It appears that the global car industry is undergoing transition as every major carmaker has launched initiatives to launch electric vehicles. At the recently held 2018 Consumer Electronics Show, there was a lot of talk about autonomous transportation and fuel-cell vehicles. And now, the 2018 Detroit Auto Show is making car enthusiasts witness the prototypes of upcoming electric vehicles.
A prototype of the third-generation Honda Insight will be hogging the spotlight at the show. Honda Insight is one of the first hybrid electric vehicles that were introduced in the global car market. The second generation Honda Insight was primarily positioned as an affordable hybrid electric vehicle that was cheaper than the Toyota Prius; its chief rival. However, the car was discontinued in 2015 and the model has seen waiting for a revival.
The future demand of electric vehicles has prompted Honda to relaunch Insight and the prototype of the 2019 Honda Insight clearly reveals that the vehicle has been endowed with a look on an upscale sedan.
New Look
The new Honda Insight might have been built on the platform of Honda Civic sedan but the car has a new framework and a different roofline for maximizing aerodynamic performance. The car will have an eight-inch touchscreen, full-digital instrument cluster and LED lights in the front as well as the rear. Additionally, the car houses the Honda Sensing active-safety features like traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking and road departure migration.
Engine
The 2019 Honda Insight is equipped with Honda’s two-motor hybrid powertrain that is found in hybrid versions of Honda Accord and Honda Clarity. The powertrain comprises of a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine along with a Lithium-ion battery pack. The car is expected to have a EPA fuel-economy rating of more than 50 MPG. Honda claims that the car’s fuel efficiency is comparable to rivals like the Toyota Prius and the Hyundai Ioniq.
Preparing for the future
In the coming years, Honda will be launching fuel-cell vehicles, battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles to meet stringent government regulations. Currently, Honda’s electric cars not available in Dubai and we might see the 2019 Honda Insight if there is market demand. Until then, enthusiastic customers will need to import the Honda Insight from abroad.
