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Don Booker MBE drives
Honda’s new Insight
The Croft Autodrome in North East Yorkshire provided a rare motoring experience in 1999, testing the new Honda Insight on road and track.
It was a petrol-electric hybrid car which had low emissions at a time when drivers did not know what “emissions” were all about, but offered 83mpg.
The Insight was not only an odd looking car, but overall was an odd car. Anything that is powered by a battery, car or golf caddycar, have always been a designer’s problem, and on this car the battery was so big it occupied the two rear seats and part of the boot space.
In recent years we have heard much about “green” cars and one or two manufacturers, such as Toyota, have put them in the showroom, but at a price.
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Now Honda are offering their new Insight at about £15,000, making petrol-electric technology accessible to more people. I found it a practical five-door family car that was quiet and a delight to drive.
Combined, Honda claim 64.2mpg and I managed 65mpg. We writers had a competition and colleague Alan managed 70.9mpg, but he took a long time on the test route and he drove as though he was in a funeral procession.
The car has a unique system called Eco Assist which features a world first which helps control of the engine, transmission and other powertain components to give even better economy.
The colour of the speedometer changes to reveal one’s economy driving skill, and this makes it enjoyable for drivers to get more from the engine. The Insight operates with an electric motor sitting alongside a 1.3-litre 87bhp petrol engine. It is the electric unit that boosts the performance and reduces emissions and consumption at the same time.
Top speed is 113mph and 0-62mph comes in 12.5 seconds. Going back to the Eco Assist, graphic leaves grow on the screen as the driver learns and then implements a smooth driving style that boosts fuel economy.
It is a novel idea, because the display makes it easy and enjoyable to improve their skills at the wheel.
There is reduced road tax of £15, low company car tax and congestion charge exemption. So that’s an insight to the new Honda Insight.
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