Leakage: Honda Insight coming to Japan with Sporty Modulo trim
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Dec 29th 2008 at 10:28AM 
Click above for more shots of the leaked 2009 Honda Insight brochure
As is so often the case these days, some early details regarding Honda's upcoming Prius-fighter have leaked out before the hybrid's official unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show. Included among the surprises is a Modulo-trimmed Insight featuring a full set of body mods from Honda's accessory catalog in Japan. We can't be sure if any of those bits will come Stateside (we're not betting on it), but it wouldn't be surprising if we got three trim levels similar to what's slated to be available in Honda's home market of Japan. We could get a base DX trim along with an up-level LX edition and a sportier EX model with such tasty bits as a paddle-shifted CVT automatic transmission and navigation system with 7-inch screen.
With just 88 horses underhood along with an additional 14 from the hybrid's electric motor, don't expect the Insight to be a tire scorching performer, as its true calling with be in delivering the best fuel economy possible. In Japanese testing, the Insight has scored over 70 miles-per-gallon, which may be lower than what the Prius was able to register, but the Insight is also expected to cost several thousand dollars less than its rival.
[Sources: Temple of VTec, Insightman via Carscoop]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ASEVENSEE4 10:31AM (12/29/2008)
I hope this isn't the future for "sporty" hybrids.
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Kattleox 11:23AM (12/29/2008)
Sorry! It is the future for sporty hatchbacks, no doubt. You are looking at GTI MkVII.
Robert112 1:29PM (12/29/2008)
Make it a coupe, drop in a k20, and bring back the CRX si
John Johnson 10:35AM (12/29/2008)
Lose the WeatherGuard strips above the window and that thing is sexy.
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Eric Liberatore 12:17PM (12/29/2008)
Man why can't Toyota make their Prius front end look this good?
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kris 10:52AM (12/29/2008)
The door handles are so 1985. Even the freakin' Yaris has nicer ones.
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MajorGeek 10:57AM (12/29/2008)
Really? Thats all you have a comment on is the door handles in a blurry photo no closer then 20 feet away? I can't even see them clearly.
Anyhow, except for the Prius looking rear end, I dont see how anyone can dislike the design for what it is, a fuel efficient hybrid.
MikeW 11:12AM (12/29/2008)
Yeah they suck. Honda traded rescue safety & inclement weather door opening ability (got ice?) for a small aerodynamic advantage.
why not the LS2LS7? 10:46AM (12/29/2008)
Why does a low-performing (high mpg) hybrid need a paddle shifted gearbox? It's not going to be sporty no matter what you do.
This body kit looks okay, I don't know if I'd buy it, but at least it makes it look less like a Prius knock-off.
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mmstowes 10:58AM (12/29/2008)
Yeah...cuz you know...the Prius was sooo original looking....
And I'm glad you've driven the car to know what it's like....
MikeW 11:10AM (12/29/2008)
It still is a CVT transmission. It has 6:1 ratio spread
and Honda's D S L transmission selector positions suck.
Rick 10:48AM (12/29/2008)
So ugly...
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RG 10:51AM (12/29/2008)
I love it, you carefully design a car to have as slippery a shape as possible in order to improve mileage and then procees to tack on lips, vents and all sorts of other crap to make it LESS slippery.
AND while doing so you dont even address the dinky wheels- sure you change them, but only with more dinky wheels!!
Sounds counter intuitive if you ask me.
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Avinash machado 10:53AM (12/29/2008)
What about a Mugen package for the Insight? Will make it the first tuner hybrid car.
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Travis 10:53AM (12/29/2008)
CR-Z please?
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kris 11:03AM (12/29/2008)
What he said. The CR-Z is a genuinely sporty lookin' hybrid. I bet it could get 50 mpg w/ their off the shelf components. PLEASE Honda!
Mazda FTW! 10:54AM (12/29/2008)
That dashboard is way too confusing. Too many buttons and LEDs and circles and displays.
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500 10:54AM (12/29/2008)
Never noticed the Chevy Impala taillights on the new Insight. For comparison:
http://cars.about.com/od/chevrolet/ig/2007-Chevrolet-Impala-gallery/2007-Chevrolet-Impala-rear-vw.htm
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RyanL 12:22PM (12/29/2008)
The taillights are actually similar to that on the first generation Honda Insight, which appeared before the Impala model you linked.
http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jc/images/01insight_1.jpg
500 10:22PM (12/29/2008)
Not really, Ryan. The most distinctive features of both the Impala and the new Insight's taillights are the band of white at the bottom, aligned with the strip of chrome trim across the base of the trunklid, and the angular (not rounded) corners. The previous Insight had none of these features.
Not that I think Honda's committed any terrible crime here, it's just an interesting resemblance.