Honda´s new eco-friendly Insight

Honda has launched a new eco-friendly hybrid, the car looks like the Toyota Prius but will cost less!

The new, high-tailed Honda Insight, named after the ultra-light hybrid coupe of a decade ago. The idea is to make hybrids more affordable than they have been, so more buyers will make the leap into the technology of the future. How has the Insight been made more affordable…? Mainly by making the hybrid parts simpler, lighter and smaller. More costs were saved by basing the suspension, steering and part of the structure on those of the new Jazz supermini, although the Insight is a bigger car.

If you´re driving economically, the background to the digital speedometer in the upper display is green. If you are wasteful with your fuel or brake to hard, the background turns through turquoise to blue. There´s more… five trees trunks occupy a lower display, and within 91.44m of setting off it will place leaves on these trees according to your light-footedness! If you´re gentle, all five trees will get two leaves each, which may drop off if your right foot gets heavier. Once the Insight stops, the engine stops too. Honda says the Insight gives genuine fuel economy.

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(Cape Times 3 Feb 2009)

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