2010 Honda Insight

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2010 Honda Insight Buzz Station

Ever since Honda announced it would be unveiling a new Prius fighter at this year's Paris auto show, we've had our eyes peeled for the new earth-friendly people mover. Now we know it as the 2010 Honda Insight, which along with two other new hybrid models featured in Paris, is part of Honda's plan to move half a million hybrid vehicles annually by 2012.

Honda says this upcoming Honda Insight will account for 200,000 of those, approximately half of which are headed to our shores. If you thought the Prius was becoming all too common, you'd better brace yourself.

Nearly 10 years ago, Honda shook up the automotive world with the then-new Honda Insight, the world's first mass-production hybrid vehicle. It looked like the company's beloved CRX (sorta, kinda) and packed a unique powertrain capable of incredible fuel mileage and truly minimal emissions. It wasn't long before the Insight had its devotees.

But as quickly as Honda had lit the flame of hybrid nerdery, the torch was snatched by Toyota's celebrity magnet, the Prius. The second generation of that vehicle hit the market dead on with its five-door layout and room for five. And now it's Honda's turn with the all-new 2010 Honda Insight.

Inside Line has been tracking the car for quite some time. Months ago we caught a camouflaged 2010 Honda Insight on video, undergoing testing in Death Valley. Shortly after, Honda delivered as promised, with an unmasked example at the Paris auto show, complete with some initial details and dimensions.

Like the current model, the new 2010 Honda Insight will be built in Japan. It will once again be powered by a 1.3-liter gas engine, supported by an updated version of Honda's IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) electric motor system. Honda says the new car will feature technology to help drivers maximize fuel economy, although it has yet to specify exactly how. Our guess is something like Audi's Eco Drive system.

A cramped and drab two-seater layout was a big reason the previous Insight didn't share the mass appeal of the Prius. Honda is well aware of this fact, as it's quick to point out how spacious the interior of this new generation will be.

Take a quick glance at the 2010 Honda Insight in the Honda booth at the Paris auto show, and it's obvious what market the automaker is trying to capture. There's more than a subtle hint of Prius in the new Insight's proportions, a decision quite unusual for Honda, which prides itself on "never following." Gone is the charming yet awkward design of the current generation, along with its less-charming covered rear wheels.

More importantly, Honda expects to be able to position the new Insight in the sub-$20K price bracket — safely below that of its Toyota competition. Potentially below a Civic sedan, even. This alone will make it one of the cheapest hybrid vehicles on the market, and certainly the cheapest stand-alone model designed solely to be a fuel-sipping hybrid (rather than a hybrid trim level on an existing model).

We'll see what Toyota has to say about its new competition once the wraps are pulled off the 2010 Prius at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Until then, keep your eyes locked on Inside Line and this page for updates.