Third-generation Honda Insight and Clarity PHEV

After two failed attempts to challenge the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight hybrid has returned and this time as a four-door saloon that blends style with ecology that makes it unique in every single way but unlike its failed predecessors, the new Insight doesn't really want to pick fights with the Toyota Prius. Instead, it wants to take on a different approach now as a four-door saloon that serves as the successor of the old Civic Hybrid from the distant past.

2019 Honda Insight

2019 Honda Insight

Priced from 3,261,600 to 3,826,570 Japanese Yen, the third-generation Honda Insight departs from being a Prius fighter its predecessors failed to attempt and instead, because it's now a Civic-sized hybrid sedan, it wants to take on the likes of the Corolla Axio Hybrid, which is shockingly cheaper than the Insight but because the Toyota Corolla Axio's reached its prime, the new Insight's ready to shine and judging from every angle, the new Insight really is a concept turned reality as it draws inspiration from the concept car as seen from the 2018 NAIAS and just as we thought that the Insight might end up being an American-only model, we'd be dead wrong because it's already arrived in Japan and it's here to stay.

2019 Honda Insight interior

While the Insight's exterior is very Civic-influenced to give it a more coupe-like approach at every angle, the driver-focused interior is far beyond the competition and while it works like it means it, the comfort is pretty much feels like every family car in the world and while the rear legroom's surprisingly spacious enough for six-footers to breathe their legs out, the trunk space is pretty ample enough for someone who can jam through numerous thrift shop hauls while leaving some room for some minor grocery shopping treats. Interesting.

2019 Honda Insight

The new Insight features a third-generation Sport Hybrid i-MMD system, a two-motor hybrid system that combines the new 109PS 1.5L Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and a powerful 96kW electric drive motor, allowing this car to run as a series hybrid, as an electric, or as a petrol-powered car. This hybrid setup is capable of delivering the new Insightt a WLTP-based combined fuel economy of up to 28.4km/L.

Apart from the hybrid powertrain, the new Insight's body and chassis is actually an improved version of the one used from today's Honda Civic and while this is not essentially a fun-to-drive car like most Japanese hybrids possess, the new Insight is surprisingly comfortable and quiet and when armed with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver safety features, the journey home never felt so safe and secured and this could be the ideal family car you wouldn't want to let your eyes off.

The Insight really is a classy hybrid with loads of tech in it and as an alternative to the Civic, which doesn't have a hybrid variant from its previous eight-generation model, for the regular joes rather than speedo boys who like to keep the Civic anyway, this is an everyday car that you can really take it with you for work or for play. However, if you need more than the Insight, consider its another alternative if you consider planning extra trips.

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV

This is the new Honda Clarity PHEV and while this is based on the Clarity Fuel Cell, what's different between the two cars is the powertrain because while the normal Clarity Fuel Cell is an FCEV car much like the Toyota Mirai, the Clarity PHEV uses an LEB-H4 1.5L iVTEC Atkinson Cycle engine combined to an 135kW electric motor and li-ion battery made for plug-in use.

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV interior

2019 Honda Clarity PHEV interior

Running as a hybrid, this has a combined fuel efficiency, by WLTP standards, of 24.2km/L but using its full capabilities as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, it has a class-leading PHEV combined fuel efficiency, by WLTP standards, of 101km. Consider how many places you can get into whereas the new Insight can't. But with all that distance comes with the price because the Clarity PHEV is priced at 5,880,600 Japanese Yen and that over two and a half million more than the new Insight. But let's not mince words for the time being.

In the end, if you want a luxurious compact hybrid sedan that behaves like a normal family car fit for everyday use, try the Insight, but for further journeys, consider the new Clarity PHEV for a change.

Photo: Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Honda axes the Insight hybrid

Second-generation Honda Insight (2009-2014)

There is a report from a Japanese website, MONOist, stating that production of the second-generation Honda Insight, launched since February 2009, is ceased starting this month and overseas sale of this hybrid will cease at the June of 2014. The reason why Honda decided to remove the Insight from the Honda Cars lineup is because of poor sales and the transition to Honda's SPORT HYBRID drivetrain.

Last year, about 3,880 units of the Honda Insight were sold in Japan while 11,951 units for the world market. The cumulative sales up to the end of September 2012 were 265,346 units.

There's a possibility that Honda may remove some of the IMA-equipped hybrids such as the CR-Z hybrid, the Fit Shuttle Hybrid, and the Freed Hybrid.

Source: MONOist

Honda Insight (ZE2) facelift & Honda Insight Exclusive (ZE3)

2012 Honda Insight

2012 Honda Insight Exclusive

Since the Honda Insight's return in February 2009 as a 2010 model, this car began the Honda Green Machine revolution as HONDA GREEN MACHINE 001 and its comeback truly shaped up the hybrid regime that ruled Japan and the world market. Two years later, the Honda Insight is ready for its midlife facelift and this minor change gained two types such as the original Insight and the all new Insight Exclusive.

For this minor change, the Honda Insight received a new front face complete with some lighting at the front grille and new front bumper design that makes it sporty. On the back, mild revisions have been made courtesy of some silver paneling. Here on the all new Insight Exclusive, expect a different front bumper and a different rear view to differentiate it from the standard Insight.

2012 Honda Insight interior

2012 Honda Insight Exclusive interior

The Insight's interior remains the same quality as the pre-facelift model, accommodating up to five passengers and the rear seats can be folded down for spacious uses. There is an optional seat heater that provides warm on the seats, which is essential on the long cold nights on the road.

The standard Insight is powered with the LDA (1.3L IMA) engine that produces a standard power output of 88PS/5,800rpm and 121Nm/4,500rpm of torque output. It comes with the MF6 electric motor that produces 10kW of power. Previously, the Insight's 1.3L engine has the fuel economy of 30.0km/L in 10-15 Mode scale but thanks to its aerodynamics on the exterior, the 1.3L engine now achieves a new fuel economy of 31.0km/L on 10-15 Mode scale. For easy driving, a CVT is equipped on the standard Insight and it comes with the Drive-By-Wire for throttle control.

The Insight Exclusive uses the LEA (1.5L IMA) engine lifted from the Honda CR-Z, producing 111PS/6,000rpm of power output, and 142Nm/4,800rpm of torque output. It even comes with the 10kW MF6 electric motor. The Insight Exclusive lets you fully enjoy both "Eco Driving" and "Sports Driving" because of the 7-speed Manual Mode on its CVT. With all these, the Insight Exclusive's 1.5L engine provides 26.5km/L of fuel economy on the 10-15 Mode scale, on par with the seventh generation Toyota Camry.

The new Insight has eight color variations to choose from:
1) Super Platinum Aqua Metallic (exclusive on the standard Insight)
2) Premium Bronze Pearl (exclusive on the Insight Exclusive)
3) Premium White Pearl
4) Premium Deep Rosso Pearl
5) Premium Dynamic Blue Pearl
6) Alabaster Silver Metallic
7) Polished Metal Metallic
8) Crystal Black Pearl

My comment:

The latest Honda Insight facelift is everything but luxurious. The standard Insight looks simple enough and the all new Insight Exclusive is way beyond premium. These two styles are a different point of view on Honda's mainstream hybrid car that became a top rival to the Toyota Prius.

We're still waiting when will the new Honda Insight hit the Philippine market soon!!!

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

インサイトのマイナーチェンジ

2012 Honda Insight

Well, it had to happen. After being on the market for about two years since its debut on February 2009, the Honda Insight (Honda Green Machine 001) will get its first minor change and its slated to debut on this month's Frankfurt Motor Show.

PRESS RELEASE:

96 g/km* for the 2012 Honda Insight

The launch of the 2012 Honda Insight at Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) 2011 in September reaffirms Honda's commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

The 2012 Insight is now even more environmentally friendly producing just 96 g/km* of CO2. Fuel economy and emissions have been improved by means of enhanced aerodynamics and powertrain efficiency. Reduced engine friction , Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT) and better air conditioning, benefiting from a new cold storage system, all contribute to lower fuel consumption.

The Insight also receives a fresh exterior design including a new front grille. The slimmed tail spolier allows for a wider rear glass area, and combining this with a modified tail gate garnish and a reduction in the size of the wiper motor unit results in overall increased rear visibility.

Adjustments have been made to the engine and suspension for an overall improvement to ride comfort and stability. The features within the interior have also been enhanced for a superior quality.

More details will be announced at launch.

Scoop: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/02/honda-details-2012-insight-refinements-mpg-improvements-ahead-o/

There is a rumor that the Insight minor change will get a LEA-MF6 (1.5L SOHC i-VTEC) engine which was equipped on the Honda CR-Z and this will be labeled as "Insight Exclusive". A certain Minkara blogger told that when he was at some Honda dealership...

Scoop: http://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/521893/blog/23684494/

If his rumors are true, there will be such thing as a Insight Exclusive (インサイト・エクスクルーシブ).

More information coming soon...

Honda Green Machine 001 meets GT5

Test driving the Insight at Tsukuba
minus the Best Motoring crew

Honda's second generation Insight, dubbed as Honda Green Machine 001, is the first of the established Honda Green Machine series, a series dedicated to environmentally friendly vehicles, especially Honda hybrids. Because the Insight turned out to be a major seller in 2009, the hit PS3 racing game of 2010, Gran Turismo 5 added the second-generation Insight to the list of over 1000 cars in the game and its placed on the Premium tier.

Staying true to its Honda roots at Suzuka

Unlike the third-generation Toyota Prius, which has a CVT that makes it more dull to drive, the Insight can be set to either Automatic or Manual, despite the Insight has CVT on it. Although the Insight is the most eco-friendly Honda available in the market, it made it more of a pleasant collection in GT5. I think this is much more fun to handle than the Prius because I can set it to either Auto or Manual before the race.

Elegant and stylish in Crystal Black Pearl

Insight at Ahrweiler, Germany

Ever since I first met the second-generation Insight in 2009, it was known to be the cheapest alternative to the Prius but in terms of fuel economy, the Prius wins. By vast majority, you can expect more Prius owners in Japan than Insight owners because this is the fastest selling hybrid but I believe the Insight has some possibility. By demand, the two hybrid rivals were added as Premium Tier cars on GT5 and with the addition of the Sport Hybrid Compact, the Honda CR-Z, and electric cars such as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Tesla Roadster (Gosh, I don't like the way an electric car sound like). Despite hybrid, both the second-generation Insight and the third-generation Toyota Prius can be tunable to gain more horsepower and reduce weight.

The most stylish eco-car from Honda

In my opinion, I think no other GT5 player showing up their Insight online. Maybe someday, there will be something special for the Insight, just like in one Special Race where the Toyota Prius is required but no tuning restrictions. What it will come up is for some photo sessions by Photo Mode during replays and Photo Travel, just like the Insight colored with Crystal Black Pearl taking things handsomely at the streets of Ahrweiler, Germany.

I'm appreciated that both the Honda Green Machine 001 (the second-generation Insight) and the Honda Green Machine 003 (the CR-Z) showed up on GT5. I tried them both but the winner for me is none other than my favorite hybrid car, the CR-Z.

All-new Insight from Honda

Despite the economic knockdown that suffers around the world, especially automobile manufacturers, Honda never throw down the towel for automobile manufacturing and as a result, the return of Honda's finest hybrid car, and possibly the Toyota Prius's biggest rival, the Insight is a sure breakthrough and a completely new meaning to their brand slogan, "The Power of Dreams".





What is in the Insight? For starters, the Honda Insight’s powered by a 1.3 litre VTEC hybrid engine with the power output of 88ps at 5800rpm. Because of its hybrid capability, the fuel mileage of the new Insight is a sure 30km/l.






For the exterior, the front headlamps is similar to the European Honda Accord, with the side of the Honda Civic and as a blast of the past, the rear side remains its Insight-ism as the original Insight a few years back. To put this, the rear side tires of the Insight can be seen in full-view than being half-view from the previous Insight.





As a rule for comfort, the interior is identical to the Honda Civic; because of the steering wheel, the speedometer, the dashboard, they look similar. It is a simple way Honda created such comfortable interiors for such eco-friendly cars such as the Civic Hybrid and the new Insight just in case.



AS A RULE: If someone is an ecologist, an economist, or someone who has a dedication for hybrid cars, you can consider the new Insight from Honda as the true companion for the environment. After years of hiatus, Honda finally realize something on how to create hybrid cars for the world, especially the hydrogen powered FCX Clarity sedan. Therefore, there is a reason why they returned it because Honda wanted to revolutionize the hybrid market to the world. As a rule, I may consider the new Insight in my list of my must-see cars thanks to its hybrid capability engineered by Honda.

Photo: Autoc-one.jp