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Affordable new vehicle neatly combines price, efficiency and practicality (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28676262/)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2010_Honda_Insight-II_-_Video_Launch.jpgDan Carney - MSNBC - Jan. 23, 2009

Finally an affordable hybrid car for the masses ? -- Ed.

During boom times, value can go out of style, as dedicated followers of fashion pursue the latest trends and jockey for position in the social order with their accoutrements.

Whether it is outsized McMansions or blinged-out SUVs, when the economy is expanding, more consumers feel entitled to show off a bit. Advertisements cater to such impulses, counseling people that they deserve to treat themselves to something special.

Increasing interest in value should make the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid a popular choice, whenever people decide to start buying cars… http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28676262

Don't insult the Insight by comparing it to a K-Car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQdsv4JFPe8&feature=related).... ;)

There's no Honda that will ever be a K-car. Honda is known for well-built, modestly-configured, durable cars that are easy to afford. The Insight-II will be no different.

Don't insult the Insight by comparing it to a K-Car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQdsv4JFPe8&feature=related).... ;)



Holy Toledo! No kidding.

Has anyone heard what the actual price of the Insight models is going to be? Canada & US would be nice. I'm hoping it will be under $18,000 for the entry model! H:D

a cool car, but i think what made the first one fail was one of its unique aspects, its small size while not practical got great mpg and looked awesome
now its just a prius, it even looks like one, not that there is anything wrong with the prius, its just so toyota plain

I agree with you: 2-seat vehicles will always be a niche market. For example, the Smart car is cool, but it's never going to sell like a Civic because there are too many people that actually need a back seat. The same phenomenon is why people stopped buying the original Insight once the HCH and Prius came out.

I think the Insight-II is going to be a winner for several reasons: the price; decent fuel economy; Honda's reputation for reliability; decent utility (hatchback w/fold-down seats). Essently, it's an econo-Prius.

Which brings me to the shape. The reason why the Insight-II, Clarity, Prius, and Volt all sorta look alike is because they *have* to. There's a certain shape that performs better aerodynamically than others -- and that's the shape!

I like the Prius, but I won't be able to afford the P-III bling-bling configuration. I also only drive 4 miles to work, so I would,kt be in the car long enough to enjoy the bling even if I could afford it. But I can afford $18k-$20k for my next car. That's a price a lot of people can afford.


a cool car, but i think what made the first one fail was one of its unique aspects, its small size while not practical got great mpg and looked awesome
now its just a prius, it even looks like one, not that there is anything wrong with the prius, its just so toyota plain

Has anyone heard what the actual price of the Insight models is going to be? Canada & US would be nice. I'm hoping it will be under $18,000 for the entry model! H:D

No word yet. Most speculate $17k-$18k USD for the LX model. The less than 2 million yen number has been thrown around in Japan.

I doubt it will be under 20k in Canada.

An affordable hybrid for the masses would not be necessary if they'd give us those darned smallish engines in the Yaris which everyone else seems to get and if they really were interested in a hybrid for the masses they covert a car like the Yaris or Fit.

a cool car, but i think what made the first one fail was one of its unique aspects, its small size while not practical got great mpg and looked awesome


As indigo said, 2 seaters will always be a niche market. Even the Mini does way better than the Smart simply because it can hold 4 people.

It need not be a large car either. A 2+2 config like the old sub-compacts has the advantage of 2 full seats to use regularly while allowing for kids, pets, or even just cramming your buddies in for lunch.

One of my ex-coworkers had a kia rondo that would haul everyone to lunch. Comfortable? No. Functional? Yes.

...if they really were interested in a hybrid for the masses they covert a car like the Yaris or Fit.

Actually, the new Insight functionally *is* a hybrid Fit.

this is a huge thing though, many people buy more car than they need
how much of the time do people actually have more than 2 people in their car
what about more that 3
more than 4

my guess is almost never

also i understand about the areodynamic shape of hybrids but my thing is, the old one was even more areodynamic

Don't insult the Insight by comparing it to a K-Car (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQdsv4JFPe8&feature=related).... ;)But then, Lee Iccoca's Chrysler was better than today's Chrysler - he survived. ;)

Point taken - Honda quality is so good it's not plain, not vanilla, but a cut above.
Still, it's paving a way for more people to buy hybrids.

Actually, the new Insight functionally *is* a hybrid Fit.

Good point. Now if they would take out all the extras to keep the price down and make a real base model. That's what I would want.

Yes a true bare bones base model. I’m not sure how many of us there are but I do not need all the extras that come in vehicle packages. My Yaris came with the fog light/rear window wiper option which I have never used. At the time, it was the basest base model that I could find.

This is probably where a company makes their profit, not by excluding these items but by packaging them. And, I think the driving public has come to ‘need’ all these extras or at least feel they do.

Actually, I'm pretty sure they add equipment to the hybrids just to mask the price differential... plus, people who will pay more for the hybrid typically want the extras for the money anyway. A small increase in price to make the rest palatable.

My Insight is pretty sparse and I like it that way. It has a 2 speaker stereo and the climate control has an automatic function. Aside from AC, power windows/locks/steering/brakes, and ABS, that's it. Not much to cut out...

Many people insisted it wasn't enough car for the $20K asking price with only 2 seats and that little in the way of equipment.

I was browsing edmunds.com last night and I decided to see if they had any pricing on the Insight II. I was surprised to see they are listing the base price as $17000 (+670 dest), with a disclaimer stating, "Note: Est. model release: Spring 2009. Pricing & specs on these pages are Edmunds’ assumptions."
The link to the Edmunds TMV pricing - http://www.edmunds.com/honda/insight/2010/index.html

If they bring them to market starting near this price and the dealers don't tack on their Regional Marketing Ransom, this will be more than the "K-car of hybrids". It will be the "Model T" of hybrids.
The Model T put America on wheels, and it's basic design (gasoline engine, rear drive, four doors and two bench seats) was the template of personal transportation for the next century. The Insight II has the potential to be "everyman's hybrid" just as the 'T' was everyman's car. The two appear to share many selling points - simplicity, durability, low purchase and maintenance cost, and of course, being the right transportation solution at the time they hit the market.

I was browsing edmunds.com last night and I decided to see if they had any pricing on the Insight II. I was surprised to see they are listing the base price as $17000 (+670 dest), with a disclaimer stating, "Note: Est. model release: Spring 2009. Pricing & specs on these pages are Edmunds’ assumptions." ...

I believe that was up before the Detroit reveal. A Prius-III page is up too, with a significant error that has not been corrected since the reveal.
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Yes, it was up before the official reveal. I copied part of it on the 10th.

The Prius page is http://www.edmunds.com/toyota/prius/2010/index.html, and includes a price assumption. Considering the displacement is blatantly wrong, I find the whole thing suspect.