Hybrid cars have for now been an exclusive reserve of a niche market, the all-new Honda insight is aimed at changing that. Honda Insight 2010 is a more affordable family Hybrid car that will make Hybrid cars more attractive to more people. Honda’s objective is to sell 200,000 Insights each year. Honda Insight, available as a stylish hatchback, has low CO2 emission, fun-to-drive performance and excellent fuel economy even for a Hybrid.
All new Honda Insight was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show NAIAS 2009, on January 2009. Honda Insight 2010 will be available at Honda auto dealers in the United States by April 2009. Honda Insight will also be launched in the European market later in the year. All new Insight was unveiled in Europe for the first time on January 19, 2009 at a press event in Valencia, Spain.
Honda Insight receives power from an advanced 1.3 litre SOHC aluminium alloy i-VTEC engine. This is mated with a Continuous Variable Automatic Transmission CVT system and a new generation Honda Integrated Motor Assist™ IMA® which incorporates a 10-kilowatt (13hp) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit IPU.
IPU uses regenerative braking to store energy that would have been lost during braking or deceleration. This energy is stored in Honda Insight’s high capacity Battery.
Hybrid cars are about fuel economy. Honda Insight achieves impressive fuel economy with innovative features. Honda Insight comes with a new interactive, driver focused fuel enhancement technology called Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™), which will coach drivers on how to achieve better fuel economy with Insight.
At low to mid-speed driving condition, Insight’s IMA system operates solely on electric power. When the car stops say in a traffic jam or in a roundabout engine is automatically shutoff offering fuel savings. Cylinder deactivation occurs during deceleration. Insight’s aerodynamic design also contributes to fuel savings. All these add to Honda Insight impressive fuel economy, which resulted in a US EPA city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 miles per gallon mpg. Honda Insight has CO2 emission as low as 101g/km.
Honda Insight is equipped with Anti-lock Braking System ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution EBD. Standard safety airbags features in Honda Insight include dual-stage, dual threshold front airbags; front-side airbag with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and side-curtain airbags. Other safety features in Insight includes front passenger active head restraint and Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE™) body structure that offers improved crash capability.
Honda does not focus only on the safety of occupants as Honda Insight front body is designed to reduce pedestrian injuries. Honda Insight ACE body structure also reduces potential for injuries to occupants of opposing vehicle in frontal collision.
All Honda Insight models are fitted with a 160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with Speed-sensitive Volume Control SVC. Honda Insight EX models come with a 6-speaker audio system that has support for USB audio interface. Other standard features of Insight include power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, automatic climate control and a two-tier digital instrument panel. Honda Insight even boasts of 60/40 split and fold down rear seat thanks to Honda’s ultra-compact IMA battery and IPU, which has provided more space.
Insight EX adds alloy wheels, cruise control, Honda Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice recognition.
Honda Insight has a spacious interior and can comfortably carry five passengers. On a full tank of 10.6 gallon, Insight has an estimated maximum range in excess of 400 miles.
Honda Insight is a 5-door electric-petrol Hatchback designed to offer lower emission and better fuel economy at an affordable price tag. Honda Insight is aimed at making cleaner cars accessible and affordable to more people. According to Honda, all new Insight will be priced below Civic Hybrid.
Honda has an objective of selling 200,000 Insights each year, 100,000 of which will be sold in the United States, Canada, and North America. This large volume contributed to the affordability of the Honda Insight. Cost savings where also achieved by redesigning the IMA, increasing production base for electric motors, and producing most parts in house.
Insight will be produced at Honda’s Suzuka factory in Japan.
Honda Insight was introduced in the American market in December 1999 as the first mass-produced hybrid car in America.
Honda is a global leader in the development of hybrid and cleaner vehicle technologies. Honda currently has two hybrid electric vehicles HEV. They are Honda Insight and Honda Civic hybrid. Honda has plans of launching two more fuel-electric vehicles. Honda plans to launch a sporty hybrid based on Honda CR-Z and a Honda Jazz Hybrid in a couple of years. When these four hybrid cars go on sale, Honda targets a global hybrid cars sale of 500,000 per year. Hybrid cars, according to Honda will make 10% of her cars sales by the middle of the next decade.
Honda also has a zero emission vehicle based on hydrogen-powered fuel cell called Honda FCX Clarity. Honda FCX Clarity has the enviable position of being the world most advanced production automobile.
Honda Insight 2010 will be available at Honda auto dealers in the United States by April 2009 and much later in Europe.
This review is based on Honda Insight 2010 American specification. For more information on Honda Insight, visit worldwide Honda website at world.honda.com
What is a hybrid car
Hybrid cars use the combined characteristics of the internal combustion engine and a special electric motor. The fuel efficiency of a hybrid car is improved considerably because the electric motor compensates the internal combustion engine’s poor torque performance at low engine revolutions.
Although hybrid cars promise cheaper running costs and cleaner (greener) operations, compared to petrol engines, they require a petrol engine in addition to a specialised electric motor, a high capacity battery, a power electronic system, and an advanced control system to ensure everything works well. This has significantly led to high cost of hybrid cars, which has put it out of the reach of many people.
However, as battery technology improves and with more advanced auto electronics now available added to larger production volumes, hybrid car prices are bound to fall bringing them within reach of more people.
Two auto companies with two hybrid cars are global leaders in hybrid technology. They are Honda with Insight and Toyota with Prius.
You are not likely to find Honda Insight and other hybrid cars in Nigeria at authorised dealers place. This is because the Nigerian market is not matured for hybrid. Who knows? The all-new Honda Insight might break that barrier.
Stallion motors and Globe motors are authorised auto dealers for Honda auto brands in Nigeria. Honda models bought from accredited Honda dealers in Nigeria come with three-year warranty and three free services. Honda auto financing and lease are available at auto dealers place.
Visit our Honda Authorised distributor page for a list of Honda dealers locations (address and/or phone number) in Nigeria.
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