Photo Show: 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid Concept at Paris Motor Show
By John O'Dell October 2, 2008
The concept version of the 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid was unveiled at the Paris Auto Show this morning, providing us a good idea of what the production car is likely to look like, but little new information about the car or its powertrain beyond what Honda already told us last month
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The one bit of news that did squeak out came form Honda President and Chief Executive Takeo Fukui, who said when introducing the Insight Hybrid concept that the production car is expected to post fuel economy figures "on par" with those for the slightly larger Honda Civic Hybrid.
The Civic hybrid is rated at 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 mpg on the highway.
Previsouly, Honda described the 2009 Insight Hybrid as a five-seat, five-door hatchback aimed at entry-level hybrid buyers who might otherwise be looking at rival Toyota's Prius.
The Insight Hybrid, Honda has hinted, is likely to come to market priced at under $20,000, well below the Prius' starting price of $21,500 (before dealers start slapping on premium charges because the car is in high demand), and the Civic hybrid's $22,600 base price.
Honda also has said that it took most of the Insight Hybrid's styling cues form the limited production 2009 FCX Clarity (right), and many auto critics have noted a distinct similarity between the Clarity and the Prius.
Although it is doubtful that the neat blue accent lighting around the 2009 Insight's grille (see photos below) will make it to production, and the concept car's tires and wheels likely will be downsized, there's a good bet that the car that bowed in Paris this morning is pretty much what we'll see when Honda takes the wraps off the production model at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show in January.
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