Honda's Insight returns as new Prius fighter
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Honda's Insight returns as new Prius fighter
Honda Insight concept
The Honda Insight is back, this time with room for three more passengers.
Honda has revived the model name for the long-awaited dedicated hybrid vehicle tasked with taking on the Toyota Prius. And like its rival, it will be a five-door, five-passenger hatchback.
A concept version of the new Insight will debut at the Paris motor show in October, the company said on Thursday. The car is expected to hit U.S. showrooms next April.
The name is a carryover from Honda’s first crack at the hybrid segment. The first generation Insight was billed as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle sold in the United States.
But the first generation had just two seats and sold only 17,001 units from its launch in 1999 to 2006, when production ended. It was easily eclipsed by Toyota’s Prius, which has sold more than 1 million since 1997 and remains the world’s best selling hybrid vehicle.
“The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's ‘insight’ into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers,” Honda Motor Co. said in its release.
Honda has bigger ambitions for the second generation Insight. It is eyeing annual sales of 200,000 vehicles worldwide, with about half being sold in North America.
The car will sit on a new platform in which the battery and control unit are located beneath the cargo space. The gasoline engine will serve as the main power source, and the electric motor will assist when extra power is needed, such as during passing, start up and acceleration.
Honda did not release other details, but said it has made advances in cost control.
“Thanks to reductions in the weight and size of the Insight’s key components, Honda has also achieved significant cost reductions,” the company said.
Honda has already said the car will be slightly smaller and lighter than the Civic Hybrid, the only hybrid now in Honda’s lineup. It will also be priced lower than the Civic and Prius.
The Civic Hybrid's base price is $22,600, and the Prius starts at $21,500.
The next generation Insight kicks off a flurry of hybrid launches for Honda as it tries to catch Toyota in the race for greener vehicles. Honda is also planning a sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z concept, a new generation of the Civic hybrid and finally a hybrid version of its compact Fit.
Honda has revived the model name for the long-awaited dedicated hybrid vehicle tasked with taking on the Toyota Prius. And like its rival, it will be a five-door, five-passenger hatchback.
A concept version of the new Insight will debut at the Paris motor show in October, the company said on Thursday. The car is expected to hit U.S. showrooms next April.
The name is a carryover from Honda’s first crack at the hybrid segment. The first generation Insight was billed as the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle sold in the United States.
But the first generation had just two seats and sold only 17,001 units from its launch in 1999 to 2006, when production ended. It was easily eclipsed by Toyota’s Prius, which has sold more than 1 million since 1997 and remains the world’s best selling hybrid vehicle.
“The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's ‘insight’ into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers,” Honda Motor Co. said in its release.
Honda has bigger ambitions for the second generation Insight. It is eyeing annual sales of 200,000 vehicles worldwide, with about half being sold in North America.
The car will sit on a new platform in which the battery and control unit are located beneath the cargo space. The gasoline engine will serve as the main power source, and the electric motor will assist when extra power is needed, such as during passing, start up and acceleration.
Honda did not release other details, but said it has made advances in cost control.
“Thanks to reductions in the weight and size of the Insight’s key components, Honda has also achieved significant cost reductions,” the company said.
Honda has already said the car will be slightly smaller and lighter than the Civic Hybrid, the only hybrid now in Honda’s lineup. It will also be priced lower than the Civic and Prius.
The Civic Hybrid's base price is $22,600, and the Prius starts at $21,500.
The next generation Insight kicks off a flurry of hybrid launches for Honda as it tries to catch Toyota in the race for greener vehicles. Honda is also planning a sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z concept, a new generation of the Civic hybrid and finally a hybrid version of its compact Fit.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
I have a fetish for LED headlights and fogs so if that car actually comes out with front lighting as seen in that image I may HAVE to make that my next car. I've been wanting something small and fuel efficient anyway and Honda tends to make their economy cars more fun to drive than the competition too (see Fit and Civic... both more fun to drive than the competition).
What's the release date? My 335i lease is up in 14 months so hopefully this thing comes out pretty soon and loses its initial 'hot product' period where dealers won't budge a dollar off MSRP by the time 14 more months go by.
By the way... I think a lot of the similar looks to the Prius come from the profile shape... which is pretty much determined by the physics of aerodynamics... not Honda's desire to look like the Prius.
What's the release date? My 335i lease is up in 14 months so hopefully this thing comes out pretty soon and loses its initial 'hot product' period where dealers won't budge a dollar off MSRP by the time 14 more months go by.
By the way... I think a lot of the similar looks to the Prius come from the profile shape... which is pretty much determined by the physics of aerodynamics... not Honda's desire to look like the Prius.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Not to mention my intention is to take the money I'm saving and put it into my C6/C7 Vette fund.
Regardless, due to aerodynamics, basic shapes of super efficient vehicles can't be too dramatically different.
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It doesn't even look like a newer Prius. It looks like the Prius that has been out for the past 5 years, with the usual weird *** Honda front end.
And we all know this thing is going to sell like crack to Tyrone Biggums...Once they can meet demand, 20k a month easy....
Honda has the worst design team currently. Sorry.
And we all know this thing is going to sell like crack to Tyrone Biggums...Once they can meet demand, 20k a month easy....
Honda has the worst design team currently. Sorry.
No Substitute
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,813
Likes: 63
From: RI
Good for Honda! Although I also would prefer a more 'unique' look for the Honda, I like what I see.
It will be interesting to see if those big wheels make it from concept to production. With dedicated hybrids commitment to high MPG I think we'll see smaller lighter wheels on the production car.
TripleL
It will be interesting to see if those big wheels make it from concept to production. With dedicated hybrids commitment to high MPG I think we'll see smaller lighter wheels on the production car.
TripleL
Speaks French in Russian
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,397
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From: What is G?
I think Toyota should sue. to the untrained eye, many will think its a Prius. Great for Toyota, bad for Honda. The spy pics we saw of the Volt doesn't look anything like these vehicles. Im sure designers can come up with aerodynamic designs that all do not look the same.
Most interesting will be the cost.
to the untrained eye, many will think its a Prius. Great for Toyota, bad for Honda. The spy pics we saw of the Volt doesn't look anything like these vehicles. Im sure designers can come up with aerodynamic designs that all do not look the same.Most interesting will be the cost.
I think it looks like the Prius, but I do like the front end better. I like the more agressive bumper and the headlights, and I really like the LED strip fog/driving lights. The this angle though I have a feeling the rear tail lights is going to be real funky looking.
The whole car looks like a mid cycle refresh of the Prius.
The whole car looks like a mid cycle refresh of the Prius.
