As I recall, that general aerodynamic shape is called the KAMM BACK. Audi A2, Insight (both), Prius -- all are in that family, along with many competition cars. Perhaps the horrific Pontiac Aztec, as well.
Ike
...hoping that Obama succeeds, but planning for an abysmal failure
The back/tail end, AFAIK, is what constitutes the Kamm back. Not the entire general shape.
Cathy
Yes, going to be interesting...
Cathy
>
Well, no. There's a mathematical description of the shape, in which the butt truncation occurs where its cross-sectional area is equal to a specific percentage of the maximum cross section of the vehicle (about half, I think). It's the gestalt - the whole car.
Ike
Increasingly dubious that anyone, including Saint Barack, has any chance whatsoever of avoiding an economic collapse, rampant inflation, and sociological cataclysm.
You know what...? Whichever it is technically, I do not think the original Insight resembled the new one, nor the Prius (which the new Insight does resemble - shape-wise). And... why would Honda even *want* the new Insight to resemble the old one, considering how that one fared? They need a fresh new start with this version, which I think they're getting.
Cathy
Considering that there is only one drive mode, you're always in the correct drive mode. "B" is not a drive mode, and shouldn't be used except when driving on a long downhill. It took me less than an hour for that selector to become second nature.
One can change the display to something else, or even turn it off completely.
That's coming with the 2010 model. In fact, the center display screen will be gone completely unless you have the GPS navigation package.
True, but it still gets better mileage under those conditions than other cars do, because their mileage suffers as well.
As do all internal-combustion engines.
True, but the same is also true of other cars.
That's true of all gas gauges, but the bladder makes it more so with the Prius; the bladder is in only the US versions of the car, BTW.
The bladder will be gone with the 2010 model.
That's because the LCD screen is polarized for left-hand drive. It's been a sore point for many drivers who have right-and drive models.
Actually, all the ones on the steering wheel do, but they're not bright enough. The ones on the dash that don't light up are rarely used.
I've never had a problem with that; the car can go up to over 100 MPH, and I've found acceleration to be very brisk. It's not a muscle car, but it is peppy enough to not have any merge problems. I'm up to highway speed by the time I reach the end of the onramp, before I am in the merge lane.
Ummmmm.....actually, one needs press the brake pedal only to shift OUT of park.
Not sure what you THINK you had to do, but if you were pressing the brake pedal to shift from D to N or B, you were doing it wrong.
What else were you doing wrong?
I read that too--and yet, I went through 40K miles and two winters without a hint of problem. Go figure.
Not me. After the first 20K the tires were useless on ice and snow.
Why does it have to be a war? Under new mileage laws most vehicles will need hybrid technology next decade. Plus $5 - $10 gasoline WILL return in a matter of time. Better to work the bugs out now before get into high volumes.
In message , rick++ writes
Here in the UK we already pay over £4 a gallon what's that in your money?
A little under $6.00. Doesn't that higher tax pay for your health care too? If we added our health care costs to our gas costs we would be paying about $10.00 gallon right now.
When I backup from my driveway I switch from R to D without even touching my brake. It works very smoothly. Only if you switch from N or P to any drive mode you have to press the brake pedal, just like any other automatic. Thibaud
It reached $8 last year before the Pound tumbled.
I've driven the Prius with the stock Goodyear Integrity tires in torrential rain at highway speeds, as well as winding secondary roads, and never had a problem.
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