2019 Honda Insight Prototype To Premiere Next Week

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A prototype of the 2019 Honda Insight is set to premiere next week at Detroit Auto Show, and Honda has hopes that this new take on the hybrid will succeed where predecessors have failed.

A Troubled Brand

It was actually a bit of a shock when the 2019 Honda Insight was announced, because the previous models hadn’t performed well at all. This new iteration, however, is a bit of a departure from their previous models and the Japanese automaker is hoping that the changes resonate with customers. While previous marketing strategies have focused on the eco-efficiency of the car, the 2019 Honda Insight is designed as the simple upscale, five-seat sedan that the market has been clamoring for.

Perhaps the failings of the previous insight were due to the unconventional design and status as a rather niche line, but the 2019 Honda Insight is going back to basics with a traditional car with added hybrid functionality. It remains to be seen whether this business move will be a win for the manufacturer, but the vehicle has a lot to prove if it wants to shed the negative reputation of previous models.

2019 Honda Insight

The 2019 Honda Insight will pick up where the predecessor left off, but it will also serve to replace the Civic Hybrid – a brand we haven’t seen since 2015. With a lack of that Civic model, Honda doesn’t currently have a direct competitor to the popular Toyota Prius and Hyundia Ioniq. Hopefully with the 2019 Honda Insight, the company can capture a larger portion of the quickly growing market of hybrid and more efficient vehicles.

Although the value of launching a revamp of the Insight has been called into question, it appears as if Honda has hit the nail on the head with this upcoming phone. The design feels more like an Accord than it does a Civic, with a beautiful design that make it look like a truly premium vehicle.

Currently, we don’t know too much about the inner workings of the 2019 Honda Insight, and neither do we know its performance specifications. With the device being marketed as a hybrid, however, we’re expecting mileage and efficiency that exceeds that of a standard vehicle. The company has stated that the 2019 Honda Insight will feature an engine that functions as a generator under nearly all circumstances, delivering a city/highway EPA fuel economy rating of over 50 miles per gallon. This is an extremely efficient rating, and may start to give Toyota’s ever-popular Prius a run for its money.

As far as the actual comfort of the vehicle goes, there are a number of options to help make this premium-looking car a truly luxurious experience. The 2019 Honda Insight will be available with an 8-inch touchscreen “infotainment” system with customizable apps, alongside Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Just like some of the newer Accord and Odyssey models, the Insight features a system that allows WiFi-enabled over-the-air updates that will keep your software up to date with minimal hassle. Other options for the 2019 Honda Insight include perforated leather seats with both heating and cooling, as well as a multifunction 7-inch LCD around the gauges.

The Insight also features a number of advanced driver assist technologies, such as the standard auto-brake, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control with low speed follow capabilities, and a novel traffic sign recognition system. It appears that in addition to the luxurious looks and high-end interior, the 2018 Honda Insight will ship with some pretty impressive driver utilities that make staying safe on the road an easy and convenient task.

The controversial LaneWatch passenger-side blind-spot camera system will also be available on the higher-end models, but we’re not convinced that the tech is quite where it should be. Still, it’s a useful utility – when it works.

Pricing and Release Date

Pricing has not yet been revealed for the 2019 Honda Insight, but the manufacturer markets the device as a “premium compact above the Civic.” It’s clear that the automaker is taking the car in a more premium direction, so we expect that the vehicle will be in the $20000+ price range rather than the less expensive Civic’s place in the $10000+. With both the 2018 Prius and Ioniq starting in the mid $20000’s, it’s reasonable to think that Honda will follow suit with the upcoming release of the Insight.

The car is expected to arrive in dealers later this year, and will be the fifth new electrified vehicle that Honda has released in a single year. It seems as if Honda has a new commitment to bringing hybrid and electric vehicles to market. We’ll have to wait and see whether that strategy will pay off or lead to another failed Insight model.

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