• •  Competes with: Toyota Prius.
• •  40/43 mpg (city/highway); Driving range of 400 miles.
• •  Arrives in April 2009; Priced below the Honda Civic Hybrid.

Honda has taken the wraps off of the 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid. All 2010 Insights are powered by a 1.3L SOHC i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission. That engine works together with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology that allows for an EPA rated fuel-economy of 40/43 (city/highway) mpg. Besides that outstanding fuel-economy, the 10-kilowatt (13 hp) electric motor IMA hybrid system, along with a 10.6 gallon fuel-tank, allows for driving range of more than 400 miles.

At the 2008 LA Auto Show, Honda showed off its new Ecological Driver Assist System (ECO Assist) that helps owners get the most ‘greenness’ out of their Insight Hybrid. The driver activated ECON mode optimizes the control of the CVT transmission, engine and other powertrain parts to increase fuel-efficiency. Real-time feedback from the Insight is displayed on the new speedometer display in cool changing background colors. See a plant-leaf graphic on your speedometer? That means your being a good boy and driving very efficiently.

Click through for more info and the high-res image gallery.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid:

Standard features on all 2010 Honda Insight Hybrids include 60/40 split and fold-down rear seatbacks; two-tier digital instrument panels; automatic climate control; power windows, mirrors and door locks; a tilting and telescoping steering wheel and a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 audio playback, an auxiliary audio input jack and Speed-Sensitive Volume Control (SVC). The Honda Insight EX model adds alloy-wheels, cruise control, a 6-speaker audio sysetm with a USB audio interface, paddle shifters and Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition.

The 2010 Insight will be available at Honda dealers in the U.S. in the beginning of April 2009 and will be priced below the Civic Hybrid.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid:

Honda has only released one image of the upcoming 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid prior to its 2009 Detroit Auto Show debut. Last week, we saw some images from a leaked brochure and today CarScoop has gathered up some leaked official press photos of the new Honda hybrid (not in high-res).

As you can tell from the photos, the production version of the Insight will be significantly toned-down from the concept seen in Paris. To us it also looks like a beefier version of the previous Insight from back in the day.

We’ll bring you more details from Detroit next week but Honda says that the Insight hybrid will be the most affordable hybrid when it hits markets in spring 2009. Honda expects to sell 200,000 units annually.

2009 Honda Insight (Leaked Images):

Source: CarScoop

We’ll get to see the production version of the Honda Insight Hybrid next month at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but in the meantime you ‘green folks’ that are highly-anticipating the reveal can drool over the leaked JDM brochure of the upcoming Honda hybrid.

From the images you can see that the Japanese market will get a Modulo sporty body-kit which we doubt will make it to the U.S. However, the images also show three trim levels including G, L and LS (known as the DX, LX and EX on the stateside). The LS (or EX) will be the top-of-the-line Insight offering features such as paddle shifters and a navigation.

Join us on Jan 11th for more details from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show.

Follow the jump for the video.

Honda Insight Hybrid (production):

Source: Temple of VTEC

Honda has delivered some good news after disappointing its high-performance fans this morning when it announced that it has suspended plans to built the 2010 Honda NSX. The Japanese automaker announced today that it has found a partner for lithium-ion battery development – Japan’s GS Yuasa Corp.

CEO Takeo Fukui said today that Honda will team up with GS Yuasa Corp. to manufacture next-generation lithium-ion batteries for Honda’s future hybrid vehicles. The new company will be owned 51 percent by GS Yuasa and 49 percent by Honda.

Currently Honda’s Civic Hybrid and Toyota’s Prius use nickel-metal hydride batteries. Honda did not say which future vehicles will carry the new lithium-ion battery packs, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the next-generation of the Honda Insight – the first generation will make its production debut at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month and will use nickel hydride batteries.

According to Automotive News, GS Yuasa currently makes lithium-ion batteries for Mitsubishi in a joint venture called Lithium Energy Japan. The batteries are much larger than the ones it will develop for Honda since those are used for a fully-electric cars. Honda’s batteries will be much smaller since they will work with Honda’s hybrid system.

Honda and GS Yuasa said they will spend ¥7.5 billion ($85.2 million) on the new company.

Honda Insight Hybrid (production):

Honda Insight Hybrid Concept:

The production version of the 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid will make its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Honda says that the 5-door Insight will be the most affordable hybrid car available when it hits markets in spring of 2009.

Honda plans to sell 200,000 units of the Insight Hybrid annually – 100,000 of which are expected to come from North America.

Honda’s Insight Hybrid will be powered by a 1.3L gasoline engine mated to Honda’s new hybrid system. Fuel-economy of the production Insight is expected to mirror the Honda Civic Hybrid which gets 40/45 mpg (city/highway). We’ll have more details from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month.

Honda Insight Hybrid (production):

Honda Insight Hybrid Concept:

Honda Insight Hybrid Concept at the 2008 LA Auto Show:

Honda announced today that it will debut its new Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist) on its 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid when it debuts in spring 2009. Eco Assist works kind of like Ford’s EcoGuide feature by combining multiple functions to help the driver optimize fuel-efficiency.

“Hybrid drivers enjoy trying to get the most fuel economy from their vehicles,” said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The visual nature of Eco Assist is intended to help drivers improve their efficient driving skills by making the hybrid experience more fun and rewarding.”

Right - so what does Honda categorize as fun and exciting? ECON mode is activated by the “ECON” button on the instrument panel. Once activated, it will adjust control of the transmission, engine and other powertrain elements and air conditioner operation. While all this will help increase battery charging during regenerative braking, you won’t ever see us using ECON mode. You just have to ask yourself – are you really that concerned about fuel-economy or do you just want to get from point A to point B in hybrid since you care a little for the environment and for your wallet.

Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery from the 2008 LA Auto Show.

Honda Insight Concept – Live from 2008 LA Auto Show:

Press Release:

Honda Insight to Introduce Ecological Drive Assist System in Spring 2009

Driver feedback system designed for fun and economy

American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced that a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™) will debut on the new Honda Insight in spring 2009.

The Honda Insight Concept, making its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, provides a strong indication of the design and styling of the all-new gasoline-electric hybrid model from Honda.

Eco Assist combines multiple functions: the driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission, engine and related powertrain components to conserve fuel; and a feedback function that uses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving. An economy scoring function further provides feedback about current driving techniques, as well as feedback on cumulative, long-term driving style.

“Hybrid drivers enjoy trying to get the most fuel economy from their vehicles,” said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The visual nature of Eco Assist is intended to help drivers improve their efficient driving skills by making the hybrid experience more fun and rewarding.”

Honda developed the powertrain control, driver guidance and driver feedback functions of Eco Assist to help enhance real-world fuel economy. In particular, the scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedback through graphic ‘leaves,’ which grow over time as drivers learn and implement driving practices that increase fuel economy.

Activated by a green “ECON” button on the instrument panel, ECON mode optimizes control of the transmission, engine and other powertrain elements to conserve fuel. ECON mode also adjusts air conditioner operation, increases the potential for engaging the idle stop feature sooner and increase battery charging during regenerative braking.

The guidance function uses the speedometer background’s color-changing, three-dimensional appearance to indicate fuel efficiency in real time. Fuel-saving activities like smooth acceleration and braking make the meter glow green. Somewhat less efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green. Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue. By observing the speedometer background’s response to driving practices and seeking to achieve a consistently green color, drivers can receive assistance in developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.

The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress. Located in the center of the instrument panel of the all-new Insight, the Multi-Information Display offers drivers a selection of informational displays, including the scoring function, in which the number of ‘leaves’ displayed indicates the level of environmentally responsible driving performance. When the ignition switch is on, the display scores driving practices in real time. When the ignition switch is turned off, the ‘leaves’ in the top line of the display score driving in the just completed cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the lower part of the display scores cumulative lifetime performance.

The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel efficient driving habits over the long term.

Going on sale in North America next spring, the all-new, purpose-built Insight will come to market at a price significantly below that of hybrids available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insight will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a new generation of buyers.

With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka factory in Japan.
The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year -approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z, a concept car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as North America’s first gas-electric hybrid car. The original Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.

A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda was the first to market low-emission gasoline vehicles, a gasoline-electric hybrid car in North America, and the world’s first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named “greenest automaker” by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.