27 December 2012

Honda wind resistance commercial misleading

Honda has aired on Australian television an advertising campaign that is misleading the general populous.

In the television commercial, a green Honda Civic hatch is portrayed in city driving conditions next to other cars (and people) with parachutes, signifying wind resistance is what is slowing down all objects excluding Honda’s Civic (drag coefficient, Cd 0.30).

Pictured also is the  2012 model Toyota Camry, which according to the manufacturer has a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.27, or or 10% better than the Honda. Incidentally Toyota’s Prius is rated at 0.25.

The claim is made that city driving in other vehicles uses more fuel compared to the Honda’s Civic, which is misleading.

In city driving it is rare to see speeds in excess of 40km/h (25 mph), where the norm is walking pace or even slower during peak periods.

It can be argued that wind resistance come into play over a certain speed, but the reality of the situation is that any alleged fuel savings made on a city trip can easily be negated by a lengthy delay at traffic lights, or by even the use of the car’s air conditioner.

This is just one example of many that corporations are misleading the masses in order to obtain sales of their products, which under Australian law is illegal.

The so called watchdogs are not in any hurry or have any vested interest to kerb false or misleading advertising by the corporate giants.

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