For those who want great mileage, Honda will debut the new dedicated small hybrid tomorrow. While I was reading the article, it says (near the bottom) that Honda will bring 3 additional hybrids to the market, including hybrid Fit, by 2010. Not sure if it's calendar year 2010 or model year 2010, and not sure if will eventually arive in the US.

I am actually interested in the new hybrid - slightly larger than Fit but smaller than the Civic. It's suppose to sell for 19000 or less. I haven't bought the Fit yet, so I'd like to learn more about this car, which will also be shown next month in Paris Auto Show. Anyway, here's the article:

Green Cars, Green Vehicles, Hybrid Cars, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Reviews and Buying tools - Honda to Reveal its New Affordable Hybrid on Thursday

I don't know how much they will disclose tomorrow, but at least the new name, which someone speculate will be "insight". Keep an eye on Honda's press release section tomorrow!

 

Honda Fit hybrid not coming to the U.S. - AutoblogGreen



Ah this is good news tho about the GSH, its will finally have a name already. Oh man i cant wait for it =D

 

I hope they find another name. They've already used "Insight" and it was an epic FAIL. One of the ugliest cars ever create, IMO.

Edit: Here is where they tell us that Japan gets the hybrid Fit, and we don't...sigh...

What U.S. buyers won't be getting is a fourth model that has been mentioned by CEO Takeo Fukui. Honda will add its IMA hybrid system to the Fit, but only for the Japanese market. During the recent media drive of the new 2009 Fit, I asked spokesman Sage Marie when the Fit hybrid would be arriving. Marie explained that because of supply constraints of the Fit, there were no current plans to bring the hybrid model to the U.S. Much like the MINI Cooper D that is already selling at capacity, Honda is selling every existing Fit it can get, and adding another variant wouldn't likely help the business case. American buyers have shown a preference for a dedicated hybrid and Honda plans to attack that segment with two new cars in 2009.*

*But they won't be Fits!

 

more info and pics of the Insight...

Paris Preview: Officially Official, Honda's new hybrid is the Insight! - Autoblog

 

 

OMG that looks sooo much better than i expected. I am totally buying it lol.

 

Will definitely keep an eye on the CRZ (hybrid, sporty, CRX-ish vehicle; farthest vehicle in pic above) developments. I'm liking the look of that one the most.

 

OMG that's one hell of an ugly car to me. I'd rather have the Fit. Fit is the cutest cat on the block. The new Insight has a droopy lower lip as if someone just slapped it hard and broke its jaw. Hay, am I the only one who see face every time I see a car from the front? The Ford Fiesta, which many guys like, looks like an angry cartoon figure, so I don't like it at all. The Fit has those Asian slanted eyes and a zen-like smile. It really resembles my dearest cat, who spends most of its time meditating about mice.

In the new Insight press release, Honda mentions "folding seats". I hope they make their seats foldable like the magic seats in the Fit. If merely folding it forward then all hatchbacks can do that.

The rumored 18500 starting price may be only a base model, but another rumor mentioned that the mileage will be "insane", around 60-70 mpg. I hope they put VSA standard on it!

Oh if it's as great as Honda suggested, I can see a huge shortage at least in the beginning of the sales. Imaging dealers padding thousands on them, making them almost as costly as the prius. Hopefully they will utilizing the Indiana plant to make it eventually. The Indiana plant was created for "small fuel efficient vehicles", and is flexible to switch to different product lines.

 

Insight looks great. Can't wait for it to come out!

 

Ok, from second look - that new Insight doesn't look as bad as I thought. Now it looks like a salamader.

If it's a success, I will buy it in second or third year, or until the supply catches up w/ the demand so there's no more "greedy dealer fee" any more. Right now, I will still hug a Fit (it's fit for a hug) once the "greedy dealer fee" is gone, hopefully by the end of the year.

 

More info here from Honda:
2010 Honda Insight Hybrid - Official Honda Web site

Note it says "with spirited performance and all the amenities you’d expect". If "all the amenities" are available for 18500 (the price of Fit w/ navi) then it's obviously a great deal. I hope this price is not for a stripped down base model though, but then again, as long as all the safety features like VSA are standard, all the other stuff like keyless entry and even cruise control can be added aftermarket.

Remember Honda moved the Fit release dates forward from Oct to end of Aug? Maybe they will bring the Insight to market a couple of months earlier too. Maybe end of Feb rather than April - if the demand is huge for it. Hope Honda won't rush a half-baked model out of the door though. Oh, I am dreaming too much. Now that ugly ducking is growing a bit on me.