Honda Insight revealed in Paris

President and CEO of Honda Motor Co, Takeo Fukui was on hand in Paris to reveal Honda's new green family car - the Insight Concept. Though a hybrid like the original Insight, the new car has room for all the family.

What's all the fuss about?

It's well known that Honda is smarting at Toyota's dominance in the hybrid marketplace with its Prius. Honda was among the first to market a hybrid car with its original Insight, but the cool little coupé has been massively overshadowed by the bigger and more practical Toyota. Honda has decided to fight back, creating a new hybrid model that should take the fight directly to the Prius. Honda's designers and stylists might have taken the task a little bit too seriously, as the Insight Concept on the Parisian show stand bears an uncanny resemblance to its intended rival.

What makes it so green?

The Insight is a hybrid, meaning it utilises both a conventional petrol engine and an electric motor. The electric motor can propel the car on its own at low town speeds, the petrol engine only kicking in when additional power is needed, or the batteries require a charge. Regenerative braking and low rolling resistance tyres add to the efficiency, and the Insight is certain to offer class leading economy and emissions.

When can I buy one?

You should be able to get into a production Honda Insight fairly soon. Honda is talking about a 2009 introduction and is aiming for around 200,000 Insight sales each year around the world. What Honda does promise with the new Insight is affordability, the Japanese company honing its manufacturing techniques to make hybrid production cheaper than ever before. No figures have yet been announced but Honda insiders are claiming that the Insight will significantly undercut its Toyota Prius rival.

Kyle Fortune