Behind in Hybrid Car Race, Honda Adds Horsepower

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-honda17sep17,1,4006816.story?coll=la-home-business
Behind in Hybrid Car Race, Honda Adds Horsepower
It unveils a gas-electric Accord model, which is more powerful than the conventional version.
By John O'Dell
Times Staff Writer

September 17, 2004

In the race to win over Americans with gas-stingy, hybrid-powered cars, Toyota Motor Corp. has sped past Honda Motor Co.

Toyota's futuristic-looking gas-and-electric-powered hybrid Prius is outselling Honda's Civic Hybrid by almost 2 to 1 in the U.S. this year.

To try to catch up, Honda this week in San Diego unveiled its biggest hybrid yet: a 2005 Accord Hybrid sedan that will reach dealers' showrooms Dec. 3.

Honda promises that the Accord Hybrid, with 255 horsepower, will perform better than its top-of-the-line, 240-horsepower, six-cylinder, gas-powered Accord.

As the first hybrid with a six-cylinder engine, the company says, it will accelerate from a stop to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, besting the regular Accord's eight-second time. What's more, Honda's tests show the Accord Hybrid will get 30 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway, versus the federal EPA rating of 21 mpg city and 30 highway for the conventional model. With an expected price of $30,000, the Accord Hybrid will cost about $3,300 more than the current EX model on which it is based.<snip>

[wuushew]

1. Can someone explain why 6 cyclinders are needed?

If hybrids get their power from the engine and or the battery the immediate draw of current would not be a function of how quickly the engine gets up to speed. Why not stick to more efficient 4 cyclinder designs which they are good at manufacturing?