"The all-new Honda Insight brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience. In addition to making good environmental sense, hybrid technology is now entering a new era where it can also make financial sense for a broader range of customers," Dick Colliver, American Honda vice president said.
Standard features of the LX version include front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, an anti-lock braking system, continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); Eco Assist; automatic climate control and tilt and telescope steering column. The LX is of course the lowest version of the hybrid, but not the only one available.
The Insight EX, starting at $21,300, brings in addition to the features of the LX Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), alloy wheels, cruise control and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Exclusively for this version, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System4 with voice recognition provides guidance to individual addresses and more than 7 million points of interest within the continental United States.
The Insight introduces Eco Assist to help drivers achieve improved real-world fuel economy from the 4 cylinder engine with intelligent variable valve timing. The DC electric motor, the foundation of the IMA hybrid system, has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low to mid speed cruising conditions.
By combining the two, the Insight can travel 400 miles (643 km) by using only 10.6 gallons of fuel (40 liters). Models for sale in California and other states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ZEV standards receive an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions rating.
Honda is counting on the American consumer's appeal for fuel efficient and hybrid vehicles. Present in the hybrid market since 1999, the Japanese company sold 300,000 units by the end of January 2009. Since its launch, the 2010 Insight got 10,000 orders in the Japanese market.
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