10 Most Reasonable Cars to Buy

10 Most Reasonable Cars to Buy - All the cars on the list are small — either compacts or subcompacts — because they tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates — since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.

Note that with the lower-price class, you may also have to pay extra for automatic transmission, air conditioning and sometimes even a radio — not to mention such safety features as anti-lock brakes. Most are equipped with six standard airbags but only half have standard stability control. (The market price is the average transaction cost and reflects rebates; all vehicles have manual transmissions, unless otherwise noted.)

1. Hyundai Accent GL 2dr hatch

Market price: $9,677
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,134
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,715

Depreciation: $7,748
Fees & taxes: $822
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,207
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $423
Maintenance: $1,795
Repairs: $1,500

For under $11,000, the Accent boasts killer fuel economy of 34 mpg on the highway and 28 in the city. Even on the base model, optional equipment includes an iPod hookup ($35) and Bluetooth ($325). Six airbags are standard, but there's no option for ABS.

2. Nissan Versa 1.6 Base 4dr

Market price: $10,922
5-Year fuel cost: $8,456
5-Year insurance cost: $4,851
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,233

Depreciation: $6,874
Fees & taxes: $905
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,371
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $452
Maintenance: $1,917
Repairs: $1,406

Nissan's subcompact hatch, which gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, hits the streets at a smidge over ten grand but offers a bigger interior than classmates Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Six airbags are standard on even the lowest trim, but you'll pay $250 extra for ABS.

3. Chevrolet Aveo5 LS 4dr hatch

Market price: $11,038
5-Year fuel cost: $8,171
5-Year insurance cost: $5,446
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $26,958

Depreciation: $7,547
Fees & taxes: $919
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,385
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $451
Maintenance: $1,618
Repairs: $1,422

Chevy's smallest car will be replaced next year by the Sonic, but for 2011 the little hatchback offers good interior space and cargo room — 15 cubic feet with the 60/40 split rear seat up. Maintenance and repairs average just $3,000 for five years. Side airbags and six months of OnStar Automatic Crash Response are standard, but ABS and side-curtain airbags are not available. Mileage is 27 city, 35 highway.

4. Ford Fiesta S 4dr

Market price: $13,212
5-Year fuel cost: $7,576
5-Year insurance cost: $5,623
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,402

Depreciation: $8,919
Fees & taxes: $1,063
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,690
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $467
Maintenance: $1,564
Repairs: $1,500

The return of the Fiesta to Ford's lineup brings serious value — and premium-car amenities — to the compact category. A wallet-friendly price meets a peppy engine, an ultra-smooth manual transmission, and terrific handling. The SE trim offers Ford's SYNC system (to connect phones and music players) as a $665 option. Even the entry-level Fiesta boasts a full complement of safety equipment: seven airbags (including a driver's knee airbag), ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 28 city, 37 highway.

5. Mazda2 Sport 4dr hatch

Market price: $14,625
5-Year fuel cost: $7,825
5-Year insurance cost: $5,630
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,593

Depreciation: $8,405
Fees & taxes: $1,139
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,864
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,613
Repairs: $1,627

Its design is unmistakably Mazda, but the Mazda2 isn't just a downsized Mazda3. Built on the same platform as the Ford Fiesta, this sporty hatch takes corners with ease, and it has a full line of standard safety equipment — ABS, stability and traction control, and six airbags. Mileage is 29 city, 35 highway.

6. Toyota Yaris 4dr

Market price: $13,818
5-Year fuel cost: $7,737
5-Year insurance cost: $5,163
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $28,616

Depreciation: $9,377
Fees & taxes: $1,089
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,757
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $463
Maintenance: $1,623
Repairs: $1,406

The Yaris's 1.5-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder engine pushes fuel economy to the max. The car gets 29 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway, giving it ultra-low fuel costs over five years compared with the competition. Good resale values give the car a leg up in our cost calculations. ABS and stability control are standard, as are six airbags.

7. Kia Rio 4dr

Market price: $11,824
5-Year fuel cost: $8,085
5-Year insurance cost: $5,447
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,157

Depreciation: $9,158
Fees & taxes: $966
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,500
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $458
Maintenance: $2,042
Repairs: $1,500

Kia keeps even low-budget customers happy by offering many standard goodies — auxiliary connections and USB ports for music, plus Sirius satellite radio (a subscription costs extra). Six airbags are standard on the base trim; stepping up to the LX ($15,690) gets you standard ABS. Mileage is 28 city, 34 highway.

8. Kia Soul 4dr hatch

Market price: $13,826
5-Year fuel cost: $8,771
5-Year insurance cost: $4,402
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,275

Depreciation: $9,305
Fees & taxes: $1,381
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $2,338
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $487
Maintenance: $1,956
Repairs: $1,500

Kiplinger's Best New Car for Teens makes boxy cool again. Along with its funky looks, the Soul has 19 cubic feet of cargo space and the most rear legroom in its class. It's also an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. All the safety equipment you'll want is standard: six airbags, ABS, stability control and traction control. Mileage is 26 city, 31 highway.

9. Honda Insight 4dr hatch

Market price: $18,097
5-Year fuel cost: $5,955
5-Year insurance cost: $5,497
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,953

Depreciation: $11,145
Fees & taxes: $1,381
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $2,338
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $487
Maintenance: $1,727
Repairs: $1,422

Proving that hybrids don't have to break the bank, Honda's Insight boasts estimated service costs (maintenance plus repairs) of just $3,149 for five years. Low fuel costs are a given, with 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 on the highway. Automatic transmission, ABS, stability control, traction control and six airbags are standard.

10. Ford Focus S 4dr

Market price: $13,643
5-Year fuel cost: $8,571
5-Year insurance cost: $5,484
Total 5-Year ownership cost: $30,290

Depreciation: $9,819
Fees & taxes: $1,101
Financing 5-year loan at 5.95 percent: $1,741
Opportunity cost of a 15 percent down payment: $490
Maintenance: $1,661
Repairs: $1,422

The Focus will get a redesign for 2012, but the 2011 version is already a solid value. The 2.0-liter engine puts out 140 horsepower but sips fuel politely — it gets 25 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. Stability and traction control, ABS, and six airbags are standard.

Source: Autos.Msn.Com

Honda Insight Facelift?

Makes sense to me, they gotta do something....
"Back in December, it was reported that the facelifted Honda Insight will be launched in 2011 (earlier post), while a completely new model is expected to be introduced in February 2013 (earlier post). Mag-X has now published this photo showing the facelifted Insight, which shows also the name "Insight Prestige". "

Source;

http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/facelifted-honda-insight-coming-in-june.html

Car Advice: Honda Insight VTi-L v Toyota Prius: hybrid car comparison

Here is probably the most comprehensive comparison between these two Hybrids that I've ever seen....
http://www.caradvice.com.au/96626/honda-insight-vti-l-vs-toyota-prius-hybrid-comparison/

Conclusion

The 2011 Honda Insight VTi-L is the car for you if:
-You want a safe compact car with an impressive standard features list
-You don’t have a burning desire to drive in fully electric mode
-You think you’ll get a kick out of driving efficiently and growing digital dashboard trees
-You want to pay for the vehicle now and are not considering financing it

The 2011 Toyota Prius is the car for you if:
-You have fuel efficiency and low emissions among your top priorities
-You would prefer a little extra space and performance
-You can live without satellite navigation, a USB port and other practical gadgets
-You are planning to finance it

Honda Insight Hybrid 2010 Pictures

Honda Insight Hybrid 2010

Honda Insight Hybrid 2010

Honda Insight Hybrid 2010 Pictures

Honda improves the specification and settings of its Insight hybrid

This is confirmed for the UK market, I'd imagine we'll get the same treatment here in North America....
Honda announced today that it has improved the specification and settings of its Insight hybrid helped by customer feedback. The changes include a new suspension adjusted to improve ride comfort and NVH levels as well as high-spec interior with leather and Sat nav.

Honda also announced a new, top-of-the-range, EX model, featuring black leather upholstery and DVD Sat Nav and hands-free telephone equipment. According to Honda, the Insight also received a number of chassis changes such as adjustments for the recoil rate of the springs, changes for the rear camber angles as well as V-shape rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts. Honda has added rear parking sensors to ES-model Insights and above, and has changed some trim to smarten the interior. Inside we find new colours for the dashboard and seats. Chrome rings for the air vents and doors have been given a silver garnish feature. There are also two new paint options for Insight customers, with the introduction of Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Red Pearl. Pricing starts at £16,325 for the SE model, but with Honda’s current Affordable Driving consumer offer, the hybrid is available at £14,995 OTR until the end of September. The most expensive Insight EX starts at £20,215 OTR.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/honda-improves-the-specification-and-settings-of-its-insight-hybrid/#more-9375

EPA reveals top 10 most fuel-efficient cars since 1984, original Honda Insight takes top honors

Best overall REAL WORLD Gas mileage vehicles since 1984....

Best Overall EPA Rated Gas Mileage vehicles since 1984....

Fuel efficiency has increased dramatically in the last decade, or at least that's what we've been told. So it might come as a surprise to find out that six of the Top Ten EPA-rated Fuel Sippers from 1984 to present were built prior to 2000. Don't believe it? We didn't either, but this info comes straight from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website, the authoritative source on this fuel efficiency stuff.

While some current vehicles, such as the 2010 Toyota Prius, 2010 Honda Insight and the 2006-2010 Honda Civic Hybrid, garnered a spot on the top ten list, it's really older lightweight models like the 1986 Chevy Sprint ER or 1990-1994 Geo Metro XFI that make it obvious efficiency hasn't come as far as we'd like to think. Overall, Honda holds top honors for automakers with five models present on the list, while Toyota's Prius made its mark twice. All of the vehicles on the list run with either 3- or 4-cylinder engines and five out of the top ten rely on hybrid motivation.

The overall winner, the 2000 Honda Insight (pictured above), scores a combined rating of 53 miles per gallon, a number that exceeds even the modern-day Prius by three mpg. In many cases, we've been mistakenly led to believe that buying a new car equates to increased efficiency, but this list clearly shows that many of the relics from days gone by can easily hold their own with the most efficient vehicles made today. However, finding a running example of some of these old fuel sippers may prove impossible and we'd venture to guess that many of them are far from safe to drive by today's standards.

Source

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/11/epa-announces-top-10-most-fuel-efficient-cars-insight-takes-top/

Honda Boss: Next Insight Will Beat Prius MPG

Takanobu Ito, Honda’s president, said last week that the company has grown “complacent,” and specifically pointed to its poor performance with hybrids as a key sign of the problem. To correct the situation, Ito is pushing his engineers to have the next-generation Honda Insight beat the Toyota Prius’s fuel economy numbers—and to deliver it as soon as possible.

"I'm not satisfied," Ito told Automotive News. In the first quarter of 2010, Honda’s share of the US market fell to 10.1 percent—from 10.5 percent a year earlier.

In concept, the Honda Insight was intended to compete as a more affordable alternative to Toyota Prius. But the price of the Insight, typically in the low $20,000s, is not the much cheaper than a Prius—and the fuel economy is considerably lower. The Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 on the highway, compared with the Insight's 40/43. The copycat shape of the Insight added to the negative comparison with the Toyota Prius, which has outsold the Insight by about 5 to 1.

In addition to trying to beat the mileage of the Prius, Ito wants to roll out a new two-motor hybrid technical design—one motor employed to increase engine power and another to solely charge the battery. The new system is also likely to switch to lithium ion batteries from the nickel metal hydride technology currently in use. Honda will apply its new hybrid approach to a minivan and in Acura models. A rework of Honda's hybrid system could potentially create a technology pathway to plug-in hybrids.

More Lessons to be Learned
Honda’s new and improved hybrids are not expected until about 2012. Meanwhile, the company will introduce the Honda CR-Z hybrid coupe this summer. Unfortunately, the small hybrid could be another case of neither-here-nor-there, at least according to Graham at Fifth Gear, the British television show. The CR-Z looks sporty enough, but at 122 horsepower, it's “not blessed with red-blooded speed,” said Graham. At the same time, the fuel economy averaging at 37 mpg is only “reasonable” and “doesn’t sound that good next to a Prius.”

Yet, Honda engineers and designers should take heed to Fifth Gear’s positive feedback on features that could be applied to future hybrids. Graham calls the interior “mad and brilliant,” and praises the availability of a six-speed manual gearbox—a first for hybrids. Given the CR-Z’s moderate level of high-speed handling and cool interactive dashboard features, the reviewer said, “You can’t accuse it of being dull.” Pricing in the US for the CR-Z has not yet been announced.

Source;
http://www.hybridcars.com/news/honda-boss-next-generation-insight-will-beat-prius-mpg-27839.html

Auto Tech: What is a Hybrid?

Here's a interesting read....
With all the interest in electric, plug-in electric, hybrid electric and hybrid vehicles, perhaps it is time to take a step back and just look what all these names mean. They are not all the same, yet some different technologies share the same names and sometimes similar technologies use different names. A lot of it seems to depend on the marketing the manufacturers are using for a vehicle, so let’s try to clear up some of the confusion surrounding types of systems and terminology when it comes to alternate energy sources for vehicles.

First, the term Hybrid can have several meanings. It could even be a conventional engine that uses two different types of fuel such as gasoline and natural gas, although popular use lately has been referring to these as bi-fuel vehicles. When most people hear “hybrid”, they think of gasoline/electric combined powertrains – Toyota’s Prius is the most recognizable symbol of this technology.

You may here the term “mild hybrid”. This was made popular with the introduction of the Saturn Vue hybrid and is now used on the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. This system uses an electric motor/generator that bolts onto the engine in place of the conventional charging system. During acceleration, the unit adds power to the conventional gas engine and during deceleration, the unit becomes a drivetrain-driven generator to recharge the auxiliary battery pack. Much of the fuel economy savings from any hybrid system come from the energy during vehicle deceleration by the generator unit.

Another major feature of hybrids is their ability to stop the gasoline engine while the vehicle is sitting at a stop light and then restart it again instantly when the driver wants to move the vehicle. Even the mild hybrids have this capability to save fuel.

Some vehicles use what may be called a “medium” hybrid system, such as the Honda Civic or Insight, although you won’t hear Honda referring to it with that term. Honda calls it an Integrated Motor Assist, where the electric motor is used in place of the flywheel in a conventional transmission. This electric motor can assist the gas engine during acceleration and recharge the battery pack during deceleration just like the mild hybrids but does so much more efficiently and provides more power. Honda has made many improvements on the system since it was first introduced over a decade ago and when combined with intelligent valve control systems, is now almost equal to what we traditionally call a “full hybrid.”

Toyota’s Prius is the best known example of a “full hybrid,” a vehicle that can operate on electric power alone for some distance. It does this with a transmission that contains two motor/generator units. The design of this transmission allows the engine to remain off while one electric motor moves the vehicle. If you need more power or the battery charge is low, the gas engine will also start up to work in combination with the electric motors. Today several vehicles use a hybrid system that will operate on electric power by itself. Toyota has the Prius, Camry and Highlander, while Lexus has a full range of hybrids. Ford has the Escape and Fusion Hybrids, while GM and Dodge are using a similar system in rear wheel drive configuration in their hybrid sport utilities. GM also is using it in pickup models.

The yet to be produced Chevy Volt is also a hybrid but with a different concept. This vehicle operates on electric power all the time. When the battery pack becomes discharged, a small gas engine turns on to operate a generator, which recharges the battery pack. The gas engine never directly powers the wheels, yet this vehicle is also considered a hybrid.

Plug-in Hybrid is a new term, where the vehicle can be recharged by plugging it in to either 110-volt of 220-volt electrical outlets. This type of vehicle will operate on electric power most of the time but could still use a gas engine to supply energy for extended trips.

Electric vehicles are just what the name sounds like. They operate on Electric power only. Golf carts are a popular example, but several manufacturers are introducing electric passenger vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf or the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Toyota has announced plans for a fully electric small car similar to the FT-EV2 concept car will go on sale in 2012. Recharging these vehicles at home or work will become common practice, although already MacDonalds has announce they will offer free-to-use charging stations at some facilities and already opened the first one this past July in the U.S. In Japan, they are already working on infrastructure for electric car battery swap stations, where you pull in and exchange your leased battery for another in less time than it takes to fill a conventional car with gasoline.

While conventional gasoline powered vehicles will still dominate the marketplace for a long time, there are alternatives on the marketplace, and that is good for the future of the automobile.

Jim Kerr is a master automotive mechanic and teaches automotive technology. He has been writing automotive articles for fifteen years for newspapers and magazines in Canada and the United States, and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2010/01/27/auto-tech-what-is-a-hybrid.htm

Report: Honda will develop a hybrid that bests Prius' mpg rating

Honda is planning on taking on the Toyota Prius. Again. Even though sales figures for 2009 proved that people liked Toyota's hybrid more than Honda's, the company is not going to just roll over. There's a new ad campaign for the Insight planned, but Honda is looking a bit further down the line for revenge. CEO Takanobu Ito reportedly told his research and development team to come up with a hybrid that has a better miles per gallon rating than the world's most popular hybrid. Whether this is a next-gen Insight or a totally different hybrid has not yet been decided, but it's going to need a major boost to knock the leader off its perch.

Source;
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/01/24/report-honda-will-develop-a-hybrid-that-bests-prius-mpg-rating/

Tommy Kaira Makes the Honda Insight Hybrid a Little Bit More Interesting to Look at

Looks nice....
The new Honda Insight hybrid is one of those vehicles that makes us wonder if the team responsible for its styling fell asleep during the design stage. Tommy Kaira has tried to address this "problem" by developing a new sport package for the Japanese hybrid.

The tuner's offerings includes an aero kit that is also available in carbon-fiber trim and comprises of a front spoiler, a new grille, side skirts and a rear apron with an integrated diffuser that can optionally house four tail-pipes for an all-show, no-go appearance.

The package can be rounded off with new 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels, a sport suspension that lowers the car by 30 to 35mm and various other accessories and parts such as sport seats, sill plates etc.

Source;
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/tommy-kaira-makes-honda-insight-hybrid.html

Canadian 2010 Honda INSIGHT Trim Levels, Colours and Information

There will be 2X Trim levels coming to Canada, my only guess is that we will mirror what will be going on in the US, LX and EX. Navigation will be available in the EX Trim level, as well as Bluetooth.


Here are the Colour choices available;


LX
Colour Code: NH700-MX TSilver
Colour Code: NH737M MGrey
Colour Code: NH731P Black
Colour Code: BG-53M CBlue
Colour Code: R-525P Red


EX
Colour Code: NH700-MX TSilver
Colour Code: NH737M MGrey
Colour Code: NH731P Black
Colour Code: BG-53M CBlue
Colour Code: R-525P Red
Colour Code: NH-756PX SWhite


Estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 4.8/4.5 L/100 km


Launched at Honda dealers through Canada in April and will be priced below the Civic Hybrid.


40-litre fuel tank, estimated maximum driving range of more than 650 km

2010 Honda Insight Features, Pic's, and Information

Details on the instrument panel and driver assist systems on the new 2010 Honda Insight have been released and it seems Honda is intent on training the new hybrid's drivers in much the same way other auto manufacturers have announced. The "Ecological Drive Assist System" uses a combination of color cues in the speedometer and "leaves which grow" to encourages economical driving behaviors. When you push the "Eco" mode button, the speedo turns green when you're being frugal or blue when you're hooning it, also a panel grows "leaves" to reward short term driving and displays the long term performance as well. This of course comes on the heels of the announcement from Ford about their "Smartgauge with EcoGuide" system in the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid which also rewards judicious use of the go-pedal with growing leaves. We expect everyone who complained about that system to bellyache about this too.

But that's not all these new images tell us. If we take a closer look at the rest of the dash, it looks like the Insight will share design cues with its Euro Civic cousin and offer such features as a USB aux audio input, a CD/MP3/WMA disc drive and an overall simple control scheme. What we don't know is what the heck an "S" means in the PRNDL cadence. What the heck does "PRNDSL" mean? Park, reverse, neutral, drive, second and low? Probably, but we're holding out for a "Superamazing" gear.

Source;
http://jalopnik.com/5094111/2010-honda-insight-ecological-drive-assist-system-grows-leaves-gets-other-features

Here's a link to my original post;
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2008/11/honda-insight-to-introduce-ecological.html

Honda Insight to Introduce Ecological Drive Assist System in Spring 2009

11/19/2008 - LOS ANGELES -
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced that a new interactive, driver-focused fuel economy enhancement technology named the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™) will debut on the new Honda Insight in spring 2009.

The Honda Insight Concept, making its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, provides a strong indication of the design and styling of the all-new gasoline-electric hybrid model from Honda.

Eco Assist combines multiple functions: the driver-activated ECON mode that optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission, engine and related powertrain components to conserve fuel; and a feedback function that uses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance on environmentally responsible driving. An economy scoring function further provides feedback about current driving techniques, as well as feedback on cumulative, long-term driving style.

"Hybrid drivers enjoy trying to get the most fuel economy from their vehicles," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The visual nature of Eco Assist is intended to help drivers improve their efficient driving skills by making the hybrid experience more fun and rewarding."

Honda developed the powertrain control, driver guidance and driver feedback functions of Eco Assist to help enhance real-world fuel economy. In particular, the scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedback through graphic 'leaves,' which grow over time as drivers learn and implement driving practices that increase fuel economy.

The guidance function uses the speedometer background's color-changing, three-dimensional appearance to indicate fuel efficiency in real time. Fuel-saving activities like smooth acceleration and braking make the meter glow green. Somewhat less efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green. Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue. By observing the speedometer background's response to driving practices and seeking to achieve a consistently green color, drivers can receive assistance in developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.

The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, as well as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress. Located in the center of the instrument panel of the all-new Insight, the Multi-Information Display offers drivers a selection of informational displays, including the scoring function, in which the number of 'leaves' displayed indicates the level of environmentally responsible driving performance. When the ignition switch is on, the display scores driving practices in real time. When the ignition switch is turned off, the 'leaves' in the top line of the display score driving in the just completed cycle (startup to shutdown), while a horizontal bar in the lower part of the display scores cumulative lifetime performance.

The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel efficient driving habits over the long term.

Going on sale in North America next spring, the all-new, purpose-built Insight will come to market at a price significantly below that of hybrids available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insight will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a new generation of buyers.

With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka factory in Japan.The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year -approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z, a concept car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as North America's first gas-electric hybrid car. The original Insight was designed from the ground up to demonstrate the ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.

A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda was the first to market low-emission gasoline vehicles, a gasoline-electric hybrid car in North America, and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of the Insight Concept and other Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1097/releases/4878

1st Generation INSIGHT Technology Information; Integrated Motor Assist

With all the talk about the 2010 Honda Insight, I figured it be fitting to pay tribute to the original Honda Insight and the technology that helped pioneer Honda's Hybrid dreams. So once in awhile when news is slow, I'll feature a different component.
Integrated Motor Assist System

The heart of the hybrid system is Honda’s innovative Integrated Motor Assist (IMA), which couples a compact 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine and an ultra-thin electric motor for outstanding efficiency.

The Insight’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system owes much of its remarkable performance to the application of numerous technologies developed by Honda over the past four decades. They include lean-burn combustion, low-emission engines, variable valve timing, high-efficiency electric motors, regenerative braking, nickel-metal hydride battery technology and microprocessor control.

In the IMA system, Honda engineers have optimized the performance of each of these technologies to create an efficient, lightweight and compact hybrid drive system that people can easily use and that does not require any changes in lifestyle.

Primary motive power for the Insight is provided by the system’s 1.0 liter, 12-valve, 3-cylinder, VTEC-E gasoline engine. Although the engine alone provides sufficient driving performance, when additional power is required, such as initial acceleration from a stop, passing and hill climbing, a permanent-magnet electric motor mounted between the engine and transmission provides power assist.

Since the electric motor is used only for power assistance and not for primary motive power, it too can be made smaller and lighter relative to the full-size traction motors in other hybrid systems.

Power to charge the Insight’s battery pack is generated mostly by recapturing energy from the forward momentum of the vehicle, rather than from the gasoline engine. When the Insight is braking or decelerating while in any gear, the assist motor is electrically reconfigured to operate as a generator, converting forward momentum into electrical energy.

If the charge state of the IMA battery is low, the motor/generator will charge the battery pack via engine power as the Insight cruises. The batteries are located under the cargo compartment floor, along with the IMA system’s Power Control Unit (PCU).

The IMA electric motor also functions as a high-rpm starter motor.

Source;
Honda Canada

2010 Honda Insight BLOG

Here is something interesting from Honda, they have created a blog which will keep us up to date of the goings on of the next Honda Insight.

Welcome to Latest Insight, a Honda blog that follows the journey of our latest hybrid, the Insight.

Link;
http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybrid/blog.aspx

Honda Worried that Dealers may Raise the Prices of the the Upcoming Honda Insight

I found this article to be an interesting read, I did not know that some dealers had been artificially marking up the price (suppy and demand) of the Civic Hybrid and the Fit. As far a I know, I haven't seen this practise in Canada.

The thrust of the new Honda Insight hybrid -- which debuted in Paris this week as a near-production concept -- is to "bring hybrid vehicles into a price bracket where a broader range of people can afford them," says the press materials. Cheaper, in other words. The current estimate is that the Insight -- powered by a 1.3-liter gas engine and Integrated Motor Assist, good for about 45 mpg, on average -- will cost about $20,000, though final pricing will be announced closer to the on-sale date next spring.

It must have taken a heroic effort for Honda to hit that price point. According to the company, major savings had to be realized in the design and manufacturing of the IMA and other hybrid components (like the battery). Tankers of midnight oil must have been docked right outside Honda's R&D center.

However, all that hard work -- and the neat marketing and sales strategy designed to undercut Prius -- will amount to little if Honda dealers tag on thousands of dollars more in dealer markups and price premiums, as they have been notoriously doing with the Fit and Civic Hybrid. "We don't like it whenever premiums are added," says company spokesman Kurt Antonius. "But it's driven by supply and demand. We don't condone it but we can't control it."

Perhaps not, but Honda of America could probably, oh, let's say, de-incentivize the practice, and considering that the low entry price of the new Insight hybrid is the whole point, I suspect they probably will.

More about the car: Yes, it looks vaguely like a Prius. "We would say it looks more like the Clarity," says Antonius, referring to Honda's sleek and awesome hydrogen-powered car. I would say that the Prius, the GM Volt and the Honda Insight all resemble one another as a consequence of aerodynamics and engineering constraints that nominalize design. In other words, if you want a car of a certain size to carry five passengers and some luggage, and you want it to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, there's only so much you can do about styling.

Unlike the Prius, the Insight does not move under electric power alone. Honda has long believed the tradeoffs of weight and cost don't justify electric-only propulsion. The company expects overall mileage to be like that of the Civic Hybrid.

Honda expects to make 200,000 Insights per year for the world market, 100,000 of them destined for the U.S.

Source;
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/uptospeed/2008/10/honda-insight-h.html

Globe & Mail; Insight into Honda's hybrid plans

Jeremy Cato, October 2, 2008 at 10:27 AM EDT

PARIS -- Honda rarely, rarely tips its hand about future products. This is a secretive company, secretive to the point of being a bit paranoid.

So it was a surprise to see the Japanese auto maker jump the gun with pictures and selective tidbits about the Honda Insight hybrid-electric car it will put on sale next April – and show tomorrow at the Paris Auto Show.

Now the five-passenger hatchback Honda will show in Paris is officially a “concept.” Ignore that. Honda types say the production Insight will be almost identical to the concept. It is unusual for Honda to tout a car that won't go on sale for months, to leak details, share pictures and the like. Honda is doing this to steal Toyota's thunder.

Toyota, of course, is the world leader at selling hybrids. Honda has never liked that, not given that Honda actually beat Toyota to market in North America with its two-door hybrid. It did not sell well and neither have the Accord Hybrid – discontinued – and the Civic Hybrid.

So far, Honda's hybrid efforts have been a bit embarrassing – especially so for a company that prides itself on being a so-called engine company dominated by the smartest of engineers.

What we're seeing now is Honda in fighting mode. The Wall Street Journal argues that the Insight is “likely to pose the most formidable threat to Toyota” we've yet seen on the hybrid front – “delivering greenness for fewer greenbacks.”

Honda officials have led me to believe that the Insight will be highly affordable, selling in the $22,000-range or so in Canada. At that price, Honda is expecting to sell 100,000 or more Insights a year – perhaps more. Ten thousand of those might be sold in Canada.

Except Honda won't be alone in challenging Toyota and that means those sales numbers might be a stretch. General Motors already sells a slew of different hybrids, Ford has the Escape Hybrid and more like it coming in a few months, Nissan is pushing ahead, Chrysler has a wide-ranging electric car program in the works and on and on.

Oh, and did I mention the Santa Fe Hybrid Hyundai is showing in Paris?

More from Paris tomorrow, right here.

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081002.WBdriving20081002102719/WBStory/WBdriving

Honda Insight VS Toyota Prius; Jalopnik's Survey

Here's a snapshot of the results as of Oct. 02, 2008 AM.

"OK folks, now that the new Prius-fighter from Honda has officially seen the sheet dropped at the Paris Motor Show early this morning, it's time to ask the important question — which one will win? In one corner, you've got the long-time champion of the hybrid arena. In the other, the pugnacious new Honda Insight, determined to beat the Prius in at least one chart — price. With that, here's the question:" (See the above picture)

Now, before all of us Honda fans get too excited, this is only a survey, there have been many a war won on paper and lost on the battle field - both cars are good/going to be good.

Here's a link to the survey, if you'd like to partake;

http://jalopnik.com/5058334/jalopnik-paris-pissing-match-honda-insight-vs-toyota-prius

Honda Insight hybrid goes on sale globally in spring 2009

Neil Winton / Special to The Detroit News

PARIS -- Honda's new Insight petrol electric hybrid will go on sale around the world in the spring of 2009, after the mass production-ready version of the car is unveiled at the Detroit car show in January, the Japanese company said.

The original Insight was introduced in 1999. It only had two seats, whereas the new one has room for five.

"For the long term, we believe fuel cell electric vehicle technology is the ultimate environmental solution. But to reduce CO2 (carbon dioxide emissions in the near term, Honda believes the best approach is to advance hybrid technology to mainstream customers," Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda told a press conference at the Paris Car Show.

"We are developing this vehicle to achieve excellent fuel efficiency on a par with the Civic Hybrid, but at a significantly reduced price. The new Insight is equipped with a hybrid system that combines a lightweight and compact 1.3 litre (gasoline) engine with a motor that will achieve excellent fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions," Fukui said, without revealing any data.

The current Civic Hybrid uses a so-called "mild" hybrid system, which enhances the performance of the gasoline engine. "Strong" hybrids, like that in the Toyota Prius enhance efficiency, but also allow a limited amount of separate, battery-only powered driving.

Fukui didn't say which system would be used in the new Insight.

He said the Insight should sell up to 200,000 versions a year. Hybrid versions of the CR-Z SUV and little Jazz (known as the Fit in the U.S.) will bring hybrid sales up to 500,000 a year, but he didn't say when.

Fukui added that the newly redesigned Jazz/Fit, going on sale across Europe from next month, will be built in Britain, in addition to current capacity in China and Japan.

Source;
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/AUTO04/810020430/1001

More Pic's of the Honda Insight Concept at the 2009 Paris Auto Show

For more pic's follow the link below;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-honda-insight-live-reveal/