European journos get first taste of Honda Insight in Spain
For a change, American journalists actually got to try out a new car before those in other countries when we drove the new Honda Insight in Arizona last month. This week, the European media are getting their first crack at the new hybrid hatchback in sunny Valencia, Spain. The Euro-spec Insight gets a slightly different front fascia than ours, along with arguably more attractive wheels. The combined fuel economy rating of the Insight on the European test cycle is 53.4 mpg (U.S.) with carbon dioxide emissions of just 101 g/km. We'll be looking to see how the generally hybrid-averse Europeans respond to the new Insight.
Related:
Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight
Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pditty 12:04PM (1/22/2009)
i hope i can buy one in May for a reasonable price (sticker or less) when i move to the UK.
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Mike!!ekiM 1:34PM (1/22/2009)
How do they get appreciably better fuel economy then the Civic Hybrid, if it's the same power train?
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Dave 3:19PM (1/22/2009)
I think what's more interesting is that the 2010 Insight does slightly worse than the Civic Hybrid on the US EPA test, but does better than the HCH on the European test. For some reason the US EPA test seems to underrate the Insight as even most early tests show the Insight to get fuel economy in the mid 40s with "normal" driving.
As for Mike!!ekiM's question - I think most people fully expect the Insight to do better than the HCH. Even though the Insight's IMA is similar to the HCH's IMA, it is completely new using lighter, smaller and more efficient parts. The vehicle as a whole is lighter and also more aerodynamic.
Eric Veltman 2:16PM (1/22/2009)
"generally hybrid-averse Europeans" What?
I must be missing something.
I see lots of Prius-es on the road here in NL.
I do have my doubts about hybrids though. A Prius needs a lot of advanced technology (and that costs a lot of energy to produce too, and it adds to the weight). I think simpler lower-weight gasoline-only cars can be just as or more eco-friendly than a Prius.
Look at the Daihatsu Cuore. You can drive (almost) 23 km on 1 liter of gasoline and even though the external dimensions are very small, the internal space is great, 4 'giants' can easily travel in this car. It's a very (functionally) well designed car and I doubt that, if you consider the whole livecycle, the Prius can compete on eco-friendliness.
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ronEbear 3:17PM (1/22/2009)
I think Honda had North America in mind when they made the decision to green light the new insight. Hybrids sell very well over here. Heck, i`m considering the new insight as my first new car purchase.
required 8:07PM (1/22/2009)
Any pix of the three door or is that no more?
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Sam Abuelsamid 8:47PM (1/22/2009)
The old three door Insight was discontinued in 2006. Later in 2010 we'll see the new CR-Z coupe using the Insight powertrain.