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(Thu 04 Sep 08) Honda has released details of its latest hybrid car a few weeks ahead of its world debut at the Paris Show.
The new car is named Insight, after the two-seater coupé which was launched in 1999 and was the first mass-produced hybrid ever to be sold in Europe. A decade on, its successor, goes into production next spring, is a much more mainstream vehicle. Based on a brand new platform, it's a five-door hatchback, and therefore much more likely to appeal to UK buyers than the current Civic Hybrid, which is available in four-door saloon form only. The Insight is smaller than the Civic, and although prices have not yet been confirmed it will also be a lot cheaper. In fact, thanks to reduced production costs for the electric motor, it's claimed to be "significantly lower in price" than any other hybrid on the market. Since it has been designed from the start as a hybrid, the Insight is more cleverly packaged than the Civic, with its control unit and battery mounted underneath the boot space for a lower centre of gravity. The Insight is part of a major push for Honda to produce more cars of this type. In the near future Honda will launch a new hybrid versions of the Civic and Jazz, along with a hybrid sports car based on the CR-Z concept revealed at the 2007 Tokyo Show. Honda's intention is for hybrids to account for 10% of its production within the next two years. Honda Gallery Previous: Mazda's Urban Concept Next: Vauxhall Astra TwinTop Styling |
