Honda's First Hybrid Car Ready For December Sales

Honda’s first hybrid vehicle, Insight, goes on sale in U.S. showrooms this December. U.S. EPA rates the 2-passenger car’s efficiency as 70mpg in combined city and highway driving, and over 80mpg on the highway. Honda substituted aluminum for steel making the car 40 percent lighter, and equipped it with a catalytic converter that reduces emissions to 50 percent below Japanese regulations. It will cost under $20,000 and comes with antilock brakes, electric-power steering, dual air bags and
an anti-theft system.” Unfortunately, it is only available with manual transmission.
The Insight also makes use of re-generative braking which recharges the battery pack while reducing wear on the brakes.

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