Honda continues to expand its electrified offerings and will show off its Insight Prototype at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week, and provided an early look today.
The Insight prototype is likely not going to vary much from the actual Insight, which is slated to hit dealerships later this year. It’ll be the automakers fifth electrified vehicle and it will be built alongside the Honda Civic and CR-V in Indiana.
“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.”
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Slotted above the new Civic, the Insight is designed to carry five folks while getting better than 50 mpg combined, the automaker noted. It’s powered by a 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, according to Honda.
It comes a full spate of safety and convenience offerings, including 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, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow and new Traffic Sign Recognition.
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The new Insight Prototype gets a new exterior design that borrows heavily from the new Accord. It’s wide and low giving it a bit of a surly look with Hondas “flying wing” grille and low-profile LED headlights and taillights.
Actually, the look of the Insight, Accord and Clarity are all very similar and the size differential between the three cars isn’t substantial, which could cause some buyers to have to think long and hard about which of the three to buy because of the similarity.
Honda says the 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.
(To see more about Honda offering some Insight, Click Here.)
It will also feature plenty of smart-phone like features, including available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and over-the-air system updates, much the way Tesla and now other makers are doing. No pricing on the new Insight was released.
