Honda Insight Hybrid Tops the Charts in Japan in April, Fit Comes in Second

Only three months after its market debut in Japan and Honda's Insight mild-hybrid managed to become the best-selling vehicle (excluding the so-called kei cars with engines under 660cc) in the country in the month of April with sales of 10,481 units. This is the first time in Japan's history that a hybrid model has topped the tables for any monthly sales period. In the previous two months, the Insight sold 4,906 and 4,088 units in February and March respectively.

The Insight took the crown from the Fit, also known as the Jazz in Europe, which was the best selling car in Japan in the month of March, its fourth consecutive month at the top since December 2008. In April, the Fit finished second behind the Insight with sales of 9,443 units. According to the automaker, this is the first time ever that Honda has occupied the top two best-selling car positions in Japan for any monthly sales period.

Honda Insight Hybrid Outselling Toyota Prius in the UK

Honda's all-new Insight hybrid is off to good start in Britain having sold 229 units since it went on sale in the market on April 4, 2009. That's compared to 198 units of the current generation Prius - always according to Honda's data. Besides the fact that the Insight is a newer model than the Prius (the third-gen Prius will be arriving on British shores in July 2009), another benefiting factor for Honda's hybrid is that it is priced significantly lower than Toyota's hybrid.

In the UK, the Honda Insight starts from £15,490 (US$22,900) on-the-road whereas the second-generation Prius begins from £18,370 (US$27,100). The Japanese automaker said that it expects to sell around 7,000 Insights in the UK this year while the annual global sales target is in the region of 200,000 units.

Toyota's 2011 Low-Cost Dedicated Hybrid to be Based on the Yaris

A news report has shed light on Toyota's plans to develop a dedicated small hybrid model to take on Honda's Insight hybrid that just went on sale in the USA. Speaking with Japan's Nikkei business newspaper Akihiko Otsuka, chief engineer of the third-generation Toyota Prius, revealed that Toyota's new low-cost dedicated hybrid will be based on the Yaris platform. The reason why Toyota is planning such a model, is because Honda's Insight significantly undercuts the new Prius in price.

"We are developing a low-priced hybrid vehicle like Honda's Insight," Otsuka told the newspaper. "We are going to compete by expanding our hybrid-vehicle lineup to smaller hybrids, in the class of the Vitz and Yaris."

Even though Otsuka did not reveal details on the launch date, reports from Japan suggest that the small hybrid could find its way into international markets as soon as 2011.

Via: Autonews & Nikkei

Toyota Rumored to Develop New Low-Price Hybrid to Compete with Honda Insight

With the new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid already undercutting the current generation Prius in price, it's a no-brainer that Toyota execs are starting to worry that Honda's hybrid proposal will have a serious advantage over the next-generation 2010 Prius as the latter will carry an even higher sticker. According to Japan's Nikkei Business daily, Toyota is planning to confront this problem with the introduction of a new, low-price, hybrid subcompact model that could find its way to overseas markets.

Although Toyota declined to comment on the report, Nikkei claims that the new gasoline-hybrid car will use many modified parts from the Prius with power coming from a smaller engine than the current model's 1.5-liter unit. The new model, that could hit the market as early as 2011, will reportedly cost 20 to 30 percent cheaper than the current Prius hybrid, which starts at 2.33 million yen ($23,500 with today's exchange rates).

The Honda Insight, that went on sale in Japan this February, has a starting price of just 1.89 million Yen, or with the current exchange rates, $19,200. In the U.S., the Insight will be priced from $19,800 (see details here).

Source: Nikkei Business (Sub. Req)

Honda Prices the 2010 Insight Hybrid from $19,800 in the USA

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight (click here for our mega gallery) will go on sale in the USA on March 24 with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $19,800, or $2,200 less than the current Toyota Prius that starts from $22,000, but will soon be replaced by the third generation model -see here. Honda's five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC gasoline engine and a 10kW electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 mpg.

"The all-new Honda Insight brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda.

The new Insight will be offered in the U.S. with a choice of three trims, the LX, the EX and the EX with Navi.

The entry-level LX, priced at $19,800, comes with front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, an anti-lock braking system, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), Eco Assist, automatic climate control, tilt and telescope steering column, manual driver's seat height adjustment, power windows, a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio input for external digital music players, as standard

The more premium Insight EX has an MSRP of $21,300 and adds to the Insight LX features with Vehicle Stability Assist, alloy wheels, cruise control, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, an upgraded audio system with six speakers, USB audio interface, a center console with armrest and storage compartment and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals.

Finally, Honda offers the Insight EX with a satellite-linked Navigation System with voice recognition that includes a 6.5-inch screen for $23,100. Models equipped with the navigation system also include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink for hands-free operation of compatible mobile telephones, along with related steering wheel-mounted controls for voice activation of the navigation and hands-free telephone systems.

2010 Honda Insight Pricing and EPA Data

Model ------------------MSRP-----City/Hwy/Combined

Insight LX ---------------$19,800----40/43/41

Insight EX ---------------$21,300----40/43/41

Insight EX with Navi -- $23,100----40/43/41

Mugen Launches 'Zero-Lift' Aero Kit for 2010 Honda Insight Hybrid

Honda's official tuning division Mugen has released details on a new range of sport accessories for the Japanese-market 2010 Honda Insight that just went on sale in the Land of the Rising Sun. Mugen's package includes a full functional aerodynamic kit called 'Zero-Lift' that supposedly does what it's name suggests -create zero lift- and at the same time offers a sportier look to the Insight. The aero add-ons include a front spoiler with fog-lamps, a front sports grille, side skirts, ventilated visors, a large rear wing and a rear spoiler with integrated diffuser and a triangular shaped tailpipe. The Insight's looks are rounded out with a set of 15- or 16-inch alloy wheels.

Mugen customers can also add a sport suspension package that comes with new springs and dampers that lower the compact hybrid car's ride height by 20mm. Other available accessories include the intelligent-Tire Condition Monitoring System (i-TCMS), carpet mats and aluminum sports pedals.

Via: Jalopnik , Source: Mugen

Honda Prices the new Insight Hybrid from $21,200 in Japan

The new Honda Insight Hybrid will go on sale in Japan on Friday, February 6, 2009, with prices starting from 1,890,000 yen, or with today's exchange rates, $21,200, for the entry-level "G" model and climb to 2,210,000 yen or $23,800 for the top-of-the-line LS. While the price conversion into U.S. dollars does not tell reveal much due to the volatile nature of the exchange rates on a day-to-day basis between the two currencies, what does matter is the fact that the Insight significantly undercuts the current-generation Prius (that's the 2009 model and not the all-new 2010 Prius) that is priced in Japan from approximately 2.3 million yen or $25,800.

Prices for other markets including the U.S. and European countries have yet to be revealed. Honda plans to introduce the Insight to most international markets in April, 2009.