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Honda Takes New Approach with Insight Prototype Debuting at 2018 North American International Auto Show
Dec 19, 2017 - TORRANCE, Calif.
All-new 2019 Honda Insight will offer premium style and high fuel efficiency in a sophisticated and spacious five-passenger sedan
Powered by latest generation of Honda's innovative and highly efficient two-motor full hybrid powertrain
Insight nameplate returns as part of the Honda Electrification Initiative moving electrified vehicles even more into the mainstream
The Honda Insight Prototype will make its world debut at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 15, 2018 as the precursor to the all-new 2019 Honda Insight – an upscale, stylish five-passenger sedan positioned above the Civic in Honda's passenger car lineup. The all-new Insight utilizes the latest generation of Honda's innovative two-motor hybrid system and will launch next summer as the newest electrified vehicle in the Honda lineup.
"With its sophisticated styling, dynamic stance, ample interior space and best-in-class performance, the all-new Insight embodies Honda's approach to creating electrified vehicles without the typical tradeoffs," said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of Automobile Sales and general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "You won't have to be an electrification advocate to appreciate the new Insight – it's a great car in its own right, independent of what's happening under the hood."
Introduced in 1999, the first-generation Insight was America's first hybrid vehicle and a technological tour de force with optimized aerodynamics and a lightweight aluminum structure. As a result, the 2-door Insight launched as the most fuel-efficient EPA certified gasoline-fueled vehicle with a highway rating of 70 miles per gallon. It was the first Honda vehicle to utilize Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system.
The second-generation Insight made its debut in 2009 as the most affordable hybrid on the market. With its 5-door, 5-passenger design, the second-gen Insight offered increased space and utility while continuing to employ the IMA hybrid system.
The all-new 2019 Insight takes an entirely new approach with the styling, packaging, premium features and performance desired by mainstream car buyers – a hybrid vehicle without any inherent compromise. Unlike the first two generations of Insight, the all-new model will be powered by Honda's two-motor hybrid system offering fuel economy that is competitive with other compact hybrid models.
"At the 2017 North American International Auto Show we announced our Honda Electrification Initiative with the intention to make two-thirds of Honda's global vehicle sales electrified vehicles by 2030," said Arcangeli, "With the Insight launching later in 2018 as the fifth electrified vehicle brought to market over the past year, we're demonstrating our commitment to that goal."
The Insight – to be manufactured at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside Civic and CR-V using domestic and globally sourced parts – will join the Clarity series (Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid) and the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, arriving at dealerships nationwide early next year.
When I was working for the local Honda dealer, one of the ladies in Accounting had one & a few of the shop guys had the idea to buy one & make it a MR with an H22. Don't think it ever happened though.
It does look like a Civic (with a bit of Accord thrown in). Since Honda discontinued the Civic hybrid and CNG, this is its replacement. But instead of calling it the Civic Hybrid Honda's bringing back the Insight name plate?
It does look like a Civic (with a bit of Accord thrown in). Since Honda discontinued the Civic hybrid and CNG, this is its replacement. But instead of calling it the Civic Hybrid Honda's bringing back the Insight name plate?
Honda is reintroducing the Insight hybrid as part of the Japanese automaker's electrification strategy. Set for production as a 2019 production model, the prototype, which Honda describes as an "upscale, stylish 5-passenger sedan positioned above the Civic in Honda's passenger car lineup," will debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Honda has previously teased the car, but is now revealing more details ahead of its official introduction at NAIAS.
The new insight is long and low, with a swoopy roofline that appears to be optimized for aerodynamic efficiency. It features LED lighting in the front and rear, and its grille shares the "flying wing" styling with other cars in the Honda lineup. Its long wheelbase translates to roominess for the five passengers, according to Honda.
Inside the new Insight, there will be optional perforated leather seating. The centerpiece will be an 8-inch touchscreen, accompanied by a 7-inch LCD "driver's meter." The infotainment system includes customizable app tiles and shortcuts — similar to what we saw in the Honda Odyssey minivan — as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The car will be capable of over-the-air updates through its built-in Wi-Fi.
The Insight will feature the Honda Sensing safety suite as standard, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. The EX trim and above will include Honda LaneWatch to help drivers keep tabs on their blind spot.
The new Insight will feature a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle engine paired with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Honda says the Insight will operate solely under electric power in most situations, with the engine acting as a generator when necessary. The batteries are packaged underneath the rear seat, maximizing trunk space and allowing for 60/40 folding rear seats.
The previous-generation Insight looked quite a bit like the Toyota Prius. But one industry analyst called the handsome new Insight the "anti-Prius." As in, cars no longer have to look weird to be green.
"The new 2019 Honda Insight signals we are entering a new era of electrification with a new generation of Honda products that offer customers the benefits of advanced powertrain technology without the traditional tradeoffs in design, premium features or packaging," said Honda Senior VP of Sales Henio Arcangeli, Jr. "The Honda Insight is anticipated to receive fuel economy ratings competitive with the best hybrids in the segment, with styling that will have universal appeal inside and out and best-in-class passenger volume."
Honda will build the Insight at its factory in Greensburg, Ind. It's expected to go on sale later this year.
All-new 2019 Honda Insight will offer universally appealing styling in a roomy five passenger sedan with fuel efficiency competitive with the best in the segment
Powered by Honda's innovative, industry-leading two-motor hybrid powertrain Insight nameplate returns as the next phase in the Honda Electrification Initiative
The all-new Honda Insight Prototype will make its world debut on Jan. 15 at the North American International Auto Show, giving consumers a 1st glimpse of the latest model in Honda's growing lineup of electrified vehicles. Launching nationwide later this year, and positioned as a premium compact above Civic in the Honda passenger car lineup, Insight elevates itself above other compact hybrid models with its sleek sedan design, roomy 5-passenger cabin, and refined driving performance, along with high fuel efficiency.
"The new 2019 Honda Insight signals we are entering a new era of electrification with a new generation of Honda products that offer customers the benefits of advanced powertrain technology without the traditional trade-offs in design, premium features or packaging," said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of Automobile Sales and general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The Honda Insight is anticipated to receive fuel economy ratings competitive with the best hybrids in the segment, with styling that will have universal appeal inside and out and best-in-class passenger volume."
The Insight Prototype boasts a sleek design with a low and wide stance, highlighted by Honda's signature "flying wing" grille and bold fascia, low-profile LED headlights and taillights married to sharp and dynamic character lines and a sweeping, long coupe-like roofline.
With its long wheelbase platform, the 2019 Honda Insight will offer class-leading passenger space and a host of premium features including available perforated leather seating, an 8-inch Display Audio capacitive touchscreen and a 7-inch digital LCD driver's meter. More intuitive, smartphone-like features and functionality including customizable app tiles and home-screen shortcuts, along with available Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ integration and Wi-Fi-enabled over-the-air system updates, further enhance Insight over its compact hybrid competitors.
The Insight will deliver class-leading power while still receiving an anticipated EPA fuel economy combined rating in excess of 50 mpg, competitive with other compact hybrid offerings. Powering the model will be a version of the 3rd generation of Honda's 2-motor hybrid system, featuring a highly efficient 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle engine, a powerful electric propulsion motor and lithium-ion battery pack. In most conditions, Insight operates on electric power only, drawing energy from the engine (operating as a generator) or battery pack. The hybrid batteries located under the rear seats provides for a full-size trunk with the flexibility of available 60/40 split and folding rear seats.
The 2019 Honda Insight will include Honda LaneWatch™ on EX and above and Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and new Traffic Sign Recognition.
The Insight will be manufactured at Honda's Greensburg, Indiana plant, alongside Civic and CR-V using domestic and globally sourced parts. Arriving later in 2018 as the 5th electrified vehicle launched by Honda over the past year, Insight will join the Clarity series (Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid) and the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid, arriving at dealerships nationwide early this year.
At the 2017 North American International Auto Show, Honda announced its Honda Electrification Initiative and the intention to make two-thirds of its global vehicle sales to be electrified vehicles by 2030, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell vehicles.
About Insight
Introduced in 1999, the original Honda Insight was America's 1st hybrid vehicle, receiving a 70-mpg EPA fuel economy rating, utilizing a lightweight aerodynamic all-aluminum body and Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid powertrain. The 2nd-generation Insight debuted in 2009 as the most affordable hybrid on the market, offering more mainstream utility with its 5-door, 5-passenger hatchback design and a more advanced IMA hybrid system.The all-new 2019 Insight takes an entirely new approach, utilizing the third-generation of Honda's 2-motor "strong" hybrid technology and offering the styling, packaging, premium features and performance desired by mainstream car buyers.
About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.Honda has been producing automobiles in America for 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2016, more than 95% of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Eat Your Heart Out, Sammy Hagar: 2019 Honda Insight Can Drive 55 ... MPG
By Fred Meier
March 27, 2018
2019 Honda Insight
Manufacturer image
Competes with: Toyota Prius, full stop. Don't all hybrid sedans?
Looks like: A Civic for folks with less attitude and more moneyDrivetrain: Gasoline-electric hybrid system with 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, two electric motors and no conventional transmission, putting out a combined 151 horsepowerHits dealerships: Early summerHonda is making another run at denting the Toyota Prius primacy among hybrid compact sedans with a stylish new 2019 Insight that it estimates will be rated at 55 mpg in city driving. That should let it take direct aim at the Prius, EPA-rated at 54 mpg in the city for most versions, in competition for buyers who want a dedicated hybrid sedan.
The revived Insight is based on the Civic — think of it, in fact, as the Civic hybrid — but Honda has given it a more grown-up and upscale look befitting its likely higher price (exact pricing not yet specified, but Honda says it is a "premium compact sedan" that will slot between the Civic and Accord on the sticker). When it goes on sale in early summer, the Insight will be offered in 3 flavors: a base LX, EX and top-of-the-line Touring. The 2019 Insight is having its official coming out on Wednesday at the 2018 New York International Auto Show following its 1st appearance as a prototype in January in Detroit.
This is Honda's 3rd time around with an Insight. The automaker was a gas-electric hybrid pioneer with the charmingly weird little 2-seat Insight in 1999, but Toyota came along later with the Prius sedan and the rest is history. Neither a previous Insight reboot as a not-so-charming wedge-shaped sedan nor a lukewarm Civic hybrid was able to run with the big dog.
Will the 3rd time be the charm for the Insight? The 2019 model shows Honda is back in the hunt with renewed vigor, and the Insight will be built alongside Civics in Ohio — which should ensure that they are able to make as many as they can sell. The Insight joins the just-on-sale 2018 Accord Hybrid, as well as the Clarity models (hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell), among fresh electrified vehicle options in the Honda lineup.
Exterior
With estimated mileage ratings competitive, this will be a good test of whether the core hybrid buyer wants a car that's a bit odd in order to advertise their green cred. The 2019 Insight is anything but odd — quite the opposite, in fact. In a veiled jab at the Prius, Honda calls it "universally appealing styling." And the Insight trades some of the exuberance of the Civic for fewer sharp elbows and more upscale trim while retaining its overall low and wide look.
The front end is less aggressive and more upright, with a bold Honda "flying wing" of chrome stretching across and into the standard LED headlight pods. The Insight also gets its own weight-saving aluminum hood. LED daytime running lights and taillights are standard. A coupelike roofline stretches into the trunk; aerodynamic alloy wheels are 16- or 17-inchers.
Interior and Tech
While it shares the Civic's bones, Honda says the Insight has received ride quality and interior noise improvements, including more sound insulation, befitting its premium sedan aspirations, as well as some nicer interior materials and trim. The hybrid battery pack is positioned beneath the backseat, allowing for a relatively generous 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space and a folding rear seat back (60/40-split folding for the top two trim levels).
A 7-inch digital instrument display is standard on all models, as is push-button start. EX trim level additions include an upgraded multimedia system with an 8-inch touchscreen and Apple Carplay and Android Auto smartphone integration, nicer audio, satellite radio capability and keyless entry. The Touring interior goes all in with amenities including perforated leather, a power moonroof, heated and power front seats, dual-zone climate control, a navigation system, a 4G connection with Wi-Fi hot spot and premium 10-speaker audio.
Under the Hood
The Insight shares with the Honda's other new electrified models a version of the company's third-generation 2-motor hybrid system. For the Insight, it incorporates a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, 2 electric motors and no conventional transmission. The system's combined output is 151 horsepower and 197 pounds-feet of torque. Honda expects an EPA city rating for the Insight of 55 mpg (for comparison, the bigger and heavier 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid using a 2.0-liter gas engine and putting out 212 net horsepower is EPA-rated at 47 mpg city, highway and combined).
The system operates as a full series hybrid most of the time, Honda says, with the gas engine generating electricity for the electric drive motor and charging the battery; on the highway, a clutch locks the gas engine to the drive axles. Honda has not specified the battery but says the Insight should be able to do "about a mile" on battery power alone. Paddles onthe steering wheel allow the driver to switch among three levels of regenerative braking. 3 selectable performance- and efficiency-varying driving modes are Normal, Econ and Sport.
Safety and Driver Assistance
All trim levels include the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist tech that includes a front collision system with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and road- and lane-departure warnings. All Insights also have a multi-angle backup camera, and the EX and Touring models also will have the Honda's love-it-or-hate-it LaneWatch camera system, which shows an image of the passenger-side blind spot on the dashboard screen.
2018 Honda Clarity First Drive: Beneath the Frumpy Skin, a Spectacularly Efficient Plug-In Hybrid - The Drive I’ll note that, so far, I’ve only had a 2.5-hour drive in the Clarity, during a Honda introduction at the New York Auto Show. But I saw fairly spectacular mileage in the Clarity with very little effort, keeping it right around 48–50 mpg in a combination of highway (mostly) and city driving—whipping the EPA’s official rating of 42 mpg in combined use. That efficiency didn’t even include the Honda’s green trump card: 47 miles of all-electric range whenever it’s turned loose with a full battery
The problem with insight is that with Clarity Plug in you get upto 9500 of tax credit in California and get same 50mpg in far superior and spacious vehicle. Honda better starts SUV/CUV hybrids. no more cars needed.
Hybrids are the future, and they have been for at least the last 30 years or so -- but this time, maybe they really will be. Honda intends for “electrified vehicles,” a phrase that includes hybrids as well as pure EVs, to make up two-thirds of all its global sales by 2030. So whatever happens, these things aren’t going away any time soon.
The first Honda Insight hybrid debuted in 1999 and was a huge hit… at least among certain JPL engineers and NASA rocket scientists who appreciated its ridiculous efficiency. It was also the aspirational vehicle for physics majors across the country. It was the ultimate in efficiency for the time, with a body so streamlined that the rear track was actually narrower than the front track for aerodynamic purposes. Of course, it only sat two so you really had to want it in order to overlook its shortcomings. But the darn thing achieved 70 mpg –- albeit in a time before today’s crash-test standards and sound-deadening, comfort, roominess and infotainment demands.
The 2008 second-gen Insight was more practical inside and should have done well on the market, but its best year resulted in only about 20,000 sales in a segment where the Toyota Prius was steamrolling everything in its fuel-efficient path. Honda eventually took the second-gen Insight off the market.
Now we have this, the new 52-mpg third-generation Insight… which looks an awful lot like a 10th-generation Civic. In fact, it is a 10th-generation Civic, at least in the chassis department, along with the roof and rear quarter panels… and a lot of the interior.
If you hung both the Civic and Insight’s body-in-white –- all the stampings that make up the bare bones of the car -- side by side, you’d see they were virtually identical. That’s not a bad thing: The Civic is a solid platform on which to build a hybrid. And Honda saves a lot of money by not engineering an entirely new chassis for a car that may sell only in the low- to medium-tens of thousands.
All three trim levels of Insight -– LX, EX and Touring –- are powered by the same hybrid powertrain. This is the third generation of Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, which allows the Insight to operate as a series hybrid, parallel hybrid or an EV, as demand dictates (more about those modes in a moment). The gasoline component is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder operating on the very efficient Atkinson cycle that sacrifices low-end torque for greater efficiency in the upper rev range. The 1.5-liter four makes a fuel-efficient 107 hp and 99 lb-ft of torque. Replacing the missing low-end torque is a 129-hp 197-lb-ft AC synchronous permanent-magnet electric motor. A second electric motor functions as a generator and starter. Together these power sources make 151.5 total system horsepower.
There are three distinct means of making the front wheels spin:
EV Drive uses the big electric motor only and works for as far as a mile with the gasoline engine shut off.
Hybrid Drive also uses the big electric motor alone to drive the wheels. In this mode, the gasoline engine is used to power the electric generator and/or the battery pack. This is the series hybrid mode.
Engine Drive is used at steady highway speeds; the gasoline engine is coupled directly to the front wheels. This is the parallel hybrid mode.
In each mode, you can choose Eco, Normal and Sport, depending on your needs at the moment. There are also three levels of regenerative braking, a feature seen in different forms on more and more electrified vehicles and much appreciated for driving efficiency.
The Execution
My first drive was in an Insight Touring trim level, the fully loaded model. Right away you notice how quiet it is at low speeds. It’s still quiet at lower speeds when the gasoline engine kicks in. Its noise cancellation does knock out much of the low-frequency engine sounds, but when you pick up speed and the engine jumps to higher revs, you hear it pretty clearly.
Floor it and the little four is spinning like mad to make more electricity to power the electric motor to make the car go forward. In this state, the car feels like it has a CVT, but of course, it doesn’t. Then at steady highway speeds, the gasoline engine connects directly to the drive wheels and the whole powertrain quiets down again.
Compared to a Prius it’s a handling dream. It’s not like a Civic Type R but it’s way better than a standard Prius. At the lunch break, I actually drove a Prius and found that while it still had a somewhat wooden feel behind the wheel it felt very comfortable in a straight line.
I also did a handheld iPhone 0-60 test and found that the Honda Insight was two seconds quicker to 60. The insight got 8.38 seconds to 60 and the Prius got 10.34 seconds. Not a totally scientific measure but interesting. Honda says the Insight is 1.5 seconds quicker than the Prius. Honda suggested that its Insight will get to 60 in “under eight seconds.” Could be.
The Verdict
Should you go with the Insight or the Prius when choosing a hybrid? If you want more lively handling, get the Insight. It goes on sale June 29 starting at $23,725. Prices go up to $28,985 for the Touring. The Prius which gets a couple more mpgs but not too many more, ranges from $24,400 and goes up to around $34,490.
3 second difference at 0-60 but only 30 horsepower. https://www.tflcar.com/2018/06/honda...-prius-mashup/ The Prius manages 121 horsepower with its 1.8-liter engine and electric motors. The 2019 Honda Insight, on the other hand, makes 151 horsepower. When pushed in a 0-60 test, the new Insight manages the run nearly three seconds faster. Not that folks will be drag racing these hybrids, but it’s still good to know which one is the best when accelerating onto a busy freeway
3 second difference at 0-60 but only 30 horsepower. https://www.tflcar.com/2018/06/honda...-prius-mashup/ The Prius manages 121 horsepower with its 1.8-liter engine and electric motors. The 2019 Honda Insight, on the other hand, makes 151 horsepower. When pushed in a 0-60 test, the new Insight manages the run nearly three seconds faster. Not that folks will be drag racing these hybrids, but it’s still good to know which one is the best when accelerating onto a busy freeway
I dont know about you but i do not accelerate onto a busy freeway from 0 to 60.
^ Agree on the Insight taillights, the "C" lights of the current Civic and Accord are just award looking.
The weirdest thing about Accord is the plastic piece around the tailight have different shade of color than rest of the body. It is very obvious if it is gray or silver. Reminds me of a bad bodyshop that cant match the color with rest of the car. Except this is brand new from Honda.
The Honda Insight, a hybridized version of the 10th-generation Civic, will end production in June 2022.
With the Insight on the way out, Honda will focus on hybridizing its "core" models: the CR-V, Accord, and 11th-generation Civic.
Honda says that a CR-V hybrid will arrive this year, and the next-generation CR-V has already been spied testing.
Honda, which currently does not sell an electric car in North America, recently divulged its EV plans, including two potential electric sports cars. But before these EVs join Honda’s lineup, the Japanese automaker will expand its hybrid arsenal with three new models. However, these new hybrids will come at the expense of one of Honda's existing hybrid offerings: Honda said today that the Insight is now set to end production this year.
Brad FickCar and DriverHonda says its electrification strategy will center around hybridizing what it calls its "core" models—the CR-V, Accord, and Civic. But as Honda focuses on these vehicles, the Insight will fall by the wayside and is set to end production in June 2022. The most recent Insight, which was closely related to the Civic, will be effectively replaced by a Civic Hybrid that Honda says will arrive at some point in the future.
Honda also revealed that a new CR-V Hybrid will arrive this year, followed by an Accord Hybrid. We’ve already seen Honda testing the next generation CR-V, so this seemingly confirms its debut later this year with a hybrid variant in the mix. Honda aims for the hybrid models to consist of up to 50 precent of the sales mix for the CR-V and Accord, meaning the CR-V and Accord will continue to offer gas powertrains for the foreseeable future. This content is imported from {embed-name}. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Honda's only fuel-cell vehicle and plug-in hybrid vehicle is going away this year. A company representative confirmed the Honda Clarity would be ending production this August.
The representative didn't specifically say why the Clarity in all its forms is being discontinued, but sales seem likely. Only 551 were sold in all of 2020, and 805 in 2019. That was about half of Insight sales last year, and the only slower selling Honda still in production was the Acura NSX.
Honda's representative did note that there will be enough Clarity Fuel Cell models available for lessees into 2022, and of course owners and lessees will have support for their vehicles for the foreseeable future.
The rep also emphasized that Honda is still focused on electric and fuel cell vehicles saying, "Honda has set a target to make 100% of our vehicles sales battery-electric (BEV) or fuel cell electric (FCEV) by 2040." She further noted that Honda has an electric car coming for 2024. Honda also struck a deal with GM to develop fuel-cell systems a few years ago. So while this is the end of the road for the Clarity, it certainly isn't the end of electrified or hydrogen Hondas.
02-27-2014, 05:38 PM
Already challenged you years go to disprove your bias and you came up empty.
like me. 
that the 2G Insight was.
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2019 Honda InsightCompetes with: Toyota Prius, full stop. Don't all hybrid sedans?
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