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View Full Version : Wheels: Honda Insight hybrid offers economy, technology


Right Lane Cruiser
01-29-2009, 09:07 AM
Honda officials say they did not make an effort to copy Toyota's design. (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09029/945279-97.stm)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II_-_Video_Launch.jpgDon Hammonds - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://www.post-gazette.com) - Jan. 29, 2009

Another impressed reviewer. Will customers also find it compelling? --Ed.

There's only one thing that can keep Honda's new Insight front-wheel drive hybrid from becoming one of the most popular new cars around -- the economy, and that is beyond the company's control.

Honda, in keeping with its modest corporate sensibility, says the Insight will get 40 miles per gallon fuel mileage. In real life, you could get anywhere from 55 mpg to an amazing 70 mpg. Of course, that means no jackrabbit starts and other fuel wasting maneuvers.

Fuel economy is not the Insight's only selling point. It is a reasonably equipped sedan that will probably cost less than $20,000 for the base model, making it one of the least expensive hybrids around.

The Insight has a number of cool features to help drivers do their best in maintaining their fuel-saving habits. First and foremost is an Eco-Assist driver coaching system, in which the speedometer glows blue when you are driving inefficiently, and green when you drive more sensibly. There's also a bar graph that helps you use your throttle and... http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09029/945279-97.stm

MT bucket
01-29-2009, 09:31 AM
Pretty neat, but it aint no "Blue Swayed"! ;)

spitfiregirl52
01-29-2009, 03:28 PM
I'm so excited about getting mine in April! I think that it'll be an awesome car and I plan on keeping it for a LONG time!

xcel
01-29-2009, 04:42 PM
Hi Spitfiregirl52:

___If the price is right; I think you are going too really like it :)

___Sean, Don is one of the guys I was fortunate enough to speak with for about 30-minutes during dinner one evening. He is really a great guy!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

spitfiregirl52
02-02-2009, 01:36 AM
Thanks Wayne.
I KNOW I'm gonna love it! :)

groar
02-02-2009, 01:55 AM
Strange to read something positive about the new Insight in a non hypermiler column...

In France the main comments are :
"the Insight II (and Prius III) have always a bad look" (they can't understand that Cd 0.29 vs 0.25 means 13% more fuel consumption on highway)
"the Insight II has no silent mode like the Prius III"
"the Insight II Econ mode and FE display have "no interest", are a "ridiculous game"..."

The only positive comment about the Insight II was that the electric system is to assist the ICE so there is less batteries, less weight and more room.

Even if we may not change car before Nov 2010, I will carefully watch your (undoubtfully great) results with the Insight II and the Prius III.

Denis.

voodoo22
02-02-2009, 07:52 AM
Strange to read something positive about the new Insight in a non hypermiler column...

In France the main comments are :
"the Insight II (and Prius III) have always a bad look" (they can't understand that Cd 0.29 vs 0.25 means 13% more fuel consumption on highway)
"the Insight II has no silent mode like the Prius III"
"the Insight II Econ mode and FE display have "no interest", are a "ridiculous game"..."

The only positive comment about the Insight II was that the electric system is to assist the ICE so there is less batteries, less weight and more room.

Even if we may not change car before Nov 2010, I will carefully watch your (undoubtfully great) results with the Insight II and the Prius III.

Denis.

But do the French ever compliment anything which isn't French?:)

Sorry, couldn't resist.

xcel
02-02-2009, 11:59 AM
Hi Groar:

___Following along with what Voodoo just said, I have a story sitting in Queue about the Renault Dacia Eco2 engines. Not a single engine in the lineup is worth a damn. The best of the bunch is an LPG powered 1.4 that you can swap to gas at any time with a switch and its CO2 output is 140 g/km. The rest of the lineup includes E85 to underpowered 1.2L econo engines that are only able to reach 120 g/km and this is on either E85 or gasoline!

___Thank god for Peugeot and their magnificent co-Ford developed 1.6L turbo-diesel.

___About the Insight-II... The Eco-Guide background color changing speedometer is the easiest tool I have ever seen or used to help people blow out an EPA rating.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Harold
02-02-2009, 12:03 PM
Good one Voodoo 22, your sharp today, but bang on!:)



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