Honda has Insight on H-factor

Sep 4 2008 Bill Caven and Chris Russon

Honda has Insight on H-factor

THE Hollywood ?H" factor is set to go global as Honda confirms plans for a new hybrid car.

Honda insists the new vehicle will be "affordable" and not just for well-heeled celebs such as Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Harrison Ford to name but a handful.

At the same time the new Insight family-sized sports hatch will attempt to change the customers' perceptions surrounding hybrid technology and encourage greener motoring.

The car will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show next month and is due to go into production early next year.

It is being named after Honda?s original hybrid which went on sale in 1999 and the new model is said to be slightly smaller than the Civic hatchback ? although it will be a five seater.

Honda has been at the forefront of hybrid technology for many years now but has never received the proper recognition compared to its rivals Toyota.

Indeed its involvement began nearly a decade ago with the odd-looking original Insight and the car company remains convinced that the combination of a conventional engine and a battery powered electric motor remains the way forward.

Not only does it point to the importance of offering greater fuel efficiency but also leaner, cleaner power units.

Outlining plans for the new global concept eco warrior, James Kingston, Honda's environment manager, said: "This is a very important step for Honda as we believe hybrid will increasingly become a significant part of the market in the very near future.

"The car will be offered globally in America and Europe and above all will be affordable.

"It will feature five doors, be a five passenger vehicle and be built on a newly developed platform."

He added: "The concept will be based on the sweeping shape of the FCX Clarity.

"The aim is for full scale penetration at a more affordable price, so that this vehicle will be chosen by customers based on economic benefit."

Honda?s hierarchy insists that the car will change the customers' perception especially as in the past hybrid cars cost too much.

Weighing considerably less than previous hybrid models the newcomer will feature a thinner motor as well as housing the battery pack under the cargo area.

The motor manufacturer intends to introduce no less than four new hybrid cars which will eventually account for more than half a million sales within a short space of time.

Already at the advanced planning and development stage is a Jazz hybrid and Civic hybrid.

There are also moves to construct a brand new two seater sports car currently code-named the CRZ.