Hybrids prepare for battle

By Conor Mills

14th January 2009

Two green machines debut at this week’s Detroit Motor Show – and their rivalry looks set to be one of the biggest of the year!

Honda’s all-new Insight hybrid, which we’ve driven on Page 26, is going head-to-head with the updated Toyota Prius – and Auto Express has the official details of both models.

The revised Prius has a new face, while the profile has been modified to reduce drag. Other changes include a more compact powertrain, which gives greater space for occupants and luggage.

A 1.8-litre petrol engine replaces the old 1.5, and it will work with a more efficient nickel-hydride battery pack. As a result, the new car promises 75mpg and sub-100g/km CO2 emissions.

All this technology hasn’t increased the Prius’s list price, however. When the new car arrives in October, it will cost £18,225 – the same as the existing model.

Meanwhile, the new Insight is a radical departure from the previous car. This time it has four doors rather than two, and five seats. It’s also set to be the cheapest hybrid of its kind when it goes on sale in March. In fact at £14,995, it undercuts the Prius by more than £3,000.

Honda promises that the Insight will be the first petrol-electric model to crack the family car market currently dominated by Ford’s Focus and the VW Golf.

Powering the Insight is a 1.3-litre petrol unit and a 13bhp electric motor, which give a combined output of 98bhp and 167Nm of torque. Emissions will be higher than the Prius at 101g/km, and it will return around 64mpg.

Honda has also announced that the Insight is the first of a number of hybrids. Next up is the CR-Z sports car, which will then be followed by a petrol-electric Jazz supermini.