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New Honda Insight Breaks Cover
Written by: Autocar staff   http://www.autocar.co.uk
09/04/2008 - 04:34 PM
Paris, France
 
All-new Honda Insight goes on sale in spring of 2009. ยป More Photos

This is the all-new Honda Insight, a more affordable hybrid family car concept that will make its debut at the Paris motor show in October and take the fight directly to Toyota’s Prius.

The finished Insight goes on sale in the spring of next year, but this five-door, five-seat concept model is said to be close to production-ready. It revives the Insight badge, which was first used on Honda’s first hybrid in 1999, a groundbreaking car that was nevertheless a sales disappointment.

The new Insight is certain to be more successful than its predecessor. Honda officials have confirmed that it will be priced “significantly lower” than any other hybrid car on the market. As a result Honda believes it can attain massive global sales of 200,000 units per year with this model, half of which are expected to come in the USA.

Takeo Fukui, president of Honda, said he believes the new Insight will “break new ground by providing an affordable hybrid to an expanded number of customers craving great
fuel economy and great value.”

Some of the styling touches are shared with the hydrogen fuel cell-powered FCX Clarity, but the Insight uses a new and improved version of Honda’s IMA hybrid drive. This is likely to mate a revised version of the 113hp, 1.4-liter iVTEC engine with an ultra-efficient hybrid powertrain. Fuel economy in excess of 80mpg is expected.

The new Insight won’t use more modern lithium-ion batteries, though, because Honda still has major doubts about their reliability and safety. But using more conventional nickel metal hydride units will help cut costs.

Up until now, Honda’s hybrid strategy had been to fit hybrid systems to normal production models. But the Insight is the first in a family of custom-built hybrids. It’s based on a new platform, which the sportier CR-Z – previewed in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo motor show – is likely to share. Within the next three years, an incredibly efficient Fit hybrid is also likely to be launched.
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