Back in 2013 Honda discontinued the Insight due to poor sales and nearly two years after, cars were still sitting in dealer’s inventory. The main reason why this car failed is the way it looked, inside and out. The Insight was quite good to drive and quite fuel efficient as well, but the Prius had the better-known name and the more interesting design that was also more appealing. Well, it now seems that a new 2016 Honda Insight might be released at the end of the year and with few quite great upgrades. So far there isn’t much information’s about it, but Honda did say that they still want to make a true all hybrid vehicle. This would still be aimed at the Prius, but it would have to look a lot better than before.
Price and Release date
In fact, it seems that the new model of the Insight might be aiming the younger buyers. This means it would still have to be fun to drive and not just efficient. The car is going to use Honda’s new modular platform which debuted with the new Civic. Like the Civic, it will be lighter than most other competitors in its class, and it should also be more rigid. The price is still unknown but to be competitive, it will have to cost less than the Prius that starts from $26,675.
The actual release date will likely be closer to 2018 or 2019 even though the car should be revealed this year. We are expecting this delay because Honda is still working on their hybrid powertrains. In fact, they haven’t released anything new for some time and a new system would be what they need to get back out there.
Design
One of the most important features of the upcoming 2016 Honda Insight is going to be the way it looks. While the rather odd teardrop shape is likely still going to be used, this time around we might see something a bit crazier than before. Rumors suggest that Honda will be offering a much sleeker design that will bring lower stance, while the body will be wider and slightly shorter than before. This means that the car may end up being a hatchback rather than a sedan. The end result would perfectly fit Honda’s target market and it should make it a bit more different than the Prius. We only hope that they will take the best parts of their current lineup of cars to create something unique and interesting since we would love to see more competitors here.
The original had a very odd, but functional interior. This time around things are going to change, and the car should offer a nearly identical layout to the new Civic. Compared to previously available version it would be both easier to use and a lot more comfortable.
2016 Honda Insight Powertrain
The most important aspect of the future 2016 Honda Insight is going to be its engine. The original had to make use of a tiny hybrid system with very little power. Some things are going to stay the same such as the small petrol engine. However, it seems that this time around a 1.3-liter turbocharged inline four might be used. This should be capable of around 100 horsepower and with the help of an electric motor, it should be offering closer to 130 horsepower. The car will likely feature a lithium-ion battery pack as well as the newest electronics available. The result should be a car that will achieve more than 50 MPG on the highway. In fact, we are quite sure that Honda will be able to make it more efficient than the Prius or at least on a similar level. This is mostly because Toyota is not trying and they are bound to lose this round. To keep some of the original characteristics, a paddle-shifter controlled gearbox might still be offered with the new car but for achieving top fuel economy, Japanese car maker will bring the CVT.
