2010 Honda Insight Becomes Clearer at Paris Show
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The new Honda Insight has broken cover at the Paris auto show.
The new hybrid vehicle revives the Insight nameplate formerly applied to the two-seat hybrid vehicle that inaugurated the gas-electric class in the United States in the late 1990s. It also bears a distinct resemblance to that other hybrid you might have heard of, and that's a battle set to take place in U.S. showrooms early next year.
Honda says the Insight's shape bears the hallmarks of its larger, fuel-cell-powered FCX Clarity, but it's hard not to see some echoes of the Toyota Prius in its greenhouse--though the front end is quite Civic-like in its appearance. The new Insight seats five, Honda says, and the rear seats fold for improved cargo access.
The important innovation in the new Insight is a much less complex, much more affordable hybrid drivetrain, the company says. It will allow the Insight to be sold for a price significantly lower than today's hybrids, Honda says. The automaker expects to sell 200,000 of the vehicles each year worldwide, with 100,000 heading to the United States from its Suzuka, Japan, factory. Combined with a production version of the CR-Z coupe hybrid concept, the new family of hybrids could swell to 500,000 sales annually.
The new 2010 Honda Insight goes on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2009. More details to come--stay tuned.
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wkile Posted: 10/2/2008 7:28am PDT
Ed Posted: 10/2/2008 8:08am PDT
This one will be priced below the prius, will have as good MPG as t he prius, and looks much better than the prius
Honda will sell every one they can make, even if its SOB dealers charge over list for every one of them.
Conclusion: if the production version is not much uglier than this concept (a big if), it will b ea home run
PS Honda styling for almost 2 decades now has not been that great. VWS, and even the new Malibu from GM, look much better, but they suck reliability-wise and have not sold as well.
Frank Posted: 10/2/2008 12:03pm PDT
This styling should also quiet the Volt critics, as the more pictures of the Volt I see the better it looks. It was somewhat niave to assume the Volt was going to look like the concept car, it didn't look very practical, low roof line, and ingress and egress didn't look very easy. So while the Volt is growing on me, I'm not sure this car is going to have the same effect.
VW is not noted for it's quality, and that has been a factor for years.
I'm not sure where the negativity on the current Malibu comes from. I've not seen any data/info to support that quality statement regarding the Malibu.
Don't forget both Honda and Toyota has suffered significant quality problems in the last 2 years. In addition the Accord Hybrid was pulled altogether.
As far as efficiency is concerned i believe the Prius still beats the Honda in the MPG race. If this car uses the current IMA Honda approach it don't see any reason to expect the Honda equaling or significantly beating the Prius. Also, the Camry Hybrid seems to be performing very well in the market place, both in sales and satisfaction.
Reece Posted: 10/2/2008 8:11pm PDT
Jim S. Posted: 10/3/2008 3:56am PDT
Mark Posted: 10/3/2008 1:35pm PDT
--Mark...
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