2008 Honda Fit Hybrid to get Insight engine
Guess what happens to fit perfectly between the front wheels of a Honda Fit... the Honda Insight's hybrid powertrain. The distance between the front wheel hubs of both vehicles is identical, and a Honda insider confirmed to Bradley Berman of HybridCars.com that the Fit will arrive in 2007 with the Insight's hybrid drivetrain and the ability to achieve fuel economy in the low to mid-50 mpg range.
This is huge news as the Insight, which sells less than 100 units every month, has always been hampered for being an impractical two-seater. It soldiers on soley for the fact it allows Honda to maintain bragging rights for selling the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the U.S.
With 90 cubic feet of passenger volume and 21.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, the Fit Hybrid will be as practical and fuel-efficient as a Toyota Prius, but will likely cost between $15,000 and $17,000, substantially less than the Prius and even Honda's own Civic Hybrid.
[Source: HybridCars.com via TreeHugger.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
iQuack 2:49AM (5/06/2006)
Smart move and typical of Honda.
The FIT is a great car but I was surprised to discover when I sat in the Sport model that there was no seat height adjustment--a glaring omission.
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Robert Brodrecht 3:08AM (5/06/2006)
I'd like to quote the recent VW ads: "Holy Sh--"
Wow. Thank you, Honda. Can't wait to see how Toyota will respond with the Yaris. This could soon be a great time to buy a small car.
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Chris J 3:21AM (5/06/2006)
Gas prices will not go down, when have they fell and fell and fell? As India and China consume more daily, this trend with gas prices will continue to rise.
Europe is how the US is going to have to be, as far as smaller cars which are gas efficent, and luxury and SUV's for the rich who can afford gas at 4-5USD/gal
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naggs 3:31AM (5/06/2006)
its nice when a good plan comes together. hopefully the time is not too far off where american companies can say "hey look, our old hybrid system fits right in"
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Aegis 4:01AM (5/06/2006)
Most important thing is obviously price,
If they can price it around $16k it'll be amazing. If the Hybrid Fit can be priced around the base Civic it'll be the most competitive hybrid sold, and I'm sure that the average Joe that wants a economical car that wouldn't think about the buying a Prius, may give the hybrid Fit a thought.
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hermes 5:11AM (5/06/2006)
The price must be cheap, it will automatically stuck to the market
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Tim 5:33AM (5/06/2006)
No way is it going to cost between $15-17k, that's what the normal one costs. It'll be closer to $20k, probably more. A CVT Insight goes for $21.5k after all.
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Michael 6:11AM (5/06/2006)
Not much has been happening with the Insight for the past few years.
New Insights now use the same windshield wiper blades as the Civic and cruise control is finally available.
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Sheniferous 6:30AM (5/06/2006)
My guess? 18k. out the door for $20k.
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Mark Sumner 8:10AM (5/06/2006)
While it's nice that the Insight's drivetrain um, fits in a Fit, it'd be a shame if Honda actually uses that setup. The Insight's light hybrid configuration now looks particularly old school compared to the second generation Prius or Honda's latest hybrid arrangement in the Civic.
Give me a full hybrid in a car this size, and I'll be lined to buy -two- of them on the first day. (heck, give me some hint that they're going to leapfrog the field with a plug-in, and I'll put my money down today)
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Mad Scientist Matt 8:11AM (5/06/2006)
Anyone know if Honda raided the JDM Fit parts bin when they originally put together the Insight?
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Galley 8:20AM (5/06/2006)
That'll be just about the time I'm ready for a new car. If only my beloved Chrysler made a hybrid...
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David Thompson 9:00AM (5/06/2006)
Hopefully, it will come with a manual option like the Insight.
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Richard Warren 9:20AM (5/06/2006)
I'm not a big Honda fan, but the car makes sense.
While you're at it here is something to think about:
http://www.atomfilms.com/af/content/cant_afford_gas
Click on watch film, wait fot the end-----
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starlightmica 10:24AM (5/06/2006)
Insight costs a lot due to aluminum and fabrication techniques. Not cheap to build or repair, doubt the Fit parts bin was raided much to make the Insight.
Hybrids for us cheapskates who don't plan on taking one on the highway. Great! You have to sacrifice something for low cost, such as a full hybrid drivetrain, but no big deal.
US tax rebates would apply to those of us who aren't subject to AMT, probably good for several hundred bucks.
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Bigel 11:16AM (5/06/2006)
Being a 2-seater was not the biggest problem with the Insight.
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Clay 11:19AM (5/06/2006)
The way I see it, any new variation of a hybrid or AFV is a good thing, keep it up Honda!
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Ben 12:18PM (5/06/2006)
I really don't think hybrids are the answer. We really need the efficient smaller diesel engines that are widely available in Europe. After all, wouldn't you want a car that constantly gets 40-60+ mpg and will run for hundreds of thousands of miles? Add to that the growing biodiesel trend or even straight vegetable oil conversions, and our dependence on foreign oil is greatly reduced, I think.
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AutoFan 12:42PM (5/06/2006)
Starlightmica hits the nail on the head for the Insight's high price. And Honda probably took a hit on it at that price as well. The hybrid technology may be old, but it's also probably fully amortized by this point, so using it in the Fit will be more economical. that is, they'll be able to sell it for a lot less than they otherwise would.
Ben: What about diesel hybrids? Hybrid technology is really good, and there's no reason it can't work with a good moderen diesel setup.
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MikeW 2:23PM (5/06/2006)
Honda will have to stroke the 1 liter engine to about 1.2 liters because the Fit is 500-750 lbs heavier than the Insight.
The gas tank can not be shrunk, it is only ~11gallons.
So where will the battery go?
Lose the spare wheel? and go run flats, or Michelin PAX?
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