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Honda to offer new hybrid-only Insight
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Published: September 7, 2008
TOKYO
Honda is bringing back the defunct Insight nameplate for a hybrid-only vehicle planned for the Japanese, European and North American markets early next year, as Honda strives to play catch-up with rival Toyota in hybrids.
Toyota Motor Corp. has been wildly successful by promoting the Prius as a hybrid-only model -- a move often praised as effective in highlighting its commitment to ecological technology.
But the industry is still divided on devoting a model to a hybrid.
Nissan Motor Co. of Japan, which now buys its hybrid system from Toyota but is developing its own gas-electric technology, is less bullish about hybrid-only models. It has said it will instead likely offer a hybrid version of one of its standard gasoline-engine vehicles.
Honda Motor Co. executives have repeatedly expressed their determination to come out with more hybrids.
Honda's original Insight hybrid was introduced in 1999 but was discontinued in 2006 after selling just 17,000 worldwide.
Toyota, by contrast, has sold more than 1 million Prius cars over the past 10 years.
The reasons for the Insight's failure to catch on are unclear, but relatively high pricing, its unusual styling and other reasons may be to blame.
Tokyo-based Honda, Japan's No. 2 automaker, will show a "concept model" of the Insight at the Paris Motor Show next month, Honda said last week.
It will be a five-door hatchback compact, whose design is based on the sleek FCX Clarity, Honda's fuel-cell vehicle, according to Honda.
"The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's ‘insight' into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers," Honda said.
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