The Honda Insight is a “dedicated hybrid vehicle” in Honda terms, which means it is a model that only comes with a hybrid powertrain, unlike the Honda Civic Hybrid which also has non-hybrid variants.
The 5-door, 5-seater car has its battery and control unit located under the cargo space. This is the latest version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist system. A production version will be announced later and will go on sale in spring 2009 in Japan, Europe and North America. Annual sales are projected to reach 200,000 units.
We have to note that none of the promises that Honda made when they first talked about this new Insight sometime ago have been fulfilled with this concept. The Insight will apparently be cheap enough for a majority of people to consider, instead of current hybrids which are typically much more expensive than the regular versions.
The Civic Hybrid currently costs RM162,800 here in Malaysia, much more than the Civic 2.0 at RM128,800, and that is a big price difference. We will have to wait for the production Insight to be unveiled to do a price comparison and see if the Insight will really be an affordable hybrid.
BTW Honda, what happened to AVTEC? Toyota’s Valvematic has already been put into production cars in both Europe and Japan.
For now, check out hi-res photos and a few videos after the jump.
PHOTO GALLERY: Honda Insight Hybrid Concept
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo
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Video: Honda Insight Hybid Concept – 1
Video: Honda Insight Hybid Concept – 2
Video: Honda Insight Hybid Concept – Paris Motorshow 2008
After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.
1st to comment, yahoooooo.
The interior looks awesome, i like the meter cluster and the rear lights.
Wonder how much it ll cost here in malaysia?
is it necessary to have prius stance?
I dont like the rear~
And it looks like a Toyota Prius. They clone each other or is there some technical reason for the same shape? Best possible shape for aerodynamics perhaps?
Well it mignt look a bit like a Prius but it also looks like the first generation Insight
the original honda insight had similar rear. i dont know about it looking like a prius, but most japanese cars resemble each other
dazzling lights make me go ahhh..
wow impressive….
LED rules..
I like the rear, it’s like a tribute to the previous model… and it seems more like the Prius now, but I guess it’s not a bad thing as that’ll mean more space and comfort. Good that the front is still very Honda
Hi there,
I guess the reason why Honda Hybrid New Concept has bigger rear-boot is to accommodate the big batteries which are very common issue for hybrid and battery powered vehicles. To compensate this, they must have designed the rear-boot to have higher vertical clearance or increased volume for baggage. Similar issue with CNG or LNG cars in which the tanks are huge and its eating up most of the rear-boot space.
Yeah, I like the light-blue “bling-bling” LEDs. Its a girl-magnet features. You all know lah, I don’t know what’s wrong with girls when it comes to shiny things, lights and fireworks, they seems to be attracted to it…hurm.
nice concept. wonder how long it will take Honda to get it from the drawing board, to the road.
i also wonder how far away LED headlights are, or whether it will even happen at all.
read somewhere that it is the most aerodynamically efficient (may not be the most beautiful) shape to save on fuel. sadly, it makes the prius and the insight look so similar. nice interior though and i kinda like the exterior too.
Good for Honda fans out there ,wish there will be more options for the buyers in the future . Our govt. should support new techno and give incentives to all quarters in the auto industry to change and go green
Lets have more Honda , wonder what happened to toyota san have they forgetten about Malaysia?
Honda claims it is an efficient aero shape, so it is just coincidence that it looks identical to Toyota’s distinct Prius. COME ON Honda, you guys just used a photocopier and copied every page of the Prius Brochure and replace the name Toyota to Honda.
I find Honda is really full of BS. They claim racing is in their blood. They claim without Honda, there will be no racing. Just look at the results in F1 today and you’ll find they are always the slow backmarkers. In contrast, Toyota made great progress and Toyota is a younger team than Honda.
As pointed out, The over hyped AVTEC never really made into production.
The golden days of Honda are gone.
if a hybrid car can look this good, toyota can close shop
I want one !
Hopefully this comes true…Looks 100x better than current hybrid.