Upgraded 2012 Honda Insight Hybrid Offers New High-Tech Look, Improved Fuel Economy and More Features

10/17/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
A significantly updated 2012 Insight hybrid debuts today with new exterior styling, an enhanced interior, additional features on select models and an EPA fuel economy-rating1 improvement of 1 mpg. The Insight’s city/highway/combined EPA fuel economy rating1 of 41/44/42 mpg, up from 40/43/41 on the prior model, continues to offer the highest EPA fuel economy rating of any new vehicle currently available with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting under $20,000.

The aerodynamically styled, five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid vehicle receives extensive changes inside and out for 2012. Exterior changes include a more distinctive grille design that introduces a thin, blue accent bar representative of the Insight’s high-tech hybrid identity. Restyled front and rear bumpers, along with changes under the vehicle, contribute to a 2-percent increase in aerodynamic performance. New designs for the headlight and brake light internal reflectors further complete the refreshed look. Insight and Insight LX models have new 15-inch wheel covers and the Insight EX has newly styled 15-inch alloy wheels. Slightly wider 185/60R15 tires, up from 175/65R15 tires on the prior model, contribute to confident driving performance.

The Insight’s interior refinements for 2012 include a reconfigured rear seat area for better leg and head room; a redesigned gauge cluster background with a more technically sophisticated appearance; reshaped center-console beverage holders that accommodate larger drinks; and a more supportive front armrest (Insight LX and EX).

The Insight LX has new, more premium seat fabric, while the Insight EX is upholstered with a combination of synthetic leather (new) and premium fabric. Rear-seat headroom improves by 0.6 inches with changes to the rear headliner shape and deeper sculpting of the rear seat cushion to improve rear passenger comfort. Rearward visibility improves with a more compactly mounted rear-wiper motor housing and a thinner rear spoiler that creates a larger viewing area out the lower back window. The Insight becomes quieter for 2012 with increased thickness to the vehicle’s existing noise-insulation materials and additional insulation panels in the cargo area.
Available on Insight EX models, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition2 receives several notable upgrades including the addition of a rearview camera. The system provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7-million points of interest within the continental United States. A 16-GB flash memory system replaces the 4.7-GB DVD-based system used on the prior model. The new system offers faster route calculation and includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts drivers to traffic conditions.

The Insight is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) system comprised of a 1.3-liter i‑VTEC® gasoline 4-cylinder engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor. The combination develops 98 horsepower at 5800 rpm and 123 lb-ft. of torque at 1000-1700 rpm. For 2012, friction-reducing measures in the engine and the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) contribute to the new model’s increased fuel economy. A 10.6-gallon fuel tank provides an estimated maximum driving range exceeding 400 miles.

The Insight features the Eco Assist™ System, an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles. Eco Assist can help drivers improve fuel efficiency, both by altering vehicle functionality and providing driver feedback, with fuel economy dependent on their given set of driving conditions. Pressing the ECON button can further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems: throttle control, CVT operation, idle-stop duration, air conditioning and cruise-control operation (if equipped). Eco Assist also provides feedback about driving style via a 3D-like background within the speedometer. The background changes colors from green to blue to reflect how efficiently or inefficiently the driver is accelerating or braking (green is more efficient).

Aerodynamic refinements for 2012 include changes to the shape of the engine bay underbody cover and the addition of air diffusers under the rear bumper to smooth airflow exiting behind the vehicle. The strakes ahead of the front wheels have been extended by 0.4 inches to better direct air around the wider front tires.

Standard safety features on all Insight models include dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbag system; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD); driver’s and front-passenger’s active head restraints; and a front body structure designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries. The Insight also features Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which provides improved occupant protection and crash compatibility between vehicles of different sizes and ride heights in frontal crashes.

The 2012 Insight is offered in three distinct models. The value-oriented base model, simply designated as "Insight," is well equipped with a 160-watt, two-speaker audio system, automatic climate control, power windows, remote entry and more.

The Insight LX adds a four-speaker audio system, USB audio interface, armrest console, floor mats and a security system. New for 2012, the LX has map lights and steering wheel audio controls.

The Insight EX adds alloy wheels, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, an audio system with six speakers, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals and much more. For 2012, the EX gains Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®3, automatic headlights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The Insight EX is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with voice recognition and rearview camera.

New exterior colors include Frosted Silver Metallic and Truffle Pearl, which replace Clear Sky Blue and Crimson Pearl.

Insight accolades include J.D. Power and Associates "Highest Ranked Compact Car in Initial Quality in a Tie" in their 2011 Initial Quality Study SM (IQS) (the Insight tied with the Civic). The IQS names the highest performers within the first 90 days of vehicle ownership. And for the past three consecutive years, the Insight was named a Top 10 Green Car by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com4. The Insight was also named one of the "Greenest Vehicles of 2011" by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Honda is a leader in developing cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, including the original Honda Insight, introduced as America’s first mass-produced hybrid car in December 1999. Honda is also a leader in the development of advanced alternatives to gasoline, including the zero-emission, hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric car, the world’s most-advanced production fuel cell automobile.

Honda’s diverse lineup of environmental vehicles also includes the Civic Natural Gas sedan, the only retail CNG passenger vehicle currently available from any automaker in the U.S., and three distinct gasoline-electric hybrid models: Civic Hybrid, CR-Z sport hybrid and Insight hybrid.

Honda was named America's "Greenest Automaker" for the fifth consecutive time by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) in late 2010. The award is earned by the company with the lowest combined score of its smog-forming and greenhouse gas emissions (primarily CO2) in its U.S. automobile fleet. Honda has led the UCS rankings of overall vehicle environmental performance since the first UCS study in 2000, marking a decade of Honda leadership in reduced vehicle emissions. Honda earned the recognition with an industry-best score based on model year 2008 data, the latest available for analysis.

Insight Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price*Insight: $18,350Insight LX: $20,125Insight EX: $21,815Insight EX with Navigation: $23,540* MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $770 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

Connect with Honda:
Honda Media Newsroom (for journalists): www.hondanews.com
Honda Insight (for consumers): http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybrid/
Honda Insight on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hondainsight
Honda on YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Honda on Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda

1 Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

2 The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on Insight EX models in the United States, except Alaska. See your Honda dealer for details. Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include, but are not limited to, automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

3 The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.

4 For more information about the 2011 Top 10 Green Cars from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book is a registered trademark of Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/upgraded-2012-honda-insight-hybrid-offers-new-high-tech-look-improved-fuel-economy-and-more-features

Honda Insight Facelift?

Makes sense to me, they gotta do something....
"Back in December, it was reported that the facelifted Honda Insight will be launched in 2011 (earlier post), while a completely new model is expected to be introduced in February 2013 (earlier post). Mag-X has now published this photo showing the facelifted Insight, which shows also the name "Insight Prestige". "

Source;

http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/facelifted-honda-insight-coming-in-june.html

Car Advice: Honda Insight VTi-L v Toyota Prius: hybrid car comparison

Here is probably the most comprehensive comparison between these two Hybrids that I've ever seen....
http://www.caradvice.com.au/96626/honda-insight-vti-l-vs-toyota-prius-hybrid-comparison/

Conclusion

The 2011 Honda Insight VTi-L is the car for you if:
-You want a safe compact car with an impressive standard features list
-You don’t have a burning desire to drive in fully electric mode
-You think you’ll get a kick out of driving efficiently and growing digital dashboard trees
-You want to pay for the vehicle now and are not considering financing it

The 2011 Toyota Prius is the car for you if:
-You have fuel efficiency and low emissions among your top priorities
-You would prefer a little extra space and performance
-You can live without satellite navigation, a USB port and other practical gadgets
-You are planning to finance it

Honda improves the specification and settings of its Insight hybrid

This is confirmed for the UK market, I'd imagine we'll get the same treatment here in North America....
Honda announced today that it has improved the specification and settings of its Insight hybrid helped by customer feedback. The changes include a new suspension adjusted to improve ride comfort and NVH levels as well as high-spec interior with leather and Sat nav.

Honda also announced a new, top-of-the-range, EX model, featuring black leather upholstery and DVD Sat Nav and hands-free telephone equipment. According to Honda, the Insight also received a number of chassis changes such as adjustments for the recoil rate of the springs, changes for the rear camber angles as well as V-shape rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. Honda has added rear parking sensors to ES-model Insights and above, and has changed some trim to smarten the interior. Inside we find new colours for the dashboard and seats. Chrome rings for the air vents and doors have been given a silver garnish feature. There are also two new paint options for Insight customers, with the introduction of Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Red Pearl. Pricing starts at £16,325 for the SE model, but with Honda’s current Affordable Driving consumer offer, the hybrid is available at £14,995 OTR until the end of September. The most expensive Insight EX starts at £20,215 OTR.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-improves-the-specification-and-settings-of-its-insight-hybrid/#more-9375

EPA reveals top 10 most fuel-efficient cars since 1984, original Honda Insight takes top honors

Best overall REAL WORLD Gas mileage vehicles since 1984....

Best Overall EPA Rated Gas Mileage vehicles since 1984....

Fuel efficiency has increased dramatically in the last decade, or at least that's what we've been told. So it might come as a surprise to find out that six of the Top Ten EPA-rated Fuel Sippers from 1984 to present were built prior to 2000. Don't believe it? We didn't either, but this info comes straight from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, the authoritative source on this fuel efficiency stuff.

While some current vehicles, such as the 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Honda Insight and the 2006-2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, garnered a spot on the top ten list, it's really older lightweight models like the 1986 Chevy Sprint ER or 1990-1994 Geo Metro XFI that make it obvious efficiency hasn't come as far as we'd like to think. Overall, Honda holds top honors for automakers with five models present on the list, while Toyota's Prius made its mark twice. All of the vehicles on the list run with either 3- or 4-cylinder engines and five out of the top ten rely on hybrid motivation.

The overall winner, the 2000 Honda Insight (pictured above), scores a combined rating of 53 miles per gallon, a number that exceeds even the modern-day Prius by three mpg. In many cases, we've been mistakenly led to believe that buying a new car equates to increased efficiency, but this list clearly shows that many of the relics from days gone by can easily hold their own with the most efficient vehicles made today. However, finding a running example of some of these old fuel sippers may prove impossible and we'd venture to guess that many of them are far from safe to drive by today's standards.

Source

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/epa-announces-top-10-most-fuel-efficient-cars-insight-takes-top/

Honda Boss: Next Insight Will Beat Prius MPG

Takanobu Ito, Honda’s president, said last week that the company has grown “complacent,” and specifically pointed to its poor performance with hybrids as a key sign of the problem. To correct the situation, Ito is pushing his engineers to have the next-generation Honda Insight beat the Toyota Prius’s fuel economy numbers—and to deliver it as soon as possible.

"I'm not satisfied," Ito told Automotive News. In the first quarter of 2010, Honda’s share of the US market fell to 10.1 percent—from 10.5 percent a year earlier.

In concept, the Honda Insight was intended to compete as a more affordable alternative to Toyota Prius. But the price of the Insight, typically in the low $20,000s, is not the much cheaper than a Prius—and the fuel economy is considerably lower. The Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, compared with the Insight's 40/43. The copycat shape of the Insight added to the negative comparison with the Toyota Prius, which has outsold the Insight by about 5 to 1.

In addition to trying to beat the mileage of the Prius, Ito wants to roll out a new two-motor hybrid technical design—one motor employed to increase engine power and another to solely charge the battery. The new system is also likely to switch to lithium ion batteries from the nickel metal hydride technology currently in use. Honda will apply its new hybrid approach to a minivan and in Acura models. A rework of Honda's hybrid system could potentially create a technology pathway to plug-in hybrids.

More Lessons to be Learned
Honda’s new and improved hybrids are not expected until about 2012. Meanwhile, the company will introduce the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe this summer. Unfortunately, the small hybrid could be another case of neither-here-nor-there, at least according to Graham at Fifth Gear, the British television show. The CR-Z looks sporty enough, but at 122 horsepower, it's “not blessed with red-blooded speed,” said Graham. At the same time, the fuel economy averaging at 37 mpg is only “reasonable” and “doesn’t sound that good next to a Prius.”

Yet, Honda engineers and designers should take heed to Fifth Gear’s positive feedback on features that could be applied to future hybrids. Graham calls the interior “mad and brilliant,” and praises the availability of a six-speed manual gearbox—a first for hybrids. Given the CR-Z’s moderate level of high-speed handling and cool interactive dashboard features, the reviewer said, “You can’t accuse it of being dull.” Pricing in the US for the CR-Z has not yet been announced.

Source;
http://www.hybridcars.com/news/honda-boss-next-generation-insight-will-beat-prius-mpg-27839.html

Auto Tech: What is a Hybrid?

Here's a interesting read....
With all the interest in electric, plug-in electric, hybrid electric and hybrid vehicles, perhaps it is time to take a step back and just look what all these names mean. They are not all the same, yet some different technologies share the same names and sometimes similar technologies use different names. A lot of it seems to depend on the marketing the manufacturers are using for a vehicle, so let’s try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding types of systems and terminology when it comes to alternate energy sources for vehicles.

First, the term Hybrid can have several meanings. It could even be a conventional engine that uses two different types of fuel such as gasoline and natural gas, although popular use lately has been referring to these as bi-fuel vehicles. When most people hear “hybrid”, they think of gasoline/electric combined powertrains – Toyota’s Prius is the most recognizable symbol of this technology.

You may here the term “mild hybrid”. This was made popular with the introduction of the Saturn Vue hybrid and is now used on the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. This system uses an electric motor/generator that bolts onto the engine in place of the conventional charging system. During acceleration, the unit adds power to the conventional gas engine and during deceleration, the unit becomes a drivetrain-driven generator to recharge the auxiliary battery pack. Much of the fuel economy savings from any hybrid system come from the energy during vehicle deceleration by the generator unit.

Another major feature of hybrids is their ability to stop the gasoline engine while the vehicle is sitting at a stop light and then restart it again instantly when the driver wants to move the vehicle. Even the mild hybrids have this capability to save fuel.

Some vehicles use what may be called a “medium” hybrid system, such as the Honda Civic or Insight, although you won’t hear Honda referring to it with that term. Honda calls it an Integrated Motor Assist, where the electric motor is used in place of the flywheel in a conventional transmission. This electric motor can assist the gas engine during acceleration and recharge the battery pack during deceleration just like the mild hybrids but does so much more efficiently and provides more power. Honda has made many improvements on the system since it was first introduced over a decade ago and when combined with intelligent valve control systems, is now almost equal to what we traditionally call a “full hybrid.”

Toyota’s Prius is the best known example of a “full hybrid,” a vehicle that can operate on electric power alone for some distance. It does this with a transmission that contains two motor/generator units. The design of this transmission allows the engine to remain off while one electric motor moves the vehicle. If you need more power or the battery charge is low, the gas engine will also start up to work in combination with the electric motors. Today several vehicles use a hybrid system that will operate on electric power by itself. Toyota has the Prius, Camry and Highlander, while Lexus has a full range of hybrids. Ford has the Escape and Fusion Hybrids, while GM and Dodge are using a similar system in rear wheel drive configuration in their hybrid sport utilities. GM also is using it in pickup models.

The yet to be produced Chevy Volt is also a hybrid but with a different concept. This vehicle operates on electric power all the time. When the battery pack becomes discharged, a small gas engine turns on to operate a generator, which recharges the battery pack. The gas engine never directly powers the wheels, yet this vehicle is also considered a hybrid.

Plug-in Hybrid is a new term, where the vehicle can be recharged by plugging it in to either 110-volt of 220-volt electrical outlets. This type of vehicle will operate on electric power most of the time but could still use a gas engine to supply energy for extended trips.

Electric vehicles are just what the name sounds like. They operate on Electric power only. Golf carts are a popular example, but several manufacturers are introducing electric passenger vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Toyota has announced plans for a fully electric small car similar to the FT-EV2 concept car will go on sale in 2012. Recharging these vehicles at home or work will become common practice, although already MacDonalds has announce they will offer free-to-use charging stations at some facilities and already opened the first one this past July in the U.S. In Japan, they are already working on infrastructure for electric car battery swap stations, where you pull in and exchange your leased battery for another in less time than it takes to fill a conventional car with gasoline.

While conventional gasoline powered vehicles will still dominate the marketplace for a long time, there are alternatives on the marketplace, and that is good for the future of the automobile.

Jim Kerr is a master automotive mechanic and teaches automotive technology. He has been writing automotive articles for fifteen years for newspapers and magazines in Canada and the United States, and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/01/27/auto-tech-what-is-a-hybrid.htm

Report: Honda will develop a hybrid that bests Prius' mpg rating

Honda is planning on taking on the Toyota Prius. Again. Even though sales figures for 2009 proved that people liked Toyota's hybrid more than Honda's, the company is not going to just roll over. There's a new ad campaign for the Insight planned, but Honda is looking a bit further down the line for revenge. CEO Takanobu Ito reportedly told his research and development team to come up with a hybrid that has a better miles per gallon rating than the world's most popular hybrid. Whether this is a next-gen Insight or a totally different hybrid has not yet been decided, but it's going to need a major boost to knock the leader off its perch.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/24/report-honda-will-develop-a-hybrid-that-bests-prius-mpg-rating/

Tommy Kaira Makes the Honda Insight Hybrid a Little Bit More Interesting to Look at

Looks nice....
The new Honda Insight hybrid is one of those vehicles that makes us wonder if the team responsible for its styling fell asleep during the design stage. Tommy Kaira has tried to address this "problem" by developing a new sport package for the Japanese hybrid.

The tuner's offerings includes an aero kit that is also available in carbon-fiber trim and comprises of a front spoiler, a new grille, side skirts and a rear apron with an integrated diffuser that can optionally house four tail-pipes for an all-show, no-go appearance.

The package can be rounded off with new 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension that lowers the car by 30 to 35mm and various other accessories and parts such as sport seats, sill plates etc.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/tommy-kaira-makes-honda-insight-hybrid.html

2010 Honda Insight Twelve Month Test - Month 1

October 2009: The Insight goes to work
By Aaron Gold, About.com

Getting to know our Honda Insight
We've now completed the first month of our downsizing experiment, in which we shelved our trusty mid-size Honda Accord wagon for a subcompact Honda Insight hybrid hatchback.

My biggest concern was that my wife Robin, who would be doing most of the driving, would hate the Insight. Robin likes small cars, but she also likes to go fast, and at 98 horsepower the Insight is anything but. So how does she like it? Well, the fact that she's put over 2,300 miles on it in the first month is a pretty good indication. As I mentioned in my First Thousand Miles blog entry, Robin doesn't find the Insight's small engine a problem. The Insight certainly doesn't take off like an Audi RS4 -- her favorite car; does she have good taste, or what? -- but it cruises comfortably at the supra-legal speeds she prefers.

My second concern was space for our family, which includes two kids, one who is 5'10" and rising, and a good-sized dog. I'm 5'6" and wasn't very happy with the Insight's back seat headroom, but 13-year-old Robert (the tall one) finds it comfortable enough -- you know how young people slouch today -- and 10-year-old Andrew isn't voicing any complaints either. The one thing we haven't done is stuff all five of us into the car at once; that'll happen next month when we take the kids and dog to my parents' place in Arizona for Thanksgiving.

Beast of burden
Robin used to do a lot of heavy hauling in the Accord wagon, primarily her massage table and all sorts of gear relating to our two horses. The massage table won't fit without folding the rear seats down, so that means she has to shift it in and out of the car as needed, although she doesn't mind. "I have to haul it in and out when I get to people's houses anyway, so it's not a big deal," she says. As for the horse stuff, well, this month she moved them to a new stable. No, we didn't use the Insight to haul the horses themselves, but she did manage to fit all of her horse-related gear into the Insight's cargo bay, as this photo shows. And if that wasn't enough, she even used it to carry a bail of hay. However, something dribbled onto the back seat and left a stain. I haven't tried cleaning it up yet, and I'm hoping like crazy that the Insight's environmentally-friendly "BioFabric" seat cloth will be as easy to clean as the regular cloth in our Accord; otherwise the Insight's cabin is going to look pretty ratty when we return it to Honda in 11 months.

Initial quality
The Insight didn't exhibit any build-quality problems aside from a slightly misaligned glovebox door, but then I wasn't expecting any -- not because it's a Honda, but because our Insight arrived with a little over 400 miles showing on the odometer. Honda insists our car's pre-delivery inspection wasn't any more thorough than what customers get at the dealerships, but it's clear they did a fair bit of driving just to make sure there were no bugs to be worked out. If that was the case, they seemed to have missed the Bluetooth speakerphone system; it seems to connect and disconnect from our Nokia phones at will. I'm not sure if it's faulty, badly designed, or if this is simply a case of user error.

Fuel economy
Fuel economy tells an interesting story. We averaged just over 40 MPG through most of the month, but as the odometer climbed past 2,000 miles, our average fuel economy began to increase suddenly, and we finished out the month at 41.4 MPG, even though neither Robin nor I have changed our driving styles. I've heard tales of hybrids getting better fuel economy after the first couple of thousand miles, so it'll be interesting to see if this trend continues. Incidentally, Robin prefers not to use the Insight's "Econ" mode, as it shuts off the air conditioning compressor when the car is stopped. (It's still pretty warm here in Los Angeles.) Between that and her Han Solo driving style, I'm very pleased with the Insight Hybrid's fuel economy. -- Aaron Gold

October 2009 summary:
Starting mileage: 412Engine mileage: 2747Mileage this month: 2335.4Total mileage: 2335.4Fuel economy this month: 41.4 MPGAverage fuel economy: 41.4 MPGRepair/service costs this month: $0Total repair/service costs: $0Problems observed this month: Misaligned glove-box door, stained seats, spotty Bluetooth speakerphone operation

Previous: September 2009 (Introduction)

Source;
http://cars.about.com/od/2010hondainsight/a/lt_10insight_oct09.htm

Insight Hybrid Vehicle Wins Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year 2009-2010

TOKYO, Japan, October 29, 2009 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that the Committee of Japan Automotive Hall of Fame had awarded its Car of the Year 2009-2010 to the Insight hybrid vehicle. The NonProfit Organization cited the following three factors in conferring the award on the Insight:

1. The strategy of affordable pricing Honda used in marketing the hybrid Insight
2. The Insight's balance of driving performance and environmental performance
3. The balance of performance and fuel economy at cruising and higher speeds offered by Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), Honda's original hybrid system

Designed to set the standard of compact cars for a new era, the Insight combines outstanding environmental performance based on Honda's original hybrid system with a fun, responsive driving and an efficient, versatile packaging. In addition, pricing starts at an affordable ¥1,890,000*. Enthusiastically received by customers, in April 2009 the Insight became the first hybrid vehicle to achieve the status of the best-selling automobile among new vehicle registrations in Japan in a calendar month.

Source;
http://world.honda.com/news/2009/4091029Insight-Car-of-the-Year/

To put it mildly, sales of the Honda Accord Hybrid never quite set the world on fire. Regardless, Japan's second largest automaker is reportedly hard at work developing its proprietary Integrated Motor Assist hybrid platform so that it can once again be used to power larger vehicles like the Accord.

To make it all work out, Honda is adding an extra electric motor to the mix for a total of two, both of which will be more powerful than the single pancake motor used in the current Insight and Civic Hybrid. Also on the menu is a lithium ion battery pack to replace the current nickel metal hydride unit, with added capacity to allow for electric-only operation.

Word on the street (or at least the Nikkei daily newspaper in Japan) is that Honda might place this next-gen hybrid powertrain in a minivan sometime in 2011 or so. Before that, though, we can look forward to the launch of Honda's sporty CR-Z hybrid hatchback. It's important to have your priorities straight, right?

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/27/report-honda-plans-a-return-to-larger-hybrids/

Insight 1G: first-gen Honda Insight with diesel upgrade gets 80 mpg

Ever heard of the Insight 1G? Sounds like the name of a first generation of the high-efficiency hybrid, right? It is, but the twist here is that the 1.0-liter, 70 hp gasoline engine has been swapped out in favor of a oil-burning 1.2L PD TDI from Volkswagen, specifically the Lupo 3L. How does the diesel swap make the car run? Excellent, says the Red Light Racing team's website. In fact, they claim they're getting 80 mpg without the hybrid portion of the powertrain in operation (It appears the team is using a manual Insight, which was rated at 53 mpg combined, by the EPA). They expect a further fuel economy boost of around 15 to 20 percent once the bugs in the engine signal translator are worked out.

Speaking of bugs, the conversion hasn't exactly been easy, and the team has set up a list of technical difficulties (and solutions) here. Jake Staub, the team's lead engineer, told AutoblogGreen that, "The main idea was to take existing hardware, hack it, and make a vehicle that could be produced by major manufacturers or individuals that would deliver tremendous fuel economy without a tremendous leap in technology. I believe we succeeded." Do you agree?

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/insight-1g-first-gen-honda-insight-with-diesel-upgrade-gets-80/

Silent But Deadly: The Next Generation JDM Hybrids

The next generation of hybrid cars are officially out and as expected the Japanese tuning scene is already hard at work to stylize and tune them! The lead off image features my favorite design of the bunch by Exclusive Zeus. I really like how the painted the grill and center area of the bumper in black, it really helps give an aggressive front profile. Check out the rear under spoiler, its pretty damn nice! Very sporty for an Insight! The usual acts are getting back into the game as well. Kenstyle has two new kits coming out, one for the Insight and one for the Prius. Continue reading at the Real JDM.

Source;
http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/07/31/silent-but-deadly-the-next-generation-jdm-hybrids/

Honda speeds up Insight update

Honda is fast-tracking an upgrade to the Honda Insight to counter the threat posed by the new Toyota Prius.

With the Prius now trumping the Insight’s 85mpg with 107mpg in the same Japanese test cycle, sources in the cars’ home market say Honda engineers are being put under pressure to improve the Insight and close the gap.

While economy will take priority, it’s believed that Honda will also take another look at the chassis to try to refine the Insight’s unsettled low-speed ride.

In the sales race, the Insight got off to a roaring start in Japan in the early part of this year. The Honda even became the nation’s best seller with 10,481 units in April, the first hybrid car ever to achieve that position in Japan.

However, things move fast in the fad-driven Japanese market, and the arrival of the new-shape Prius in May had a dramatic effect on the Insight’s sales, which fell to 8183 units. The car is also being outsold by the Fit (Jazz), 13,016 of which were sold in June.

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Honda-Insight/241724/

Consumer Reports blasts Honda Insight, ranked 21 of 22 tested

Ouch! Although there have been nothing but glowing reviews for this car, Consumer Reports is a bible for some and I can't help but think that this will impact sales on the Insight. I for one am driving a Insight as a demo to get a proper feel for the car so that I can do justice in explaining its many features and I don't think it's anywhere near as bad as CReports says it is. Is it the perfect car for everyone? Of course not, but if you are looking for a fuel-miser that is dependable and are doing primarily city driving, this is a great choice. It pains me to post this, but I don't want to be seen as only posting the praise.
Calling it "the most disappointing Honda Consumer Reports has tested in a long time," America's most influential product testing magazine has given extremely poor marks to the Japanese automaker's new Insight hybrid.

In a verdict that reminds us of a certain Jeremy Clarkson review (albeit more kindly worded), Consumer Reports blasted the gas-electric hatchback for its "ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration, rear-seat, access, and visibility," consigning the hapless Honda to a 21 out of 22 ranking among other small hatchbacks and wagons. Tallying a road test score of 54 points, it was trailed only by the widely-panned Dodge Caliber, which managed just 49 points.

Despite the fact that it won't receive a much-coveted CR "Recommended" nod, the Insight still managed to post a "Good" overall road test score (largely on the strength of its 38 miles-per-gallon as-tested fuel economy). Regardless, it was comprehensively beaten by both the Volkswagen Jetta Wagon and the Hyundai Elantra Touring, which scored 80 and 79 points, respectively.

The Insight was the only vehicle in CR's test group to not to be Recommended, save Kia's Soul, which was excluded because the organization hasn't compiled any reliability data on the vehicle yet. Check out the press release after the jump.

Follow this link to get the press release;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/30/i-consumer-reports-i-lambasts-honda-insight-ranks-it-21-out/

Again, OUCH!

2010 Honda Insight EX Hybrid goes 100 km on five bucks

"Is that one of those hybrids?" the guy next to me at the gas station asked as I topped off the Honda Insight's tank.

"Yes, it is" I replied. He inspected the cars awkwardly-shaped body for a moment, one lip half curled. After a moment's pause, he commented "I'd never buy one of those". "Why's that?" I asked. "They're all weird" was his response.

He was referring to the relative unfamiliarity hybrid cars pose for the majority of the car-buying public. Hybrids are popular in their own small circles-- but a relatively tough sell to the majority of shoppers who don't know what they do, how they work, or what they'll be like ten years down the road. Despite all the good intentions, hybrids haven't exactly been flying off dealer lots.
Somewhere beneath Insight's odd shape and promise of eco-minded driving is an attempt to change that. It seeks to do away with many of the stigmas surrounding hybrid cars, and is accordingly clever, un-compromised and relatively affordable. Priced from under $24,000, rumor has it that the Insight's pricetag made a few folks at Toyota scratch their heads. For its second iteration, Insight's mileage and performance are up, and the compromise factor is way down.

Get-up-and-go is on par with most small four-cylinder cars, thanks to the four-cylinder gas engine that's hooked up with a torque electric motor system for enhanced power delivery. All power is generated on board, and there's no need to plug Insight in.

The interior is accommodating and offers more than adequate space-- though it does tighten up quickly with 5 people on board. Like goodies? The loaded $27,500 Insight EX tester included navigation, automatic climate control, Bluetooth, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, voice-command and more. That's enough to satisfy the atmospherically-minded techie any day of the week.

There's no hit in the safety department either. Side and curtain airbags are standard across the Insight range, alongside advanced antilock brakes and active head restraints. The tester even included a stability control system.

Long story short, it seems that Honda's worked hard to create a hybrid that should even appeal to skeptical shoppers. It's barely different than any other small, upscale car-- except for the looks. It's function over form here: a giant victory for aerodynamics over style.

Insight's cabin is bright, airy and very energetic. Entry and exit are easy, controls are mainly simple to find and use, and there are gobs of storage in the form of compartments and cubby-holes.

Multiple power outlets and covered compartments complete the package, and the hatchback body style lends itself to easy handling of numerous jobs. Visibility is good, albeit out the rear hatchback where the split-window design blocks some of the view.

The instrument cluster is the cabin's most striking element. A slew of high-tech indicators are included, and the whole things lights up like the console of a shuttlecraft from Star Trek at night.
There's also a multi-function digital display to track, among other things, your digital alfalfa garden. This grows or dies off at the hands of your driving habits, which Insight tries to guide via a color-changing light ring around the HUD-style speedometer.

In gentle driving, it stays green. Push too hard, and it turns turquoise or blue. Not long thereafter, your digi-sprouts will start to die off as if you watered them with professional-grade Round-Up. Careful and patient manipulation of the throttle is vital to playing the Insight's green driving game.

I'm no hyper-miler, nor am I typically willing to frustrate other traffic by accelerating as slowly as possible. Even still, fuel consumption averaged 5.7L / 100km on my 1,200 km test drive. This figure came relatively effortlessly, though it left room for improvement compared to the 4.7L / 100km figure Honda advertises for the car.

Put simply, Insight drivers can expect to go 100 km on five bucks worth of gas--or less. Even if you've got a lead foot, you'll still wind up with mileage better than most conventional small cars. Of course, if you're considering a hybrid, chances are that you haven't got a lead foot.

Proud Insight owners will be taking to the internet to post their fuel consumption figures in the near future-- so consult with them if mileage maximization is your sole reason for owning an Insight. Of course, if you're just after a fuel-efficient and upscale small car, you'll probably like it too.

Source;
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/wheels/article/709324

Prius vs. Insight: A clash of corporate cultures

TOKYO--Few cars better embody the wide divergence in the corporate cultures of Toyota and Honda than these two hybrids.

In one corner is the Honda Insight--a case study in utilitarian expedience. It's powered by a simplified four-banger with an electric motor adding just enough oomph to cut down on trips to the pump. It sports a plasticy, no-frills interior and poaches parts from sister models.
In the other corner is the redesigned Toyota Prius--a paragon of engineering excellence. It pushes the envelope with an ingenious planetary gear transmission, outstanding fuel economy and snazzy options such as solar panels. The car that made hybrids famous carries a first-class sticker price to match.

For better and worse, the redesigned Prius and Insight exude the distinct corporate identities that gave them birth. The result is as much a battle of the automakers' business philosophies as a two-car rivalry.

Faultless Toyota Motors reached new technological heights but drifted into cost creep, a risky trend in a recession. Penny-pinching Honda Motors did a lot with a little, churning out a low-budget hybrid that can't match its rival's specifications.

Pricing policies
The redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius goes on sale in the United States in late May with a base price of $22,750, including freight. The price of the top-trim Prius will be $28,020. Later this year, a stripped-down base model will be offered for $21,750.

The Insight, by contrast, starts at $20,470 and climbs to $23,000, fully loaded. Toyota's aggressive pricing of the third-generation Prius may pressure margins again. Says Takaki Nakanishi, an auto industry analyst at JPMorgan: "It will be difficult to make a profit at the lower grades."

Honda and Toyota share a reverence for the principles of kaizen--or continuous improvement--and just-in-time manufacturing. But their subtle differences are best summed in Honda's pragmatism versus Toyota's perfectionism.

Pragmatism versus perfectionism
"Honda always has to prioritize what they can and can't do because they just don't have the resources of Toyota," says Tatsuo Yoshida, an auto analyst with UBS Securities in Tokyo. "If they tried to follow Toyota on development, it would be like committing suicide."
Take mileage. Honda was satisfied with a respectable EPA rating of 40 mpg city/43 highway for the Insight. But the Prius reached for and attained an eye-popping 51/48.

Honda got there by simplifying an existing 1.3-liter engine to two modes of variable valve timing, instead of three. It chose a one-clutch drivetrain instead of a two-clutch version. That reduced the efficiency of regenerative braking but was cheaper.

The lowest trim-level Insight lacks such staples as cruise control and stability control.
In aerodynamics, the Insight has a 0.28 drag coefficient. Good, but not even as good as the Honda Civic's. Yasunari Seki, the chief engineer, was ordered to poach body structure from the Honda Fit compact, a move that limited aerodynamic improvements and also resulted in ho-hum styling. In fact, attention to styling is such an afterthought at Honda that the company doesn't have a companywide design chief.

The pursuit of expedience is echoed in Honda's aversion to full-sized trucks and V-8 Acura offerings. Honda can't be all things to all people so it compromises with the car-based Honda Ridgeline and a V-6 Acura. They may not be best-in-class, but they leverage Honda's strengths.
"We believe it fits with the culture of our company, where we want to build environmentally friendly cars that get good gas mileage," says Dick Colliver, who retired recently as executive vice president of sales at American Honda Motors "You don't have to have a V-8 engine to be Tier 1."

High-tech luxury
Meanwhile, Akihiko Otsuka, Toyota's chief engineer, was striving to make his Prius the world's greenest car. The solution was cutting-edge.

Otsuka used a bigger engine to get better mileage at high speeds. He eliminated drive belts for the air conditioning compressor and water pump, making them electric. He devised an exhaust-heat recapture system to help keep the engine operating at optimal efficiency.

Otsuka also improved drag to 0.25, from 0.26. The new Prius was the world's slickest production car until Mercedes unveiled its new E-class coupe at 0.24.

The Prius brims with luxury features, most famously the gimmicky solar panels whose sole task is to run a ventilation system to cool the cabin when the car is parked in the sun.

Toyota's approach mirrors the whole-hog ambition that thrust it into the full-sized pickup segment with the Toyota Tundra and into premium sedans with the Lexus lineup.

"It's part of Toyota culture to always improve on what it's already done," says Chris Richter, of CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. "It wants to position itself as higher end."

Honda re-engineered the Insight's hybrid system to cost 40 percent less than the previous-generation hybrid drivetrain, used in the current Civic Hybrid. Toyota was able to shave 35 percent off the costs of the current generation. But Otsuka missed the internal target of halving the cost.

(Source: Automotive News)

CanadianDriver sets Honda Insight trip record

Montreal, Quebec - Honda’s cross-country “Insight Into Canada” tour, where journalists drive two dozen separate legs over the course of a month in a 2010 Honda Insight, has entered the last third of the journey. CanadianDriver.com’s Senior Editor Paul Williams has set a record of 3.8 L/100 km from Ottawa to Montreal.

The Insight, the first one registered in Canada, began its journey on April 21, departing from the Trans-Canada Highway Mile Marker Zero in Victoria. The journalists report on the trip and on environmental initiatives through a “narrative” by the car, at InsightIntoCanada.

The trip is scheduled to end on May 22 at the Trans-Canada Highway Mile Marker Zero in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Williams achieved his 3.8 L/100 km (74 mpg Imp) with a full tank of fuel. Transport Canada’s fuel economy ratings for the vehicle are 4.5 L/100 km on the highway, and 4.8 L/100 km in the city. ”I drove at or near the speed limit, but looked for every opportunity to cruise with power from the electric battery only and the gasoline engine off,” Williams said. “The car’s Eco Assist system was very helpful in optimizing fuel economy.”

The Insight went on sale on April 22, with a starting price of $23,900.


Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/05/12/canadiandriver-sets-honda-insight-trip-record.htm

Honda sells 2,096 Insight hybrids in April, Prius sales drop 61.5%

Consider the sleeping giant officially poked!
April U.S. auto sales numbers came out today, and Honda reports it sold 2,096 Honda Insights. That's a far cry from the 5,000 Insights that the company sold in Japan in the car's first week. Guess the pent-up demand for the Prius-alternative was stronger back home than here in the U.S. Or maybe the 478 Insights that were available at launch at the end of March were not enough and dampened enthusiasm? Whatever the reason, Honda expects big things from the little hybrid. Honda increased Insight production rates, and the company says it will be ready with 200,000 units a year, with half that expected to come to the U.S. One surprise: the Civic hybrid outsold the new Insight, 3,361 to 2,096.

The Accord hybrid (that was retired in 2007!) came in dead last with zero sales in April 2009. Overall, Honda's sales dropped 24.5 percent compared to April 2008.On the Toyota side of the fence, Prius sales for dropped 61.5 percent in April compared to April 2008. With a new model coming very soon, ToMoCo was still able to move 8,385 units last month. Overall, Toyota and Lexus sold 12,223 hybrid vehicles in April. We'll have a post on the domestic hybrids up in a bit. (UPDATE: Available here.)

Source;
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/01/honda-sells-2-096-insight-hybrids-in-april-prius-sales-drop-61/