When you think hybrid, you usually think Prius. That’s about to change, though, because Honda expanded its lineup of electrified cars at the annual New York Auto Show. Already offered with a futuristic hydrogen-powered drivetrain, the Clarity hatchback is now available as a pure electric car and as a plug-in hybrid.
All Clarity variants are characterized by the same polarizing design. The visual differences between the three cars include model-specific front ends, different 18-inch alloy wheels, and unique tail lights. They’re not exactly identical, but it takes a well-trained eye to tell the three Clarity hatchbacks apart.
It’s what’s under the skin that counts, and the Clarity is one of the most advanced cars Honda has ever built regardless of what fuels it.
The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid’s drivetrain consists of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor rated at 181 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The four-banger primarily serves as a generator, but it can drive the wheels directly under certain circumstances, though Honda hasn’t detailed those yet.
A 17kWh battery pack stores enough juice to power the sedan on its own for up to 42 miles. When electricity and gasoline join forces, the Clarity boasts a total driving range of over 330 miles and it returns an EPA-estimated 105 MPGe. Topping up the battery pack takes two and a half hours when the pack is plugged into a 240-volt charger.
The Clarity Electric relies on a 161-horsepower, 221-pound-feet electric motor that spins the front wheels. It’s linked to a 25.5-kWh battery pack that requires three hours to fully charge. The Electric is expected to earn a 111-MPGe rating, but Honda hasn’t revealed how far it can drive before the battery runs out of juice. However, recent reports point to merely 80 miles of range.
Both models offer three driving modes called Normal, Econ, and Sport, respectively, while the hybrid lets the driver save the battery’s full charge for later. Inside, there’s room for five passengers in a spacious, well-lit environment with wood trim and aluminum-look accents. Unlike the Prius, the Clarity is available with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
In the past, Toyota’s hybrids have always overshadowed rival models built by Honda. The company isn’t looking to beat the Prius in the sales race, but it hopes to sell 75,000 examples of the Clarity during the model’s first four years on the United States market. Pricing for the Clarity Electric has not been released yet, but the 2018 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid will start at $33,400 and go on sale December 1.
Update: We’ve added the MSRP for the 2018 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid.
BYD has launched the third-generation Qin Plus DM-i in China, and the first thing that caught my eye is its price. According to CarNewsChina, the plug-in hybrid sedan starts at 79,900 yuan, which is about $11,980. That’s an incredibly low price for a brand-new car, especially by US standards.
What’s even more impressive is the range. The Qin Plus DM-i can drive up to 137 miles on electricity alone, which should cover most people’s daily commutes without using a drop of gas. Once the battery runs out, the 1.5-liter engine takes over. Thanks to its 17-gallon tank and roughly 91 mpg with a drained battery, the combined range reaches up to 1,423 miles.
Apple won the PC market’s worst quarter, but that’s not the entire story. It won the race by stumbling less than everyone else.
PC makers shipped just 57 million computers worldwide in Q3, which might look good, but it’s a 21% year-over-year plunge (via Counterpoint Research). And despite Apple’s Mac shipments falling by 11%, to 5.6 million, its market share rose from 8.7% to 9.8%. How did that happen?
Update (October 22 23:54 PT): In response to our query, GM clarified that offline recording support is already available on eligible vehicles. Like Tesla's Sentry Mode, it requires owners to connect a USB drive to save incident recordings, which can be viewed on the vehicle's infotainment screen. The upcoming Connected Cameras feature will build on this by giving owners remote access to these recordings via the revamped OnStar app, allowing them to check footage without walking out to their car.
General Motors has announced plans to add a new Connected Cameras feature to its OnStar service starting next year, giving drivers a way to monitor parked vehicles remotely and capture footage of certain incidents.