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Showing posts with label Honda Insight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Honda Insight. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Honda's Insight has been widely criticized since its introduction in early 2009. Most critically, Honda has not been able to reach the fuel efficiency of the Prius and has not offered a quality offering in terms of handling and refinement. Some of what will be rectified for the refresh of the Insight. First of all, the 2012 Insight will feature a revised front end with a Hybrid grille similar to the 2012 Civic Hybrid along with increased fuel efficiency. The Insight will be receiving a smaller spoiler to increase the size of the rear window and the wiper motor has become smaller to help with visibility. The Insight's engine has a new air conditioner, reduced engine friction and a revised CVT gearbox. These such changes help reduce the CO2 emissions to 96g/km. Along with powertrain refinements come a revised suspension that will calm the complaints of a bumpy and unstable ride. A higher quality interior will also be coming! These changes will apply to Insights worldwide. But is it too late to change the reputation of the Insight? Or is this exactly the right time for Honda to be doing this? Comment below and let us know what you think!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
With the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, the Insight's waiting period for orders grew to 2-3 months long. Delivery delays caused dealers to stop taking orders between April and May. Production in Japan has since recovered and the waiting time has now been reduced to less than a month.
Along with the success of the Insight, Honda's CR-Z will debut in Asian countries next fall.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Honda has earned its best ranking, at 2nd place in a recent J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study for 2011. Honda led the industry having 7 models earn the top initial quality spots including the Honda Accord and Honda Civic. Honda's premium brand, Acura was next in line, topping out at 3rd place. This is the first time since 2002 that an automaker has won to the amount 7 1st place awards out of 11 models. Honda received 2nd overall but 1st among non-luxury brands.
Honda's Ridgeline earned the highest in the truck category while the Odyssey improved upon its initial quality score from last year's model. The Element and the CR-V earned 1st and 2nd place respectively while the mid-size crossover Accord Crosstour also earned the top initial quality. The Honda Fit and Honda Insight joined the list as well.
The Initial Quality Study surveys new car buyers to measure the initial quality of new vehicles after the first 90 days of ownership, it is recognized as a measure of vehicle quality and owner satisfaction. The study recognized Honda's Indiana, Ohio and Japan plants for superior manufacturing quality.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Honda is telling dealers that it is finally getting back on track with some production of its car models after the Japanese earthquake on March 11. Dealers can now resume ordering the Honda Fit and Insight models. Both models are made in Japan. Keeping consumers coming to Honda and avoiding them from exploring other options are proving hard, as sales fell 22% in May. Who knows what June will look like. Mendel says full production volumes for all Honda cars will be completed by the end of summer.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Well, look at this. The Honda Insight. Suffering from poor sales and lowered projections, Honda finally has positive sales spin on the Insight. Thanks to high gas prices, increased advertising, spring car buying season as well as slowed Prius sales due to inventory, the Honda Insight is seeing one of its biggest boost in sales this year. Honda Insight sales rose more than 62% in March 2011 to 2 782 units which was a significant climb for the Insight since March 2010. Honda's VP referenced the fact that Honda is often thought of when fuel prices go up.
Friday, April 1, 2011
"While the Insight’s interior and exterior styling is unique it’s the hybrid’s powertrain that really defines the vehicle. Power comes from Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist setup that now in it’s fifth generation combines a 1.3 litre i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine with a compact electric motor. Total output is 72kW with 167Nm of torque sent to the front wheels through a conventional CVT transmission. It’s a different set-up to Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive in that the electric motor can only help the combustion engine and not power the car on its own. Power is returned to the nickel metal hydride battery through a regenerative braking function on the electric motor. This helps slow the Insight and means that less load is put on the conventional brakes, explaining the old-fashioned drum brakes fitted to the Insight’s rear wheels. The bottom line with this modern set up is a quoted fuel economy figure of 4.6l/100km on the combined cycle and emissions of 106g/km. While we couldn’t quite achieve this economy number, our testing used around 5.5l/100km of petrol. But even with more spirited driving the Insight shouldn’t get too far above 6.0l/100km."
For more information, visit Car and SUV New Zealand @ http://www.carandsuv.co.nz/articles/honda-insight-s-2011-road-test
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
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| Honda's 2011 Fit won Best Value and Best Used Small Car |
In other categories, the Honda Fit won Best Value for a Small Car along with Best Used Small Car, the Acura TSX 4-cyl won Best Value for Upscale Sedan, the Acura RL won Best Used Luxury Car, the Honda CR-V winning Best Used Compact SUV and the Ridgeline winning Best Used Pickup Truck.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
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| The 2011 Honda Insight's new entry-level model, LX |
Out of the 3 500 hybrids sold in 2010 in Taiwan, more than 60% were Lexus and Toyota hybrids. Honda says the imported Insight will cost around N$999 000 (US $33 300) making it less expensive than the Prius. Local dealers say they are confident that they are able to beat the Prius' yearly sales of 400. Dealers say they already have orders for 100 models and expected a total of 500 models to be on the roads by the end of this year.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
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| MagX illustration of the next Honda Insight |
The Insight was introduced in 2009 as a 2010 model.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"Don’t doubt it for a second, green motoring is the future. Even if your moral compass isn’t leading you to help minimise the relatively small impact that cars have in the greater scheme of carbon emissions, this week’s crude oil prices alone should inspire you to reduce your dependence on black gold.
Hybrid cars have been gaining ground as a credible interim solution and the new Honda Insight stakes a good claim for itself as the first true hybrid for the people and though hardly cheap at R259 990, it does undercut the Toyota Prius by more than 70 grand."
Visit the Motoring's website for the review: http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/road-tests/test-honda-s-hybrid-for-the-people-1.1011732
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
"In the original story introducing the Honda Insight to our long-term fleet, I had a bit of fun recounting that, when I first encountered the Clear Sky Blue hybrid, my knee-jerk response was "Ack, ack!" I couldn't think of a better way to greet this otherworldly automotive invader than in the mono-word language of Tim Burton's alien invaders from his classic "Mars Attacks!" (What? It's not a classic?)
But after 12 months and 19,591 miles living with Insight serial number JHMZE2H7XAS000078, the toughest questions we have aren't the usual worn sneakers about reliability and cost of ownership and so on. Strangely enough, it's its alienness. What started as a bit of fun has become the most serious question we have about the Insight. "
For more information, visit their website @ http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/oneyear/1102_2010_honda_insight_ex_verdict/index.html
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Honda will be a very busy company next year rolling out multiple new hybrid versions of its cars, following the CR-Z launch in the summer and more recently, the Fit Hybrid launch.
Honda is set to launch a hybrid version of its small minivan, the Freed along with a stretched wagon variant of the Fit Hybrid in order to meet domestic consumption of the vehicle. The stretched wagon variant will have the same front and have the back extended by about 2 inches. The Fit Hybrid wagon variant is expected in early spring 2011 with the hybrid Freed in fall 2011. There is also news that a major revamp is underway for Honda`s Insight model that was launched a couple of years ago as well as rumors that the Civic Hybrid may not be sold in Japan past this year because of the removal of the Civic nameplate from the Honda Japan lineup.
What are your thoughts? Think that Honda needs to bring these cars over to North America?
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Honda Insight Updates (UK)
By Ant Bradshaw
Honda has announced the pricing for its Insight hybrid, labelled the ‘cheapest hybrid on the road’ by the car maker.
UK pricing for the hybrid hatchback starts at £14,995 with Honda’s Affordable Driving offer and rises to £16,325 when the offer concludes at the end of December.
Generally, the Honda Insight has been left unchanged, however the Japanese firm has introduced a new trim level in the shape of the EX trim at the top of the range.
EX models will be finished with black leather upholstery throughout the interior which will also house a DVD enable satellite navigation system and a hands-free telephone.
More technology has been added in the form of rear-parking sensors for the five-door model, with Honda looking to make the cheap hybrid more refined than its predecessor.
Outside, the Insight has had two new finishes made available in the form of Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Red Pearl.
The high-end Insight EX models will be priced at £20,215.
The Honda Insight at entry-level is the cheapest hybrid on the market, undercutting the more established Toyota Prius and Toyota Auris models.
Also in the Honda hybrid line-up is the impressive CR-Z sports-coupe that recently scooped the Top Gear ‘Green Car of the Year’ award.
Ant Bradshaw is currently working for http://www.oneswoop.com/default.aspx>Oneswoop.com – a car price-comparison website. As well as providing up-to-date industry news and opinion the site lets users find the best deals available by comparing prices online. This means users can http://www.oneswoop.com/new/honda/insight/cars.aspx>compare Honda Insight prices online.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Honda's tweaked Insight model for 2011 has been launched in the UK. The new improvements include revised NVH areas and trim levels. With the current offers, the Insight is set to be priced at GBP14,995. The Insight now has a top trim level called the EX with leather seating, DVD sat nav and Bluetooth. Honda has adjusted the recoil rate of the springs, changed the rear camber angles, altered the V-shape rear suspension brace and adjusting mounts to improve handling and ride comfort. The ES models now come with updated interior soft surfaces and rear parking sensors standard, improved plastics, air vent chrome rings and silver finishing on the doors are also included with every 2011 Insight.
Two new colors have also debut, Dynamic Blue Pearl and Carnelian Blue Pearl.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Rumor has it that the 2011 Honda Insight will not be released in Canada pending the disastrous sales for the vehicle in the past 2 years since launch. Sales have paled so much in comparison to the Toyota Prius, Honda has attempted to woo buyers with a $4000 rebate on the vehicle (LX is priced at $25290, EX at $28590 with destination charges in Canada) but unfortunately sales did not pick up reasonably. No word on whether or not it will reappear in 2012.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Rumors are on the fly that Honda Canada is about to axe the Element for 2011 and the Civic Hybrid for 2011 and possibly even the Insight for 2011. The current design for the Element is on the way out with an uncertain future, the Civic Hybrid however will return for 2012 and the Insight is not selling well in Canada to meet expectations.
Time will tell if Honda chooses to axe the slow-selling products.
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