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Further to the posts containing the press release and first drive impressions, the latest post in Japanese Green Cars answers an important question...when will the new Insight go on sale...?

Honda Motor Co will begin selling the Insight, the first of its next generation low-cost hybrid cars, in Japan in February, followed by launches in Europe and the United States in March and April...:Banane29:

http://japanesegreencars.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-honda-insight-launch-february-in.html

It was reported for it to be in the dealer showrooms by Earth Day. (April 22)

Details about the battery unit of the new Honda Insight

"Talking to Honda engineers I learned that the internal engineering life-expectancy standard for this battery is 15 years or 240,000 km."


http://japanesegreencars.blogspot.com/2009/01/details-about-battery-unit-of-new-honda.html

Hi Kosutasu:

___All Honda NiMH's were designed to meet a minimum age and distance and 150,000 miles is (was) that standard. Unfortunately, many previous packs did not make it that long. With better chemistry and build QC of the cels and less assist/regen affinity, the Insight-II should reach those without to much trouble.

___Did you see our 2010 Insight-II Preview including the Video that was attached yesterday courtesy of Sean and his wife? It's a doozy :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Best write up I have seen yet in the new Honda Insight.
Of course if your an old guy like me you'll recognize Pat Bedard's name.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/honda_acura_central/2009_honda_insight_ex_road_test/(page)/1

Hi Paul:

___I would not say the best but I am biased :D

___I was fortunate to meet Patrick on the bus to the evening event of Day #3. He looked familiar but he had to introduce himself before I knew who he was. I had no idea I was speaking with a legend in fact! A straight shooter and a pleasure to speak with for the few minutes I did.

___One comment he did make after one of my runs the following day was why I was interested in adhesion limits given what we do? This was after I described the slight 4-wheel drift when testing the Insight-II’s traction in a chicane at the entry way into the resort. Most of these journalists really do not know what we do and many had surpassed the 35minute limit on the FE course. The Insight-II was allowing a 5 to 15% buffer regarding time on the course in my runs and you can imagine the higher average speeds and momentum carry needed for that let alone the late in the day runs to give the rest the time they needed for their previews of the Insight-II.

___All-in, I believe Patrick pulled a 63.x mpg run which made me smile :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Automobilemag.com mentions your lessons to the media pool.

Automobilemag.com mentions your lessons to the media pool.

Why do these gas-pedal-and-cup-holder guys always feel obligated to take gratuitous shots at the Insight I?

http://www.automobilemag.com/green/reviews/0903_2010_honda_insight/index.html

After all, the first-generation Insight, which debuted in 1999, was an oddity: a tiny, side-skirted, skinny-tired two-seater that even fervent Honda fans could not wrap their heads around. Lesson learned, Honda wanted its new, second-generation Insight to be friendly rather than freaky, useful rather than nearly useless,

I suppose I'm a fervent Honda fan (plus a fan of many other manufacturers) and I had no problem whatsoever wrapping my head around the Insight. My sole regret is not buying one sooner.

Apparently auto scribblers can't wrap their heads around the fact that Honda never intended to sell stacks of Insights. I had to fight to get mine. The car was intended as a niche vehicle, as a demo of Honda's engineering prowess, and as a field test of battery technology. Never as a sales leader, as Honda apparently hopes the Insight II will be.

I have a question about the paddle shifter system in the EX version of the 2010 Honda Insight... Does that make it act something like a MT? I wasn't sure where to post this question, I hope I get somet results... Very much appreciated :)

Hi Spitfiregirl52:

___Yes but it really does not change a gear like a MT, it changes the ratio at which it you are current driving in vs. the automatic function. I did not play with the paddle shifters but for a minute or two so I cannot really add much more than how they work.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

So for instance, if the rpms are higher than what I would like, I can upshift? I'm not sure what other kind of function they would have? Is it worth getting cruise control? I noticed that when you said you got 70+ mpg on that test for journalists, that you didn't use the cruise control? I remember reading tarabell's forum about the HCHII and how it got better gas mileage at 35 mph vs. say 55 mph and she used cc... Just wondering...

Hi Spitfiregirl52:

___Never use CC. I think there are lockout limits on the paddle shifters. They will not up-shift any faster but they will downshift. Do not take my word on this however.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

In the Fit, in S (sport) mode, the paddle shifters tell the ECU to maintain the selected gear until a preset lower limit (near lugging) or upper limit (red line) are hit. Stops the stupid downshifts on mild climbs/headwinds. Downside to me seems to be that you have to remember to get back to normal D mode when turning, since your shifters move around while you turn the wheel. So, at this point (still testing/learning), I use S while cruising, but D in local driving. Going from D to S while in 5th will downshift to 4th, so you either shift to S earlier or hit the + paddle immediately.

In D, the paddles only tell the ECU to honor your request (within the range) for a few seconds, at which point it returns to normal ECU parameters.

I don't have a clue if this translates to the Insight II, but they are both Hondas.

In D or S, you can use paddles to maintain enough rpm to enter and stay in DFCO during a deceleration, plus it saves brake wear. I use the - shifter much more than + for this reason. This would pertain far less to the Insight, I would think, with regen braking available.

The Hindsight II went on sale this week in Japan.
The 10-15 FE number is 30km/L, base price retails at 1.89 million Yen and the top range retails at 2.21million Yen.

http://autos.yahoo.co.jp/ncar/newmodel/report1/mm0177/

As the Yen/dollar current exchange rate is 91Yen/dollar this would put the base at about $20,000.
The goal is to sell 5,000 per month in Japan, (Prius sold about 6K per month)

Good Luck
Andrew

Hi Andrew:

___Welcome back and I hope your move went well!

___We reported on this yesterday... Price announced on 2010 Honda Insight in Japan... On sale this Friday (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19302) but we could use your help deducing a price in that thread.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks Wayne, Still in limbo on the move as it takes about 1 month for shipping.

Back to the price, Generally the price quoted is before consumption tax.
But I will check it out and answer in the right thread. I will try to find the catalogue.

Good Luck