Redition by "Uncle Evan" on carscoop.com. Too bad the bumper from the spyshots are much more conservative.


"As sales pick up and Honda gets better at making hybrids, the company expects to reduce costs sharply. R&D boss Kato says he can bring the price differential between a hybrid and an equivalent gasoline-only car below $2,000. While not as powerful as Toyota's hybrid technology, the Honda system is lighter and less complex, so its new models may offer better gas mileage. Honda hasn't disclosed pricing, but the compact hybrid due next year could retail for around $18,000-$3,000 less than a Prius, reckons Tatsuo Yoshida, an analyst at UBS in Tokyo."

 

Wow, the green spaghetti is such a nice touch

 

Not bad at all, I have two Hondas on my list now, this and the CR-Z, and it's more likely the CR-Z if they make a hybrid one.

 

Honda should name that color "Dork Green"

Hopefully these buyers stay the F out of the left lane. FWIW I have never had a problem with Hybrid Civic owners clogging left lanes...just Prius owners....and now hypermiling SUVs...as if you can hypermile a pig.

 

very similar to the prius

 

so is the Honda FCX..

 

It looks like a better version of the Prius. Well, at least they didn't give this Insight the same ugly styling Honda gave to the former generation Insight.

 

You mean the car that wore pants on the rear tires...lol

 

^^^Yeah, that's what I was referring to.

 

My money is on the CR-Z will ONLY come as a hybrid with the new IMA technology.

Honda believes the Accord and Civic hybrid do not sell well because they don't say hybrid loud and clear, it just looks like you are driving a regular Accord or Civic. Honda believes the Prius has done so well because as soon as you see one you know, it is a hybrid. The new Insight will only come with this hybrid IMA powertrain so when ever you see one, you will know what it is.

Because of this, I suspect the CR-Z is only going to be hybrid, this will help them get more of theses out into the marketplace to help establish them as the alternate fule company, not Toyota.

Now, on the other hand, I may be all wrong because Honda has said they are going to make a hybrid version of the Fit, and I read that to mean they are not going to kill off the powertrain it has now, they are just going to add a hybrid version. So, maybe the CR-Z will be one of those cars that come in both types of powerplant.

For me, I don't care, all I care is my 1st choice be it comes to market with a true manual tranny, and not just a CVT.