Honda to Display Concept Model of All-New Insight Dedicated Hybrid Vehicle Scheduled for Release in 2009 at Paris Motor Show

TOKYO, Japan, September 4, 2008 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it will display the concept model of its all-new Insight dedicated hybrid vehicle at the 2008 Paris Motor Show (October 2–19; Press Days: October 2–3). Honda is introducing the advanced Insight to meet the needs of customers in a new era of widespread demand for hybrid vehicles.

The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's "insight" into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers.

A five-door, five-passenger compact hatchback, the new Insight will feature an innovative new platform in which the battery and control unit are located beneath the cargo space for exceptional utility and a light, pleasing driving feel. The new Insight features Honda's innovative, highly efficient compact hybrid powerplant, in which a gasoline engine serves as the main power source and the electric motor assists when extra power is needed, such as during passing or start-up and acceleration.

The new Insight also features a new driving support function that helps drivers make the most of its exceptional fuel economy to achieve more efficient, environmentally responsible driving.

Thanks to reductions in the weight and size of the Insight's key components, Honda has also achieved significant cost reductions.

Honda plans to introduce the production version of the all-new Insight to the markets in Japan, Europe and North America in spring 2009 and projects annual global sales of 200,000 units.

At the Paris Motor Show, Honda will also display the FCX Clarity, its fuel cell automobile that offers the ultimate in clean performance, producing absolutely no CO2 emissions in operation; and a design study model of the CR-Z lightweight sports hybrid vehicle, scheduled to be released in the near future.

Click here for our rendering of the new Honda hybrid!

As far as a name, the one thing we're told it won't be is "Insight." As far as a sales target and strategy Honda plans to bring to market 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.

To overcome the Prius as the current hybrid champ, Honda has ditched the two-seat coupe format of the previous generation hybrid-only model and added a couple doors. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing — the added size gives increased passenger room front and rear, and interior volume similar to the current Civic Sedan.

The larger model also allows for a larger battery pack as this hybrid will likely use a battery system similar to GM’s Chevy Volt, with a small 1.3-liter gasoline (or alternative fuel — we're still not entirely clear on what other tricks may be up Honda's sleeves) engine — the same IMA engine from the Civic hybrid — to power the battery pack for extended range. We've also been told to expect said engine to be mated to a continuously variable transmission. We even expect Honda may have a trick or two to take advantage of the current PHEV trend as well, giving the “Insight” a short driving range on pure battery power. But that part is pure speculation.

Although the design of the new Honda hybrid sedan seems very similar to the current Toyota Prius, it’s most likely due to aero requirements and not a blatant copy/paste of the Toyota. As seen in the most recent photos, the headlights will be horizontal units that pull rearward into a feature line running the length of the car towards tightly wrapped tail lights. Due to the aerodynamically efficient raked roofline, the rear of the car will feature a similar treatment to the hatch of both the first-gen Insight and the Prius to allow for rear visibility. Overall, as you can see from the rendering, expect the next-gen hybrid to feature similar styling to Honda’s other alternative fuel lovechild, the FCX Clarity.

Another issue faced by the engineering team is that the new hybrid is expected to be a global hybrid — meaning, expect it to be designed in such a way as to have it built to meet sales requirements in many markets.

Honda’s new hybrid sedan will be marketed underneath the Civic Hybrid in their lineup and we're told will carry a price tag of around $18,500. We'll see it in person when it debuts at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. You'll see it on the streets in April of 2009.

Some say he has a tattoo of a Saleen S7 on his rear end. Others tell us he was born with a penchant for oil rather than his mum's milk. All we know is he's called the Auto Insider and he's always ready to provide the scoop from the other side of Eight Mile.

Although we already knew Honda would be shooting for a starting price around $18,500, drastically undercutting the new Toyota Prius, but with fuel economy targets out there in the open, we're interested in how they'll hit it.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: More than likely that frugal figure will be eked out with a lighter version of their 1.3-liter four-cylinder mated to a CVT sporting an aggressive version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. Apparently "Insight" is off the table as a name for the new dedicated hybrid, but we're confident whatever it ends up as will be on the lips of every green wonk and auto journo from here to Timbuktu once the moniker is unveiled later this year in Paris. [Edmunds Inside Line]