New Honda Hybrid

I wonder when they are planning on selling the CR-Z? Sounds like it would make a great replacement for my gas guzzling WRX.

 

is powered by a new lighter weight and efficient Integrated Motor Assist IMA® system that offers great performance

mmm with the 1.0 from the insight ot the 1.3 from the civic IMA
and only a motor assist elec motor thats elready small what weight can you change?
battery pack?

 

I call it the Hindsight, because in hindsight Honda should have built this car sooner. That it looks like a Prius is mainly the result of the fact that it is designed to meet the same demands on function as the Prius. Form follows function, and when your're pushing the envelope of function, there's less room for compromise for styling. The design of cars has been slowly moving closer and closer to the aerodynamically optimum shape for many years already, and the Prius simply made a slightly bigger jump towards that optimum than most other cars have in the past. With new developments in materials and construction techniques which allow greater freedom of form, and increased importance of aerodynamic efficiency, we can expect this trend to slowly continue in the future for a few more years, I would guess.

 

I think it's time Honda offered another option to the Prius. Consumers prefer options and everyone benefits from competition. When I bought mine the choice was between the Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid. One drawback I would watch for that the Civic had was that the rear seats would not fold down since Honda located the battery pack in the back of the rear seats. As such, they did not want heavy objects laid across the battery; so no folding rear seats. I hope Honda fixes this in the new offerings.

 

Cool ! Thanks for sharing the link. I'm glad to see that Honda is serious about
getting this car out in Spring 2009. Too bad GM can't work that fast.

 

Maybe they're designed that way because it's the optimal design to reduce drag.

 

If they were really serious, they would offer one in .....

RED!!!

Oh well, I will still look cool in my Barcelona Red Baby!!!

And it will cost MORE, by a bit ...

My 2009 Civic Hybrid
Hybrid with Leather and Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ Continuously Variable Transmission with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™
Base MSRP*:$26,750
Destination & Handling:$670

MSRP including selected accessories:$29,849

Selected Accessories (installation costs not included):
Wheel Locks $55
XM® Radio $310
Splash Guardsm $97
All-Season Floor Mats $117
Door Edge Guards $71
Trunk Tray $107
Auto Day/Night Mirror with Compass $284
Disc CD Changer $596
Bass Speaker System $371
Interior Illumination $111
Fog Lights $325

73 de Pat KK6PD

 

At least Toyota still has a family sized car thats a Hybrid, I love my TCH, and 38 city 45 Highway are far better than the EPA give it credit for. The prius and this prius lookalike are just too small.

 

"Too small" for what? I don't need 4 doors, though I love the hatchback. I can fit my bike in no problem. That's big enough for me. I'd rather have a two door, more sporty alternative (if my bike would fit). For me smaller is better.

 

They have two. The Prius is definitely a family car, but it is more efficient with space.

 

Yep, except for the headlights and some minor stuff.

Here's the New York Times article.

I wonder how the interior will compare the "newly improved" 2010 Prius. I'm hoping to get a 2009 to avoid the interior redesign.

 

Agreed, how is the Prius not a family car? I have two sons and have occasionally travelled with both boys, myself and my drumset (5 piece plus all hardware and cymbals) in the car and no one has had an issue with having enough room. The Prius has plenty of room for my family. I unloaded a Chevy Blazer to get the Prius and I think I actually have more interior space available when you add in the tub under the cargo floor compared to the Blazer.

 

It's great to have some good competition in this segment (the Malibu certainly doesn't). My first two cars were Honda - very reliable with good resale market. I've read somewhere that Toyota was pushing to get the PHEV to market ASAP to stay ahead of the competition.

 

I think it's a great looking car, and I'm going to take it for a test drive as soon as it's available! I too used to own Honda's, an '83 and an '89 Prelude, and they were good cars. I went for the Prius after test driving both the Civic and the Prius. :high5:

 

I sure hope you are right about this...that would be great news!

 

I did not read the honda website about this new insight. My guess is only improvement from the previous insight. But when I still see honda is using IMA, I would imagine that the electric motor is used to reduce the amount of force (or energy) that the engine need to work on, which mean, the engine has to be ON all time as long as you HIT THE GAS. Well, maybe I am wrong since I did not read the website. But at least for right now, I like the toyota design more since this design can be used to become a full electric car.

 

Is the A/C run by the engine or the motor in the new Insight?

 

Are there any US federal tax rebates available with the new Insight?