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 Honda Insight Concept: Photo of the Honda Insight concept.Honda Japan put out a press release today with the first official picture of the upcoming Honda Prius-fighter. Looks like Honda has decided to go back to using the Insight product name, but this time the Insight will be on steroids in the form of 2 extra doors and about 1000% more usability.
It will be as expected - a 5-door, 5 passenger hybrid running the IMA hybrid system. It'll be out in the spring of 2009 and Honda expects to sell 200,000 of them annually worldwide.
UPDATE: There is now a US release. It'll probably make more sense for you.
Honda Insight Concept Hybrid Vehicle to Debut at Paris International Auto Show
Concept to show styling direction of new more affordable hybrid vehicle
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 4, 2008 – Honda will reveal a concept version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008 Paris International Auto Show, Oct. 2, the company announced today. The new Insight Concept, shares styling cues with Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, and will provide an early look at the highly anticipated 5-passenger hybrid vehicle.
 Honda Insight II Concept 2Going on sale in the U.S. next spring, the all-new purpose built Insight will come to market at a price significantly below hybrids available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insight will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a new generation of buyers.
“The original Honda Insight pioneered hybrid technology in the U.S. and remains a symbol of Honda’s commitment to innovative technology and fuel efficiency,” said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO. “This new Insight will break new ground as an affordable hybrid within the reach of customers who want great fuel economy and great value.”
The Insight Concept defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid technology, utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) hybrid technology, resulting in a new level of affordability for hybrid customers worldwide. Evoking the innovative styling cues first seen in the FCX Clarity, the Insight Concept is designed with a low center of gravity and a generous five-passenger cabin, offering the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior that customers have come to expect from Honda. While the Insight Concept’s aerodynamic design clearly identifies its fuel efficient purpose, its five-door access and folding rear seats speak to functionality that is designed to meet the needs of customers with an active lifestyle. The Insight Concept is a small, fuel efficient hybrid car that delivers big style and functionality with a healthy dose of fun.
Honda achieved a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components which should make Insight the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. The production Insight will be offered as a five-door, five-passenger hatchback. Numerous technologies, including a function to assist customers in achieving more fuel efficient driving habits, will be applied to achieve a further improvement in real world fuel efficiency. With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at Honda’s Suzuka factory in Japan.
The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year – approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z Concept, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. All together, Honda’s global sales of hybrids should increase to approximately 500,000 units a year, or more than 10 percent of its total worldwide annual automobile sales.
The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999, as America’s first gas-electric hybrid car. The first vehicle to break the 70-mpg fuel economy barrier, Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a 2-seater subcompact automobile.
A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced the first low-emission gasoline vehicles; America’s first gas-electric hybrid car and the world’s first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named “greenest automaker” by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.
For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of the Insight Concept and other Honda vehicles, including the Civic Hybrid, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.
Here's the translated version of the Japanese press release:
HONDA, the concept model of the new model hybrid private car “Insight” which plans sale in 2009 the Paris motor show (October 2nd - October 19th, press day: October 2 - On the 3rd) with it announces.
This “in sight concept” is the concept model which it materializes converts advanced characteristic and personality as a hybrid car of the next generation whom the new model Insight has.
The meaning, car which discerns the arrival of the new times when you call to “in sight”, real spread of the hybrid car was included.
The new model in sight, with the compact 5 door hatch-backs of 5 passengers, the utility which is superior control unit and the battery are arranged under the load room with the development of the new platform, and being light, actualizes the running whose feeling is good.
The engine is designated as active power in the power plant, at the time and the like of takeoff acceleration high efficiency the hybrid system is adopted with the compact of the HONDA originality which assists with the motor. Furthermore, in order for you to be able to realize the good quality of fuel economy in the customer, it introduces also new technology such as the function which supports echo driving.
Also substantial cost decrease became possible by advancing the miniaturization and light weight conversion etc of the system anew.
From 2009 spring it sells the new model in sight in the Japanese-American Europe. The sale annual 200,000 is planned.
In addition, while travelling the new model fuel cell car “FCX [kuraritei]” which has the ultimate clean efficiency which does not discharge CO2 completely and, it displays also the design study model “CR-Z” of hybrid [raitoueitosupotsu] which in the future plans sale collectively in the Paris motor show.
http://www.honda.co.jp/news/2008/4080904a.html
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