Honda Unveils Insight's Eco Assist

Last week, Ford revealed a new energy-conscious instrument cluster — filled with interactive leaves — for the Fusion and Milan hybrids. Ford’s reasoning was that hybrid owners demand better communication in order to maximize fuel efficiency. Well, it appears Honda and Ford hired the same analysts, because Honda has just revealed a very similar system.

Honda’s system, dubbed Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist) will debut in the spring of 2009 on the all-new Honda Insight. The system uses a two-tier instrument cluster (similar to the Civic’s) to communicate effective driving habits. The speedometer’s background color changes depending on how you’re driving — green for light acceleration and cruising, blue for hard acceleration and braking.

The center information screen (inside the tachometer) features an LED information screen that scores driving habits. The number of leaves on the display (sounds familiar) signifies your mastery over hypermiling.

The system also features an “ECON” button that, when switched on, optimizes the transmission, powertrain and regenerative braking to optimize fuel consumption. It’s strange to us that Honda would offer such a feature. Why not just program the vehicle to always run in this mode?

Compared with Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide dual LCD screens and reconfigurable software, Honda’s system is distinctly downscale, but then again the Honda Insight will be the cheapest hybrid on the road, according to the company.

We’ll have to wait and see if Toyota follows suit with its own eco display. No doubt it and others will.