Honda has just released the Insight Hybrid in Japan and the demand has been higher than expected (almost three times its monthly target).
"The response has been overwhelming,” Hiroshi Kobayashi, Honda’s deputy chief operating officer told Automotive News. “We will have to increase production plans.”
Honda is planning on launching the Insight in Europe and the U.S. over the next two months. Over half of the planned 200,000 units are expected for North America. In April Honda is planning on increasing the production of its Prius fighter. Kobyashi did not state how many extra units Honda is going to produce.
When the Insight is launched in the US in April, it is expected to start under $20K.
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Comments (7)
How much under $20K?
Posted by 426Hemi | February 25, 2009 2:43 PM
Posted on February 25, 2009 14:43
if they can sell it under $20K maybe $18K for base i think alot of american will buy it. i know i will when i get back from iraq
Posted by minis2003 | February 25, 2009 7:32 PM
Posted on February 25, 2009 19:32
I believes hybrids have a place, but lets be realistic here...
The US is in the shitter, people are loosing jobs/homes/and money all over the place. The last thing they are going to do is buy a new car unless they have to. And at less than $2 a gallon, that isn't going to "force" people to "upgrade".
I'll jump on the hybrid bandwagon when all this nano-bullshit I keep hearing about comes out of a lab and into reality. Like nano based super capacitors...that'd be some hotness.
Posted by Brian | February 25, 2009 9:53 PM
Posted on February 25, 2009 21:53
Probably $19,995.
Just like when they say, "0-60 in under six seconds!" they mean 5.8-5.9.
Ah, well. $19,995 for a decent hybrid isn't bad at all. Let's up the interior is up to par!
Posted by Joan of Arc | February 26, 2009 1:24 AM
Posted on February 26, 2009 01:24
How can this be considered a Prius fighter when its dimensions are smaller, the fuel economy not as good (still great though, don't get me wrong), the price vastly different because the technology used is slightly different.
It's like comparing a Honda Civic to a Toyota Yaris.
Posted by paranoyd | February 26, 2009 6:02 AM
Posted on February 26, 2009 06:02
I think they call it a prius fighter mostly because it's a hybrid only platform, unlike the civic. It takes a slightly different approach by being more enjoyable to drive (from what some people/articles say) at the expense of some fuel economy, and it's smaller and cheaper, but it still fits into that small group of speciality hybrid vehicles. As the prius' technology gets cheaper I'm sure Toyota will target it for more of a mainstream consumer, like what Honda is doing with this model.
Posted by thetruth | February 26, 2009 6:16 AM
Posted on February 26, 2009 06:16
@Brian:
I think before we get all "omg super caps r hotness" we should see some real world demos. So far all we have is theories and speculation.
Posted by Gary Pechonis | February 26, 2009 12:45 PM
Posted on February 26, 2009 12:45