Since the very beginning, one of the main goals at Honda has been to provide reliable, efficient transportation. The new 2010 Insight extends this objective into a new era of hybrid technology that is both affordable and accessible to everyone. To this end, the new Insight was designed to be a 5-door hybrid with high fuel economy [1], an accessible price, and superior value.

One of the ways Honda has been able to make this car so affordable is to leverage existing technologies that we have developed for and perfected in other models such as the Civic and the Fit. These include some engine and chassis components. To retain value while lowering costs also requires ingenious and imaginative engineering solutions. For that, we looked to our talented engineers—and the IMA^® system.

The engine is the heart, muscle and brain of any modern automobile and, rightfully, its the most valuable part. To develop an affordable hybrid, Honda engineers took on the formidable task of cutting the cost of the engine while retaining the reliability and performance Honda is known for. The Insight's new powerplant is the latest incarnation of the innovative Integrated Motor Assist IMA^® engine design. The cost-reduction measures applied to this new configuration include switching to a simpler 2-rocker cylinder head and a smaller, yet more powerful, battery pack, compared to the Civic Hybrid. The end result is an engine package that's lighter, which is very important because low weight and exceptional fuel efficiency [1] go hand-in-hand.

Because Honda engineers focused their cost-cutting measures on the engine, they were able to develop the rest of the car in a fashion that still manages to retain value and keep the price tag low. Then again, that's what Honda's always been about—providing more value, efficiency and performance for every dollar.