Earlier today at the Paris Motor Show, Honda officially unveiled the concept version of its upcoming 2010 Insight hybrid. Though labeled a concept, the show car very strongly previews Honda’s upcoming bargain-priced Prius fighter which will be unveiled officially later this fall. In addition to live photos from the show floor, we’ve added several official images to our 2010 Insight gallery.
“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 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.”
Priced below the Honda Civic, this Japanese-built hybrid will carry over much of the hatchback styling from the FCX. Inside, the Insight appears similar to the Prius with a flat floor and large space, as well as a futuristic dashboard.
In addition to recycling the Insight name, Honda will equip the new hybrid with the same 1.3-liter Integrated Motor Assist system found in the current-generation Honda Civic Hybrid. However, further development of the system will cut the IMA’s cost by about 50 percent in the new hybrid.
Although the new Insight will be loosely based on the Fit, it will measure in at 3 inches longer and 1 inch wider than the Fit, which Honda said will also be available with a hybrid powertrain in the near future.
One Honda insider told Edmunds the Insight’s fuel economy would be “insane,” with some Japanese sources predicting mileage as high as 71 mpg. Actual mileage will likely be lower when it hits our shores, but should still be impressive.
And if those lofty fuel-economy numbers weren’t enough to cause an instant waiting list for the new hybrid, the next-generation Insight will list from under $18,500 – undercutting the Prius by thousands of dollars.
The new Insight is expected to debut at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show and will likely be in North American dealerships by late spring 2010.
Honda hopes to build 200,000 units annually, with half of that production to be sold in the United States.
10/02, 8:10 AM
posted by:
twobolt
Very prius.
The scoopy nose looks like the mouth of a bottom feeding fish of some kind.
10/02, 9:16 AM
posted by:
pzimet
twobolt: I agree about the Prius thing. Whereas the Civic Hybrid was just a hybrid version of the Civic that happened to overlap with the Prius simply because they were both gas-electric vehicles, this Insight hybrid looks to be mimicking the Prius heavily in terms of design.
10/02, 9:22 AM
posted by:
siorange
Actually the design IMO is derived more from the FCX Clarity concept. The rear of the car is definitely inspired by the original Insight that was launched years before the current Prius. The concept looks great, I hope the production follows true to this design.
10/02, 9:37 AM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
They took the rear from the old Insight and slapped it on this one. But overall I think it looks pretty good.
10/02, 9:44 AM
posted by:
Z06ified
They could have at least tried to change the C-pillar a little, instead of directly copying it from the Prius, probably down to the mm. I mean come on Honda, you can do better than that.
Not to mention that C-pillar is one of the ugliest parts of the Prius.
10/02, 9:50 AM
posted by:
pav8581
The thing everyone has to remember is that the reason all these cars look the same is becaus ethe aerodynamics are tried and true. We’re going to have some general body similarities just for this reason. I think I’ll have to see the car in person before I say that I like it, same thing for the Cruze, hated it until I saw it at one of the Delphi testing centers around here. This one has my vote on intent, but not necessarily on style.
10/02, 10:24 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
I’d gladly give up a couple highway mpg for some style.
10/02, 11:07 AM
posted by:
nickkop
i think this is pretty nice and a great value.. but the original insight was really cool.. they should still offer a smaller two door coupe or hatch version as welll…
10/02, 11:17 AM
posted by:
tripleonefive
I like the styling on this Honda ! This is NOT a copy of the Prius! If everyone remembers the first Prius it was a sedan while the original Honda Insight was a hatch with the glass in the back. To even go back further the CR-X had that back so if anyone copied it was Toyota
Toyota will have to make the next Prius a little sportier and less expensive to keep up with Honda
This is great that the two top Japanese companies are competitive It means we may all be able to get a hybrid at a decent price
I cant wait for the Hyundai hybrid to come out Being that Hyundai usually copies designs from Honda and others it should look like this car as well
10/02, 11:24 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Who cares, Americans have moved on from these japcrap hybrids. The Volt has peeked the interest of Americans now and will render this pile of crap obsolete before it even makes it to the showroom. Honda and Toyota saw massive declines this month, they are going down fast!
America will be better off when those two are gone for good
10/02, 11:27 AM
posted by:
FRANKE_D
Hey Mr. need more oil, maybe you should go back to the Audi A1 comments because we all pretty much made it clear that we don’t want to hear from you again. Get lost little man…
10/02, 11:50 AM
posted by:
pav8581
Hahaha, the GM kiddy makes me smile. Do you actually read the monthly sales reports? or just pick out what makes you happy? GM had a decent decline as well, even though it wasn’t as sever as most. The Germans were the ones that fared the best. And, knowing GM, the Volt will be decently popular for the first couple of months, then fade out when they cant keep up with production, like everyone else at the moment with efficient vehicles.
PS: Peeked? no it’s peaked, if you’re going to make a point, at least spell it out correctly
10/02, 12:17 PM
posted by:
atchero
If you’re going to correct someone, try to get it right.
It’s “pique” one’s interest, not “peak” or “peek”.
And this car looks exactly the same as a Prius.
10/02, 12:21 PM
posted by:
christianboy10
Not bad looking but knowing honda they gonna mess up on the production model
10/02, 12:57 PM
posted by:
A4
the main point here is that its way cheaper than a wretched prius
10/02, 1:06 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
That shot of the tail light reminds me of Superman’s home.
10/02, 1:22 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
cheaper than a Prius, less ugly, and not a complete douchebagmobile. Only a partial douchebagmobile.
It’ll sell well. I’d take 2 of these before I’d get a Volt, given how ugly that thing turned out.
10/02, 1:38 PM
posted by:
pav8581
to atchero: sorry, I legitimately thought the saying was peak as in rose not to pick as pique as in arouse
my bad.
10/02, 2:02 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
I think the writer meant late spring 2009 as a 2010 model.
10/02, 2:15 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
Why “Oil for GM” will we be better? The Japanese are the reason why YOUR GM PRODUCT is better, they forced GM to improve to compete. We need them in the US, for GM and Ford’s own good and our own good for competition in pricing/features/safety/and reliability. Let me ask you this, why does GM have to rebadge a Corolla Wagon if they are so great?
10/02, 2:38 PM
posted by:
autonut
Lads, treat GM+Oil as source on entertainment. When you ignore him completely he will go away, but then blog becomes boring. It’s nice to see a fool: makes you feel more of an intellectual.
I personally love those images. I wonder how it will look in flesh. I hated pictures of new Plot, but on the road it is less disturbing (to me) then new CR-V. Style wise to each its own, but price technology here is terrific. I drove original Insight 8 years ago and it was junk even equipped with great manual transmission. I wonder how this one will drive. Of course great mileage and price don’t require fancy automotive footwork, but would be nice to have well executed marriage of efficiency, price, performance.
10/02, 3:43 PM
posted by:
FRANKE_D
To autonut : You may like to see fools writting nonesense just for your amusement, but stupidity frustrate me a lot. And there is no good reason for an idiot like NMOFGM to be alowed to own a computer, a gun or a car for that matter. And no, I do not put my money of fake, I put a ”G” on tool, he is way to consistent with his stupid comments to be a fake.
10/02, 4:38 PM
posted by:
zeeck
it’s about time we get an auto show with a good amount of realistic concept cars that are refreshing
10/02, 6:24 PM
posted by:
F451
@Autonut, GM+Oil is GM’s Tokyo Rose. You musta bi Amerlican r die!
10/02, 6:58 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
HAHA
and there is need more oil, using him daddy’s computer again without permission..make sure you don’t get caught, you might get grounded
ON TOPIC..:
Again, although the pictures don’t work, and from what I can see, this is a nice looking car.
It would be great if Honda brings back the insight..and redesigned the TL..PLEASE
10/02, 7:01 PM
posted by:
VWgrouP
I just got a though..
LLN, how about you BAN need more oil from the site, so the discussion will not always be about how hes a major d-bag.
10/02, 7:18 PM
posted by:
FRANKE_D
MOTION SECONDED, but he will come back with an other name I guess?
10/02, 10:57 PM
posted by:
RTT10
prolly does have more names… anyways i like this way better than the prius.. but still the aerodyamics kill it in the look but it works
10/03, 5:26 AM
posted by:
nestle_s
i like how it looks! and we need something lower than the prius…the prius is a good car but whoa!!!!!!! the price omg! i cant wait for honda to come out with that concept they came out with that goes back to their crx series.