Honda Insight is back with an eye on the Toyota Prius
Honda is reintroducing its Insight hybrid car, a follow up to the earlier innovative but perhaps less-than-practical two-door vehicle from 1999. Although the company isn't exactly known for being a styling pioneer — to their credit, at times, since their conservatism affords cars that age gracefully — the new Insight's body shape is a shockingly flagrant rip of Toyota's popular Prius hybrid. Perhaps Honda feels that they can swipe the Prius' looks since Toyota swiped a large portion of the hybrid market away from the Insight in the first place.
Perhaps more exciting for fans of sporty cars, Honda is also moving forward with plans to produce the lovely CR-Z, a modern take on the popular CR-X two-door sports car but with a peppy new hybrid engine inside.
The new Insight should launch in 2009 (as a 2010 model year unit, presumably) for $18k — $3k less than a starter Prius.
Product Page [Honda.com via Earth2Tech.com]
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I seem to recall a model year where the Prius looked like a standard sedan (not unlike a Corolla or a Civic). The current model Prius looks to have borrowed some of its looks from the original Insight. Clearly people want their exclusively hybrid cars to look different.
A lot of the copy-look is due to aerodynamic modeling, too. I'm sure there's more leeway than Honda exercised in this design, but the kammback and smooth lines are definitely aerodynamic aids.
There are spy shots of the new Insight that show even better how much it's shaped like the Prius. I wonder if this isn't simply because that's the optimal aerodynamic shape for a five-door hatchback. When you're going for MPGs drag really matters.
I think it's hilarious that this looks almost exactly like the Prius. I like the looks of the Honda a bit better, but I believe the Prius is do for a makeover soon.
I recall that model year (#1 comment) too; I own one, in fact. I happen to think the current Prius style, and both the old & new Insight, are great-looking cars. The new Insight & new Prius are the best-looking sedans on the market IMO.
Why aren't hybrids allowed to have a proper trunk?
We don't need another hybrid that looks like a mini Aztec.
How about Hybrid, Mini Coopers, Mini Vans, convertible roadsters, or little station wagons?
How is the auto industry so out of touch that hybrid buyers have to choose between Yukons and cars that look like they are designed after a computer printer?
I like the CR-Z... Reminds me of the Mercedes C230 in its styling. Hopefully the Fast n' Furious set don't adobt it, I'd hate to see how badly they mangle it - never mind the fart can exhausts... Lol!
#2: I was going to mention aerodynamics as well. There's only so much you can do within the most space of the most aerodynamic shape.
#6: The Prius has a ton of room in back, there's also a fold up flap for additional space below the deck of the "trunk".
RedShirt, a hybrid Mini would be awesome. They must not have too awful of a drag coefficient, since they get 38mpg (?) on the freeway in standard form now.
Ryan, I like the CR-Z in general but the huge shnozz really kills it for me. If they tone down the remora face before production, but not too much, it'll be a winner.
The Prius is not especially aerodynamic.
This looks like the Prius so even clueless people will know it's a hybrid. After all if your friends can't tell your Civic is a hybrid what's the point in spending the extra $$$...
DCulb (#9):
The Mini only gets 38mpg?!?!
My Jetta gets 42mpg.
Sounds like the Mini definately needs to be a Hybrid (won't get one until they start making them plugin).
I'll stick with my biodiesel Jetta. At least it still drives like a sports car (that's when I only get 38mpg).
fuck your prius.
ride a bike.
Myself and others have been raging this debate over at torquereport.com... My opinion is aerodynamics. And why isn't the Prius/Insight a good design?
Oh I see, it's not like other cars...
How about a real world example? From everyone's favorite company, Honda...
An Element vs. Accord LX
Both are powered by a 2.4L engine with the same bore/stroke (but different compression).
They are similar weight (with the element being 150lbs heavier).
And the Element only gets 5mpg (combined) worse gas mileage...
I'll grant you a couple of things like drivetrain and gearing could affect it a couple of points, but the fact the Element is a box on wheels is the big problem.
Right now a Hybrid only vehicle (Prius, Insight, Volt) only have one advantage over a multi-engined design (Camry, Malibu) and that's fuel economy. If it means not giving you a cool sedan to get an extra 5 mpg, then that's what it is going to be. Sorry, maybe in 5-10 years when there are more hybrids, but right now mpg and usage sells hybrids.
Irsean, 38mpg in gas; the diesel (which we don't get in the US yet) gets 72mpg. And I think the Mini would out-sportscar a Jetta; there's a reason why a lot of Minis are used in small club races and not very many Jettas are. (Note that I'm not invested in either one, driving ancient cars like I do. So I'm not badmouthing your Jetta, honestly! :-)
Rageahol, ahh yes, right. Because the one thing you save resources on is obviously a perfect fit for everyone on the planet... take it easy fella.
The CR-Z looks like just the sort of groovy little shuttlepod that I'd be willing to throw down tall coin for. I'll take one in gunmetal gray, please.
@HAL: The Prius is very aerodynamic (compared to other cars). See the table here .
Mappo, I love stuff like that. The Tatra from 1935 is absolutely amazing, at 0.212 Cd. Somebody there made a quantum leap in aerodynamics, given that the next (and only) production car to beat that was in 1996 when GM brought out the EV1.
But yeah, the Prius is pretty darn good for a relatively normal looking car, at 0.26 Cd.
DCulb:
I didn't know they made a Mini diesel. That's cool. I was comparing my Jetta to hybrids as far as performance. Minis are cool but I doubt they would out sports my jetta by much. Mine is modified plus it's designed as a sportscar unlike the rice burners that get converted like Hondas and Nissans (they just don't have the steering or suspension/braking Minis and Jettas do). I was simply noting the difference between the mpg vs performance of hybrids vs diesels.
I expected the Mini to get better milage than that.
The new hybrid diesels of VW get around +70mpg.
*Pbbt*
The future is Pogo sticks.
Grrrr... I'm very frustrated, because although I love my Prius, I can't stand the rear window (and the huge blind spots). It makes changing lanes truly dangerous, and I keep wishing and hoping that a new hybrid hatchback (of a reasonable size) will come out that doesn't have this defect. I've been hearing rumors of a lower-cost Honda hybrid for 2+ years now. And to see that their design seems to have the same miniature rear window... Grrr...
This is a much improved design of the Insight. I think Honda will give Toyota a run for their money once they roll out the new Insight. Keep up to date on the latest Honda information at http://www.autotropolis.com/Honda/research.html.