Earlier today, Honda released the first image of the production version of its second-generation Insight Hybrid, which was previewed in concept form recently at the Paris Motor Show. The image revealed that the production version will be very similar to the concept, featuring an almost identical overall shape, and now Honda has revealed that the car will be unveiled in full detail at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.
The CEO of Honda, Takeo Fukui, previously confirmed that the car will go on sale next year with a 1.3L petrol engine as part of its hybrid powertrain. It is also expected to start under $19,000, making it the most affordable mass-market dedicated hybrid currently available. Honda expects global sales volumes of 200,000 cars, half of which will come from North America.
Fukui also revealed that the hybrid control module and nickel metal hydride batteries will be located under the cargo floor to maximize interior space. Powering the vehicle will be the latest iteration of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology. Engineers managed to achieve a significant cost reduction for the technology, which Honda claims should make the Insight the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. The car will also feature a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™)
Honda aims to sell 200,000 Insights globally, per year. The hatchback will be the first of a new family of Honda hybrids, followed by a production version of the CR-Z concept sportscar, and a Jazz hybrid.
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