Finally, after all that talk about Honda’s Prius-fighter, the Japanese automaker has released the first photos of its all-new dedicated hybrid model that will bear the name Insight after Honda’s first hybrid model. Although the Japanese company has labeled the Insight as a concept car, don’t expect to see many differences on the production model that’s slated to go on sale globally in mid-2009. Clearly, the stylistic inspiration for the Insight was Honda’s fuel-cell powered FCX Clarity. As with all cars of this sort, the Insight’s design is more about aerodynamics and function than it is about style. We must say though that we we’re expecting something a bit more futuristic and adventurous from Honda.

The dedicated hybrid vehicle that will be offered as a 5-door hatchback with seating for five passengers is built on a newly developed platform. Power will come from an improved version of the Civic’s IMA hybrid drive system mated to a petrol engine, details of which will be announced at a later date.

The Japanese automaker’s engineers have mounted the compact control unit and the conventional nickel metal hybrid battery beneath the boot space to give the Insight both a low centre of gravity and the practicality of a conventionally powered hatchback

According to Honda, the Insight will benefit from a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components resulting in the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. Sources state that the Insight will be priced in the U.S. from around $18,000 undercutting the Prius by several thousands of dollars

“The original Honda Insight launched in 1999 was the pioneer of hybrid technology in Europe and remains an iconic symbol of Honda’s environmental innovation,” said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO. “This new Insight will also break new ground by providing an affordable hybrid to an expanded number of customers craving great fuel economy and great value.”

The new Insight will be built alongside the Civic Hybrid at Honda’s Suzuka factory in Japan which recently expanded its hybrid motor production line. The Insight will go on sale in Europe, Japan and North America during the first half of 2009.

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First Honda said it was going to press the reset button on its hybrid efforts and come out with something bolder than the Civic Hybrid. Then it laid out plans for a number of hybrids that would be priced considerably more aggressively than the Toyota Prius. One of the concepts, the funky CR-Z, has already got people abuzz.

More details have emerged about the first hybrid to appear, a 5-door hatch with unique styling that’s based on the Fit, but three inches taller and one inch wider. It will use the Civic Hybrid’s Integrated Motor Assist technology and mate that car’s 1.3-liter engine with 94 hp to a 15kW electric motor powered by a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. Fuel economy, according to insider predictions, will be somewhere around 71 - 82 miles per gallon, but that’s based on Japanese domestic use. Expect a drop for U.S. comparison.

Honda is considering a return to the name “Insight” for its first new hybrid, which we’re all for. The Insight was a brilliant little ride, and we never understood why Honda let it go. Though it was low on practicality with only two seats and not much storage, it was a purpose-built vehicle for big mpg numbers. This potential new Insight will be Honda’s global hybrid, and the company expects to sell 100,000 of them in the U.S. annually. Add this to the other three hybrids Honda is planning, and Honda’s hybrid future — assuming it delivers as promised — looks quite bright.

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