Honda VV

Honda's VV - Because Fossil Fuels are a Limited Resource, Folks

DETROIT - Boasting "more miles per gallon than any car on the road," the Honda VV will soon become the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle to be sold in America. Who cares, you say? Well, contrary to popular opinion and current fuel prices, behemoth sport-utility vehicles will someday cost a lot of money to operate. So here's the important data, to be referred to during the next fuel crisis: The VV is a two-seat coupe, it comes with a five-speed manual transmission, and it should cost less than $20,000. The VV also burns less fuel than the average Amish farmer.

The VV achieves an EPA fuel economy rating of more than 70 mpg, easily meeting California's strict Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) standards. This ecological friendliness is possible thanks to a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder VTEC engine, the first production motor to make use of Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). IMA was showcased a little over a year ago on Honda's J-VX concept, a vehicle that could achieve Zero Level Emission Vehicle (ZLEV) status, meaning that the vehicle's emissions were sometimes cleaner than the surrounding air.

VV's hybrid engine works by employing electric power under acceleration, when extra force-and hence extra fuel-is required to move a vehicle up to speed. The electric motor offers secondary power to the combustion motor in a manner similar to a supercharger.

An electric battery is recharged with help from the engine and regenerative braking, making recharging automatic and invisible to the driver. The car is further enhanced by super-lightweight body and structural materials. The VV weighs in at less than 2,000 pounds, so performance from the tiny engine should be adequate; Honda claims a range of some 700 miles and top speed of over 100 mph.

Honda expects to produce 5,000 to 6,000 VVs for the 2000 model year, and it will go on sale late this fall. With a car that should cost about as much to maintain as a motorcycle, why wait for the next fuel crisis to hit? Get yours while supplies last.