2008 Paris Motor Show: Honda Insight Hybrid Concept
- Looks like: Honda’s version of the Toyota Prius
- Defining characteristics: Affordable hybrid powertrain and five seats
- Ridiculous features: Illuminated grille
- Chance of being mass-produced: This is almost exactly what the real thing will look like; we’ll see that one in Detroit in January
The biggest news to come out of Paris about the Honda Insight concept you see here is that we’ll see the real thing in January at the Detroit auto show. OK, maybe that’s not the biggest news. We also learn that the Insight’s power plant is a 1.3-liter four-cylinder teamed with a revised version of Honda’s hybrid power plant, already found in the Civic Hybrid.
Unfortunately, Honda bosses say the mileage will also be similar to the Civic Hybrid, which gets 40/45 mpg city/highway. So don’t expect this thing to top 50 mpg.
At least it’ll be cheaper than a Civic Hybrid. The rumored price floating around the internet is $18,500, or about the price of a decently equipped standard Civic. Honda says it will produce 200,000 Insights annually for global sale. It has again been confirmed that a production version of the CR-Z hybrid will also go on sale sometime after that, as well as a hybrid version of the Fit.
Check out our previous coverage of the Insight and the new array of photos below.
