Overview

2006 Insight

As Canada's first gas-electric hybrid, the Insight pioneered an entirely new concept in driving and energy conservation.Coupling a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder engine with an electric motor that provides plenty of torque when you need it, the Insight is light-years beyond conventional cars – it gives you an unprecedented 1250-kilometre range on a single tank of gas. 

The sporty, fun-to-drive Insight makes owning a hybrid convenient. Like all Honda Hybrids, you never have to plug it in. When maintaining a steady speed, the electric motor stops and the gasoline engine takes care of moving you down the road. And as the charge indicator shows, the electric motor automatically begins to work as a generator, recharging the Integrated Motor Assist system (IMA) battery pack as needed.

Slow down, and the IMA system's electric motor becomes a generator. It recharges the hybrid's IMA system by recapturing kinetic energy, converting it into electrical current that flows back into the IMA battery pack. Here, the indicator displays a state of maximum charging. Under most conditions, an auto-idle stop feature automatically shuts off the Hybrid's gasoline engine when you stop, so gas consumption ceases. A special electric air-conditioning compressor and electric water pump handle cabin cooling and heating. Lift your foot off the brake, and the engine restarts automatically. 

The Insight is a Honda to the core – which means it's fun to drive, well-appointed and stylish. It's really the best of all possible worlds.

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