Insightful? Honda Insight Concept @ 2008 Paris Motor Show

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TORRANCE, California — Honda on Thursday lifted the veil of secrecy surrounding its new Prius fighter, saying the compact five-door hatchback — christened the Insight — will make its debut on October 2 at the 2008 Paris Auto Show. Honda said the Insight, which will undercut the price of the Toyota Prius, will go on sale in the U.S. next spring.

The new Honda Insight is expected to be priced from under $20,000 and is the first vehicle in Honda's ambitious hybrid strategy. In comparison, the 2009 Toyota Prius starts at $22,660, including a $660 destination charge.

Honda plans to roll out four new gas-electric models over the next four years as part of a broad global strategy to boost hybrid sales to 500,000 units by 2012 — which would represent more than 10 percent of its total worldwide annual automobile sales.

"Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show," the automaker said in a statement.

Also in the pipeline is a replacement for the current Civic Hybrid, which is due out in late 2010, and a new hybrid edition of the Honda Fit in 2012.

The new Insight is a major leap from the original Insight, a cramped 70-mpg two-seater subcompact that was introduced in December 1999 as America's first gas-electric hybrid car. Honda took pains in its Thursday announcement to describe the new Insight as "roomy." It said the futuristic Insight Concept "shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel-cell vehicle and will provide an early look at the highly anticipated five-passenger hybrid vehicle."

Honda said it was able to hold down the price of the production Insight "by utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid technology, resulting in a new level of affordability for hybrid customers worldwide." Although it provided few technical specifications, the Japanese automaker also said the production Insight will have "a function to assist customers in achieving more fuel-efficient driving habits." The new Insight will be built in Japan.

The Honda Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units a year, with about 100,000 of those in North America.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Honda
• Insight
• Concept
• Paris
• Motor
• Show
• FCX
• Clarity
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• car
• motor
• auto

[Tentors]

nice car and once again the big three automakers in the USA are left scratching their heads , duhh how did they do that .Come on guys catch up !

[TheJabHattEnt]

I'm tired of people saying that Honda is copying the Prius shape. The only thing they are copying from Toyota, is the second pair of doors. Don't forget about the first generation Insight and the Honda CR-X that first had this shape, that Toyota added rear doors to.

[FreaxUnleashed]

This is such a nice car! I'm getting my beginners in a highschool course and I'm trying to find a car that I really love. I like cars with this type of shape. haha.. Even the Honda CR-Z Hybrid looks wicked. Anyways, I really love this car. :D

[Fishyboiboi]

@jonashunter1 no i was talking about your fat mom, fag.

[jonashunter1]

@Fishyboiboi are you talking about your mum?

[Vladmir917]

hell yeah, prius are for pussies!

[Fishyboiboi]

it is ugly!

[MyRandomReviews]

Instead of this rainforest eating crap box, why not by a real car with a decent diesel engine.

Ohh I know why, because the people who buy these really need to shout, "hey look, I care for the environment", the stupid self centred people who buy these crap boxes not only know nothing about how it's made, but are a fat looser for everyone who knows the truth to point and laugh at.

#FailCar

[thedoctor42209]

About 3 1/2 weeks from about to invest into a insight. Right now would take the insight over a prius in a heart beat.

[electricblue1314]

thats a prius with a honda sticker on it.

[isha7ar]

I KNOW .. but this car looks exactly like the PRIUS !