SA LAUNCH POSSIBLE THIS YEAR

+ Click to Enlarge MIDSIZE, LIGHT AND HYBRID-DRIVEN: Honda's new petrol/electric hybrid is already on sale in Japan, has beaten its initial sales target - and will come to SA.

February 17, 2009

Honda says demand for the Insight, the cheapest hybrid vehicle on the market, is soaring in Japan with orders "easily" topping its monthly target of 5000 in just about a week.

The car is expected in South Africa late 2009 or early 2010.

The Insight petrol-electric hybrid, which starts only at $21 000 (about R210 000), hit showrooms across Japan on February 6.

However, the launch of the cheapest hybrid vehicle came amid a devastating slump in the global auto market.

Honda spokesperson Natsuno Asanuma said: "This is so much better than expected. The Insight is energy efficient. We believe consumers like these aspects."

Even before the launch, Honda had received about 5000 orders for the Insight, Asanuma said.

The Insight will go on sale in April in the US and in March for Europe.

Honda's Insight is cheaper than Toyota Motor Corporation's Prius, the most popular hybrid, which sells for $22 000 in the US.

Hybrids tend to be more expensive than regular cars because they come with both a petrol engine and an electric motor.

Switching between the systems, depending on speed, reduces fuel consumption.

Toyota sold 285 700 Prius cars worldwide in 2008 and will introduce a remodelled Prius in May.

The new Prius is bigger, has a more powerful engine than the current one and is likely to be more expensive. - Sapa-AP