Spy Shots: Honda's hybrid-only Prius fighter!
by Alex Nunez on Jul 16th 2008 at 9:21PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the new Honda Hybrid
Honda has acknowledged that not having an instantly-recognizable hybrid-only model since the demise of the Insight (still modern-looking today) has taken a toll. While the company offers the Civic Hybrid, that car lacks the green cachet that Toyota has very successfully cultivated with the Prius. So, Honda made no secret that a new hybrid-exclusive model was coming, and wouldn't you know -- it's very reminiscent of the Prius!
The spies at KGP snagged the car out testing, but there's no denying that its teardrop shape brings Toyota's car to mind. We assume this is the result of Honda going for the most aerodynamic shape possible, which resulted in a profile that can't help but be similar to the Prius. A look at the FCX Clarity shows that Honda's new weapon shares much with its big brother, too. In front, the grille slats solidly carry the family resemblance forward from the new fuel-cell car, and when the new hybrid is ultimately shown without the cladding and cover-ups, we have a feeling that it'll look a bit like a downsized Clarity. The Toyota Prius is a major success story, and Honda wants a piece of that action. You know the saying: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And so, it appears, they are.
Gallery: Spy Shots: Honda Hybrid-only model
[Source: KGP Photography]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ignatius 9:43PM (7/16/2008)
Looks like a Prius to me.
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stevefazek 10:44PM (7/16/2008)
its the cladding they stuck on it
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BoneHeadOtto 11:34PM (7/16/2008)
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE offer this hybrid with a manual like the original insight. And keep it under $20k and this will be my next car.
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Jay 9:03AM (7/17/2008)
The photo with the disguised civic hybrid is intriguing. Is it due for an update soon?
The new Hybrid does look eerily similar to the Prius. It's not like Honda to be so derivative, but I'm looking forward to the finished product.
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BoneHeadOtto 9:27AM (7/17/2008)
the derivative shapes comes from physics and aerodynamics. Toyota didnt shape the Prius like they did for design reasons. They did so for aerodynamics. If you want your car to be aerodynamic as well, it will look very Prius like. This is obviously their new hybrid and not a prius like some are saying. And i dont think it is a test mule either. This is the shape of cars in the future. I dont think it is bad. The Prius, and FCX all have this shape but it is the details that make the shape work. It will look better in final form but it will look like an obvious hybird. That is the point here. The Civic hybrid was a good product that didnt sell as well as it could because it was not immediately recognizable as a hybrid. This one is and that is the point.
ronal IQ 4:19AM (7/18/2008)
looks like a prius to me, i hope it is not that one, because that is a dumb move
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Joseph 1:13AM (7/17/2008)
It looks EXACTLY like the Prius.....Kind of dissapointed.....It better have great performance, and I expect it will. When Honda entered the minivan market, their first product did terrible. Now, their minivan, the Odyssey, is considered just about the best minivan available. This has been the same situation with their hybrids: first, they failed (not that the cars were bad, they just didn't sell) so now I expect them to be stellar.
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armmat 2:14AM (7/17/2008)
Very disappointing indeed...even the concept for the new Prius is better looking than this.
Obviously this is in camouflage but still...the overall shape is very dull. The rear overhang is just awful and the whole thing looks more reminiscent to the butt-ugly Benz R class POS.
Come on Honda..all those concept cars and this is the best you can muster up? A hybrid of a Clarity, Benz, and a Pruis?
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BlackbirdHighway 4:10AM (7/17/2008)
This is a joke, right?
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Archy 7:32AM (7/17/2008)
The shape reminds me of a Citroen GS was that not before the Prius by about 30years?
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MikeInNC 8:22AM (7/17/2008)
Folks, it's a test mule that's "disguised as a Prius". No company would copy the Prius exterior on purpose.
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Bill Guiffre 8:36AM (7/17/2008)
I suspect this is either a) a prius body with Honda drivetrain (and a few Honda body pieces) or actually a Prius they are testing with a few Honda body pieces to disguise what they are doing. Perhaps to do some side-by-side comparisons with the other vehicles in the pictures.
Sorry, even the wheel covers look like my Prius wheels.
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CNCMike 11:48AM (7/17/2008)
I've never seen a prius with 4 lug wheels.
yabun 10:06AM (7/17/2008)
I thought the new CR-V design was too much like the RAV4, but I wrote it off. Now I'm getting the feeling Honda is trying to mimic Toyota a little too much. I hope this is generic mule shell or a joke or something.
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Tman 10:02AM (7/17/2008)
A close look at the rear door shut-line will reveal the similarities to the fcx clarity. It is a sharp straight line while the on the prius it has a slight curve (this can be seen in the last photo. Overall the end product would resemble the fcx more than the prius.
I know that aerodynamics was responsible for the similarities to the prius, but the last generation European accord aka acura tsx achieved a prius matching cd of 0.26 yet looked like a regular sedan. so I would think the rationale for following this design route would be to maximize volume. I wonder why audi has not remde the A2. That car shared a similar profile, but had far better detailing
http://www.audiforums.com/models/a2/images/Audi-A2-2.jpg
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retro77 12:48PM (7/17/2008)
but it looks just like a Prius!
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Mili 12:59PM (7/17/2008)
Honda is coming with a Prius competitor a little late. Although i personally think that the spy photos are from a Prius facelift, since the resemblance is stunning.
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Bill 1:35PM (7/17/2008)
Everyone needs to familiarize themselves with this term:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kammback
That's why they look so much alike.
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wave54 5:05PM (7/17/2008)
A couple of more pictures, with a Prius behind and a Civic Hybrid in front.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=129247#5
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James 1:31AM (7/18/2008)
It looks like the new 2009 HONDA FCX CLARITY HYDROGEN FUELCELL CAR. look it up. or you can watch a myspace video here... http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=25334357
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