At the Paris International Auto Show next month, Honda will unveil a prototype of its new low-cost hybrid: the Insight. A lot has changed since 1999, when the company debuted the first hybrid to hit American roads: the, um, Insight. Has Honda exhausted its supply of car names? Nay, says the company: "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." Indeed, when the new Insight hits showrooms in spring 2009, it's expected to be priced around $18,500; the base retail price for the 2009 Toyota Prius is $22,000. Honda officials are so far mum on the Insight's expected fuel economy. With its five-door, five-passenger offering, Honda hopes to gain ground on Toyota in the hybrid market, but it has a ways to go: Toyota sold some 280,000 hybrids in the first seven months of 2008, while Honda sold about that many hybrids in the past decade.
source: CNNMoney.com, Jalopnik, Reuters, Consumer Reports, The Telegraph
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2wheeler Posted 1:08 am
05 Sep 2008
The 2nd generation Insight vehicle shown in the photo with this posting strongly resembles a Prius (or stretched 3-door Insight) body style which is very aerodynamic and practical for many uses.
Any of these vehicles would be great options to reduce carbon footprints. But today once again I've biked to work. Sustainability is much more feasible than some would admit!
I would be surprised if this new insight utilizes as much advanced lightweight body materials if it is coming to market at $18.5k , that is likely to keep its mpg down somewhere in the upper 40s. I really believe hybrids ought to be able to yield mpg in the 60s as this technology continues to mature, if all engineering prowess is brought to bear on the challenge.
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starsky Posted 9:22 am
05 Sep 2008
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