Honda's Answer to the Prius is... The Insight?

If you've been following the hybrid market, you know that the general consensus places a large amount of the credit for the success of the Prius to the fact that it is a Hybrid-only model. The fact that you can't get a non-hybrid Prius allows those that drive one to stand out, to be noticed for being different. That the little "Hybrid" tag on the back is insufficient advertisement that the driver is green/fuel thrifty/trendy/whatever. 

So it was only a matter of time before Honda launched it's Hybrid-only model.

So for a name they pick... The Insight? The name of that little underpowered go-kart that nobody bought because it embodied all the stereotypes of a Hybrid? Don't get me wrong, it's not that I think it was a bad car, it wasn't. It was ahead of it's time and would be more than sufficient for many people, and had they been bought in large numbers, the oil crunch wouldn't be so painful. 

But the fact of the matter is, not many people felt that way. That's why Honda did away with the original Insight. Why bring back a tainted name, when you're trying to make a statement, to define a brand strategy?

The actual release of the car is not until spring, so maybe Honda will reconsider the name. Let's hope.

This car will sell, regardless of it's previously tainted name.  First and foremost, it's supposed to be priced "significantly below hybrids available today". If Honda puts the price anywhere near, say the Civic, they may overtake the Prius in a few short years. Honda may be willing to make little or no profit on the car, at least in the beginning, simply to reclaim it's title as the Green Innovator. Considering the largest impediment to hybrid and electric cars is the relative cost of the battery systems, and that the economy of scale is simplest solution, this could radically change the car industry for the foreseeable future.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/04/autos/honda_insight/index.htm?postversion=2008090414