First Pictures

By Dan Strong

07th January 2009

Honda's Insight has broken cover, and Auto Express has the first official images!

Set to make its public debut at this year's Detroit Motor Show, the four-door, five-seater is set to be the cheapest model of its kind when it goes in sale in March.

Expected to cost from £14,995, the rival to the £18,225 Toyota Prius also promises that it will be the first petrol-electric model to crack the lucrative family car market - currently dominated by the likes of the Ford and Volkswagen.

Honda bosses hope it will take sales from conventional choices such as the Focus and Golf.

The Japanese company aims to sell 200,000 Insights a year worldwide – an ambitious figure given that only 18,000 examples of the previous generation found homes in nearly 10 years of production.

However, this model's superior practicality and class-leading performance should ensure greater success.

It will be the first of a new family of Honda hybrids. Next in line, Honda has promised to launch a petrol electric CR-Z sports car, followed by the Jazz supermini.

Full details on the Insight will remain secret until this Sunday.

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