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 1.3 litre Insight is powered by Honda's acclaimed IMA system, which has been extensively modified to reduce its cost and weight. With careful engineering of key components and refinement of manufacturing processes, the cost of the hybrid system has been significantly reduced. This ensures that Insight can be sold at a very competitive price without compromising ability, quality, environmental performance or profitability.
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.
This reduction in cost has not been brought about by compromising the quality of the Insight, instead the Japanese manufacturer has tasked its engineers with finding more intelligent cost reduction solutions.
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.
CO2 emissions and fuel economy are targeted to be at a similar level to the existing Civic Hybrid, giving drivers a flexible and highly practical lower environmental impact car. At its expected price point, Insight will have a unique combination of passenger space, luggage capacity, emissions and economy.
"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 will form the first part of Honda's new hybrid strategy, which will see a further dedicated hybrid model, derived from the CR-Z show car and a hybrid version of the Jazz. The strategy will make hybrids both more accessible and more appealing to a range of customer types.
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.
A combination of a CCX and 9-3 AeroX combi would possibly be the most evil looking car the world has ever seen, and I am rock hard writing this sentance.
It looks a little less awkward than the Prius, although I'm not particularly enamoured with the weird light-up grill..Reminds me of a '90s Mercury Sable.
It is inherently better because it has tuRb0 b00$t...With a turbo if you look at it seductively under a full moon you will have the ability to melt your own face from the new found power
Quote, originally posted by Elbows »
Look...just because you OWN the car doesn't mean you know anything about it. Now butt out and let the rest of us complain about a car we've never driven...SHEESH
Allons enfants de la Patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrive ! Contre nous de la tyrannie, L'etendard sanglant est leve ! [...] - July 14, national day of France
it has to, the "boat tail" shape is just the most aero for a reasonably high volume / surface area thing.
if you took anything that moves through a fluid its going to have drag, if you take that thing and put a cone on the BACK of it to prevent the air from smashing together in its wake you cut 1/3 out of its drag.
so thats why you're seeing so many cars now where the widest / tallest part isn't the back anymore, its more near the middle. my A3 slopes down and in behind the B pillar.
think of an ocean-going fish like a shark or a tuna, they have most of their mass and volume up front, and taper more gradually to a blade at the back.
the prius was actually modeled after a pufferfish, because they, surprisingly have more of an ability to move volume through the water easily than most any other fish. They're "fat" but still hydrodynamic enough to be energy efficient.
-get ready for all cars to be shaped this way, its the future.
OMG the Honda Insight looks like a Prius that looks like a Citroen that looks like a 1967 BMC Pininfarnia 1800
1967 Pininfarnia 1800
Quote, originally posted by BlackDevilCar »
She took the picture.
"No, honey, you don't look retarded at all! I'm soo happy you cut your hair like I told you to [the girls will love this one. For my next trick I'll have him jump off the Brooklyn Bridge]"
Do I go for this or do I tough it out for a Volt? Decisions decisions...
This is definitely gonna be on my list for a daily driver. The Vibe's getting a little long in the teefs, and there's a ridiculous list of completely fantastic, fuel efficient, nicely engineered cars coming out.
I think the big issue with people thinking that it looks like a Prius is that it's still a fairly uncommon shape among cars today. No matter who started using the design, the Prius brought it to the mainstream and comparisons are going to be unavoidable.
If the fuel economy will only be similar to the Civic Hybrid, that means it will still be lower than the Prius.
I'm not impressed.
x2
It's just a repackaged Civic hybrid with Prius look alike body. I guess Honda is going to tough it out with its mild hybrid system and not bow to Toyota and license the hybrid concept patent like everyone else.
What does this "Insight" offer that the current Civic Hybrid does not?
1. Unique shape.
2. Hatchback rear end.
3. ???
The press release didn't even offer up potential estimated mpg ranges.
Am cornfused...
Don't be confused be patient
1. Hatchback(better aerodynamics?) versatility 2. Said lower price, 3. Said higher mpgs 4. And for GreenHeads a shape instantly recognizable as a hybrid
That's what you are getting
Quote, originally posted by BlackDevilCar »
She took the picture.
"No, honey, you don't look retarded at all! I'm soo happy you cut your hair like I told you to [the girls will love this one. For my next trick I'll have him jump off the Brooklyn Bridge]"
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