Honda Insight Concept @ 2008 Paris Auto Show

[siko]

Honda Reveals Insight Concept for Paris

Making it's public debut in Paris this October, Honda has revealed today the Insight concept. With design cues taken from the FCX Clarity, the Insight, which is built on a newly developed platform, is a 5-door hatchback seating five.

Although still in concept form, Honda confirms the Insight concept closely resembles the production version which will go on sale in Europe, Japan and North America during the first half of 2009.

With Honda's ongoing emphasis on cleaner powertrains, the Insight will be accompanied in Paris next to the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and CR-Z sports hybrid concept model.

As a dedicated hybrid model using Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid power plant, the Insight is described as being the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date.

Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan which recently has expanded hybrid motor production line.

[Source: Honda via WCF]

 

[siko]

Press Release

Honda will reveal a concept version of its new global hybrid vehicle along with the official name, Insight, at the Paris Motor Show. The new dedicated hybrid will be exhibited along with the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and CR-Z sports hybrid concept model, demonstrating Honda's ongoing commitment to the development of cleaner powertrains.

Honda has always intended Hybrid vehicles to be a bridge to a hydrogen powered future, the potential of which has already been demonstrated by the FCX Clarity. The Insight Concept has clear stylistic links to the world's first production fuel cell car, with both vehicles' forms shaped to maximise the efficiency of their respective drivetrains.

The Insight Concept is the stylistic inspiration for the production version which will go on sale in 2009. From this unique position in the marketplace, Insight will open hybrid technology to a new generation of customers.

The Insight will benefit from a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components resulting in the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. This dedicated hybrid vehicle will be offered as a 5-door hatchback with seating for five passengers and built on a newly developed platform. Engineers have mounted the compact control unit and battery beneath the boot space to give the Insight both a low centre of gravity and the practicality of a conventionally powered hatchback.

Insight will utilise various technologies, including a function to assist more fuel efficient driving giving customers a further improvement in real world fuel consumption. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan which recently has expanded hybrid motor production line.

"The original Honda Insight launched in 1999 was the pioneer of hybrid technology in Europe and remains an iconic symbol of Honda's environmental innovation," said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO. "This new Insight will also break new ground by providing an affordable hybrid to an expanded number of customers craving great fuel economy and great value."

The Insight Concept is the culmination of two decades of hybrid petrol electric hybrid research and development. The Insight production vehicle will go on sale in Europe, Japan and North America during the first half of 2009.

[Source: Honda via WCF]

 

[Giannis]

OMG, it's a Prius

 

[Merc1]

Well here she is.....

M

 

[Sayyaaf]

Re: Well here she is.....

Not bad for a hybrid ... still would take the new Volt though .. but definitely this over the Prius.

 

[Monster]

Re: Well here she is.....

Honda has been offering Hybrid Civics for ages, and they cost cheaper than the Prius to buy, however the sales of the hybrid Civic is way short of the sales figure achieved by the Prius. Now call me cynical but a lot of those hybrid drivers out there just want to be seen in one of these and can take the moral high ground when it comes to any environmental debate. Honda realised this and now they are relaunching the Insight, which looks similar to the Prius, and hopefully have a larger bite of the hybrid pie.

I don't see any actual purpose of this car besides giving the masses of ignorant people another choice to scream "I am better than all of you'' when they drive.

The normal Civic hybrid is fine, it is a pity that nobody really cares about it.

 

[bum-man]

^Prius drivers polluting the world with their smugness. Pretty soon we are going to have to start driving anti-smug vehicles before the world implodes or something.

 

[ateekt]

A revolution in Honda's design history, consedring the seriously ugly 1st gen Insight ...!

A typical new Honda's look with an ugly front grill. I hope they reconsider her face, before rolling her in production ...!