Neil Winton / Special to The Detroit NewsPARIS -- Honda's new Insight petrol electric hybrid will go on sale around the world in the spring of 2009, after the mass production-ready version of the car is unveiled at the Detroit car show in January, the Japanese company said.
The original Insight was introduced in 1999. It only had two seats, whereas the new one has room for five.
"For the long term, we believe fuel cell electric vehicle technology is the ultimate environmental solution. But to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide emissions in the near term, Honda believes the best approach is to advance hybrid technology to mainstream customers," Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda told a press conference at the Paris Car Show.
"We are developing this vehicle to achieve excellent fuel efficiency on a par with the Civic Hybrid, but at a significantly reduced price. The new Insight is equipped with a hybrid system that combines a lightweight and compact 1.3 litre (gasoline) engine with a motor that will achieve excellent fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions," Fukui said, without revealing any data.
The current Civic Hybrid uses a so-called "mild" hybrid system, which enhances the performance of the gasoline engine. "Strong" hybrids, like that in the Toyota Prius enhance efficiency, but also allow a limited amount of separate, battery-only powered driving.
Fukui didn't say which system would be used in the new Insight.
He said the Insight should sell up to 200,000 versions a year. Hybrid versions of the CR-Z SUV and little Jazz (known as the Fit in the U.S.) will bring hybrid sales up to 500,000 a year, but he didn't say when.
Fukui added that the newly redesigned Jazz/Fit, going on sale across Europe from next month, will be built in Britain, in addition to current capacity in China and Japan.
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