Honda Insight is ready to return

By Jack Rix

09th September 2008

It's the Honda that will make hybrid motoring a reality for family car buyers!

That’s the firm’s claim for the Insight, which revives the name used on the 1999 coupé – the first production hybrid to be sold in Europe. And this car is set to break new ground, too.

Based on an all-new platform, the Insight will be more compact than the current Civic Hybrid. It promises the practicality of a five-door family hatch and a price lower than any other petrol-electric car.

The newcomer has the familiar look of the Civic at the front, with swept-back headlights and pronounced chin. In profile, it resembles the Honda FCX Clarity – the world’s first production fuel cell vehicle.

But the car’s real party piece is its packaging. The control unit and battery pack are mounted under the boot, so it provides the practicality of a hatchback with a conventional drivetrain. Engineers have used small but powerful electric motors that reduce costs and free up further space in the cabin.

The versatile platform is likely to underpin a family of Insight models – including a  three-door and even an estate – kickstarting Honda’s assault on the hybrid market. Three other variants are planned: a sports car based on the CR-Z concept, a hybrid Jazz and eventually a replacement for the petrol-electric Civic. All will use the technology found in the Insight. More details will follow when the Insight debuts at the Paris Motor Show next month.