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2009 Honda Insight to Debut at Detroit Auto Show
By 
Colin Mathews December 3rd, 2008
We'd had it pegged as a 2010, but we just learned that Honda's new four-door Insight Hybrid hatchback sedan, which is reportedly poised to be the most affordable hybrid when it goes on sale next spring, will be tagged an '09 and debut at Detroit's North American International Auto Show. The vehicle shown in January at Detroit's Cobo Hall will be the production version.
Honda has an aggressive sales goal of 200,000 Insights annually, with 100,000 in the U.S. alone. The vehicle will be a gas/electric hybrid similar in concept to the Toyota Prius, and it will use a driver-coaching system called EcoAssist to help extract max economy. Thus far, Honda has relied on a mild-hybrid setup, one that cannot operate on electric power alone. The Insight name was first applied to a CRX-like three-door hatchback, which was America's first commercially produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle.
We will be driving the 2009 Honda Insight later this week, and we're curious to see how it stacks up to the Toyota Prius in terms of drivability, comfort, and efficiency. Stay tuned for the full report.--Colin Mathews
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Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius.
Honda has an aggressive sales goal of 200,000 Insights annually, with 100,000 in the U.S. alone. The vehicle will be a gas/electric hybrid similar in concept to the Toyota Prius, and it will use a driver-coaching system called EcoAssist to help extract max economy. Thus far, Honda has relied on a mild-hybrid setup, one that cannot operate on electric power alone. The Insight name was first applied to a CRX-like three-door hatchback, which was America's first commercially produced gas-electric hybrid vehicle.
We will be driving the 2009 Honda Insight later this week, and we're curious to see how it stacks up to the Toyota Prius in terms of drivability, comfort, and efficiency. Stay tuned for the full report.--Colin Mathews
---
Make sure you check out our partner sites dedicated to focused news, reviews and more for Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and the Toyota Prius.
Rex Roy
Responses (12 total)
By Ed | Posted: Dec 3rd 2008, 06:37:07 PM
Looks like a winner priced very low. I wonder if they still make $ off it at $19k or so.
But it is a shame they will sell it in APRIL as a 09 model, why penalize it? It should be, like almost ALL other makers and models introduced in the spring, a 2010 model!
I will watch out for the details and may consider it as a second vehicle, provided the damned dealers do not overcharge, as they always do, for desirable models.
By Jason | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 03:08:12 AM
Why, oh why, don't they get their heads out of the dark place and make diesel electric hybrids?! They are a lot more efficient and it's much easier, and more effective, to make renewable diesel rather than gasoline.
By paul gs | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 06:42:11 AM
Looking forward to the review.
Jason, diesel hybrids would be a tough sell in NA as the public have never embraced diesels in large numbers for cars.
By Find Cars Online | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 08:13:55 AM
Not a fan of concept cars but this one from Honda could grow on me
By Thrifty | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 08:15:22 AM
Concept cars are growing in popularity, the best of this car would be the head lights
By Ed | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 12:27:18 PM
"Jason
December 3rd, 2008 - 11:08 pm
Why, oh why, don’t they get their heads out of the dark place and make diesel electric hybrids?! They are a lot more efficient and it’s much easier, and more effective, to make renewable diesel rather than gasoline."
The answer is extremely simple: It already costs an arm and a leg to make a gas-electric hybrid, but it will cost much more to make the diesel-electric. Only a few makers have developed these in Europe, where everybody drives diesels AND, unlike the US, diesel fuel is $1 CHEAPER, NOT $1 MORE expensive, than gas.
By cheapest auto loans | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 02:03:43 PM
In this auto show the model on display was merely a pre-production prototype.
By Bruce_Lee | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 07:24:48 PM
I like.......the price very much.
BUT, I don't like its looks.
Hondy, why can't you design something with better asthetic exterior? Just think back to the 1990-1993 Honda Accord sedan. ;-)
BL in San Fan (home of the import lovers).
By JKD | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 07:47:22 PM
Ed - Just the other day you were making fun of all the stuck up "idiots" who got the POS Prius and now see the gas for a buck and some change.
Can you explain what makes you "want" ("dream" but that's irrelevant) this Honda as your second car? Surely not for any environmental reasons? Is your 2nd gen Civic on its last legs already?
By Dave | Posted: Dec 4th 2008, 08:28:34 PM
JKD, because its a Honda, if it where anything else (besides a Mag 7 BMW) it would be a POS.
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