent steering and handling with a fantastic interior package and paddle shifters that make it feel like it has more juice than it really does. Of the three, it's the one you'll want to drive and the most capable of performing the cargo- and people-toting duties. The Fit is the right choice for the enthusiast who wants a car that handles twisties as well as it does chores, saves gas, and eases your budget.
FIRST PLACE Honda Fit SportCrisp, responsive steering, excellent handling, plus an unbeatable interior package. This one's the driver's car, and it can tackle day-to-day hauling duty, too.

SECOND PLACE Nissan Versa SLUnusual Euro styling plus high admission price were too much to earn it the gold, but it's fun to drive-and quick.
THIRD PLACE Toyota YarisToyota quality is present here. But the behind-the-wheel experience is forgettable. Enthusiasts need a car they like to drive, even if it's only to and from the office.

find here

Toyota pass ahead Honda by a score 4:3 or top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2007

By Warren Clarke, Content Editor

Like death and taxes, high gas prices have become an inescapable fact of life in this country. As a result, more and more American car buyers are making fuel economy a consideration when choosing vehicles. With those folks in mind, we've compiled a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient cars currently sold in the U.S.

Rankings were determined using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) miles-per-gallon ratings for city and highway travel. More specifically, we tapped the EPA's combined fuel economy formula: 55 percent of city mpg rating plus 45 percent of highway mpg rating. The rating for each vehicle below is expressed in mpg as a city/highway ratio. All ratings apply to base models equipped with a manual transmission, except where indicated otherwise with an asterisk.

Each model was allowed only one appearance on the list. The sole exception is the Honda Civic, which appears twice as a result of being available in both gas-electric hybrid and regular gasoline versions.

1. Toyota Prius — 60/51*
Affordably priced at $22K and up, the Prius is a bargain on many fronts. Real-world fuel economy doesn't match EPA estimates, but this hybrid car is still the most fuel-efficient vehicle on the market.


2. Honda Civic Hybrid — 49/51*
What's even more practical than the eminently practical Civic? The Civic Hybrid, which melds hybrid frugality with the poise and refinement of Honda's perennial best seller.


3. Toyota Camry Hybrid — 40/38*
The popular Camry offers a roomy cabin and acceleration that's more brisk than is typical for a four-cylinder family sedan. The newly introduced Camry Hybrid offers all this, plus a fuel-sipping hybrid engine.


4. Toyota Yaris — 34/40
With a starting price of $11K, the brand-new Yaris is the most affordable car in Toyota's lineup. Available as a three-door hatchback or a sedan, the Yaris offers a versatile interior — thanks to available sliding and reclining rear seats — and pleasant handling.


5. Honda Fit — 33/38
Coming in at about 20 inches shorter than the Civic, the Fit is a pint-sized new entry from Honda. For a price that starts at around $13K, you get agile handling and ample standard features.


6. Toyota Corolla — 32/41
You probably know that the Toyota Corolla is one of the most reliable cars on the market. What you might not know is that this roomy hauler is also one of the most fuel-efficient.


7. Mini Cooper — 32/40*
The Mini is known for its tiny dimensions and singular looks. What you may not know is that it's also one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. Its engineering and suspension come courtesy of BMW, its parent company, so if you slide behind the wheel, you'll definitely enjoy the ride.


8. Hyundai Accent/Kia Rio — 32/35
The 2007 Accent and its twin, the Kia Rio, nabbed the "Editors' Most Wanted Sedan Under $15,000" prize on account of agreeable handling and a generous standard features list. Both cars seem determined to upgrade our expectations of what economy cars should be.


9. Honda Civic — 30/40*
The Civic is a class leader in the small-car category, and with good reason. Available in coupe and sedan configurations, this Honda offers a roomy interior, composed handling and excellent safety ratings.


10. Nissan Versa — 30/36*
Fuel economy concerns have sparked the growth of the subcompact segment, with new entries like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris coming to market. The brand-new Nissan Versa is one of the best in this category, with a spacious interior and stellar materials quality.

from here

Toyota RAV4 vs Honda CR-V

Utility
There's no clear winner between the RAV4 and the Honda CR-V regarding transporting cargo. Drivers with frequent kid-duty might favor the Toyota RAV4 over the Honda. Towing is substantially more the Toyota RAV4's forte than it is the Honda CR-V's.

Performance
As far as horsepower, the Toyota RAV4 packs quite a wallop and will knock the Honda down a few rungs. On the other hand, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums. The Honda CR-V is likely to feel a tad sluggish because of its high horsepower-to-weight ratio compared to the Toyota RAV4.

Dimensions
The Toyota RAV4 is somewhat heavier than the Honda CR-V. The CR-V's tank is about the same size as the Toyota RAV4's, though the Toyota RAV4's is somewhat bigger. The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 compete for the same parking spaces.

Convenience
The Honda CR-V's fuel tank will need to be replenished somewhat more often than the unit in the Toyota RAV4.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Honda CR-V to the dealership as the Toyota. There isn't much of a difference in gas mileage here, but if you must know, the Toyota RAV4 is a tad more economical than the Honda CR-V. The Honda CR-V isn't much less expensive than the Toyota RAV4 in terms of MSRP.

Handling
The Toyota RAV4 and the CR-V have roughly comparable tires. With their comparable turning circles, the CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 doubtless handle roughly the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Toyota RAV4 has a more sizeable engine than the Honda CR-V. Keep in mind that smaller engines typically get better gas mileage, but a smaller engine usually has to work a little harder. Torque equals pickup, and the Toyota RAV4 will have picked up and gone by the time the Honda CR-V finally gets moving.

Comfort
Taller drivers will substantially enjoy the extra head room in the Toyota's front cabin compared to the Honda CR-V. While the rear of the Honda CR-V provides a bit more head- and leg-room than the Toyota RAV4, there honestly isn't much of a difference.

Overview
The Toyota and the Honda CR-V have the same basic after-sale protection.

from here