Honda prices Insight at $20,470 [View All]

[DainBramaged]

That price includes shipping. The Insight is scheduled to go on sale March 24, said Dick Colliver, American Honda's executive vice president of sales.

The Insight's main competitor, the Toyota Prius, sells for a base list price of $22,720, including shipping.

Despite a weak economy, Honda aims to sell 90,000 units of the Insight in the United States in its first 12 months, said company spokesman Chris Martin.

The Insight has an EPA fuel efficiency rating of 40 mpg city/43 highway.

The Insight is the sole hybrid-only Honda vehicle. Honda sells hybrid and gasoline-powered versions of the Civic compact.

From 1999 to 2006, Honda produced a three-door hybrid called the Insight.

Honda dealers say they are excited about the new Insight.

"I think we will see pressure returning to get better miles per gallon and lower greenhouse emissions," said Peter Hoffman, president of Sierra Motor Co. in suburban Los Angeles. "The car is a great answer for those concerns, and I'm looking forward to seeing one."

Said Eric Kahn, owner of Friendly Honda in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.: "The key for the Insight is the pricing. There should be a price difference between the Insight and the competition."

Last year, Toyota sold 158,884 units of the Prius in the United States, down 12.3percent from 2007.

William Walton, manager of automobile product planning at American Honda, said the Insight's target buyers are single young professionals in their 20s.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090310/ANA05/903109989/1186