Environmental Technology Takes Center Stage at Paris Motor Show
This year's Paris motor show is showcasing the latest advancements in environmental technology, and Honda is at the forefront with its new Insight concept. Joining us on the Honda stand is Thomas Brachman from the company's European research and development center. Mr. Brachman will provide insight into the new Insight concept, which marks a significant departure from the traditional Honda Insight we've come to know.
The New Honda Insight Concept: A Second-Generation Hybrid
Thomas Brachman explains that the new Honda Insight concept is not a conventional Insight, but rather an evolution of the brand's hybrid strategy. The name "Insight" refers to the car's environmentally friendly credentials, and it aims to convey a sense of awareness about the importance of sustainability in the automotive industry. Shapewise, the new car bears a striking resemblance to the hydrogen-powered FCX fuel cell car, which is Honda's flagship eco-friendly vehicle.
The Reason Behind the Similar Design
Mr. Brachman reveals that the design similarity between the new Insight and the FCX was deliberate, as Honda wanted to emphasize its commitment to environmentally friendly technology. By using a similar shape for the hybrid model, Honda aims to create a sense of familiarity among consumers, making it easier for them to understand the benefits of an eco-friendly vehicle.
Honda's Sticking Point: IMA Hybrid Systems
Contrary to popular perception, Honda is not abandoning its first-generation IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid systems in favor of second-generation plug-in hybrids. Instead, Mr. Brachman clarifies that Honda is refining and improving the existing IMA system, which has already undergone significant enhancements over the years. The fifth generation of IMA technology is now being showcased in the new Insight concept.
The Plug-In Hybrid Hype: A Temporarily Settled Trend
While plug-in hybrids have been gaining popularity in recent years, Honda acknowledges that this trend may not be as widespread just yet. Mr. Brachman assures us that Honda is not dismissing plug-in hybrids entirely but is instead choosing to focus on the development and refinement of its existing IMA system before introducing new models.
Affordability: A Key Consideration for Honda
One of the most striking aspects of the new Insight concept is its affordability, with an estimated price tag of around £15,000. This makes it significantly cheaper than a Toyota Prius. Mr. Brachman attributes this cost-effectiveness to Honda's extensive experience in developing and producing hybrid systems, as well as careful consideration for cost reduction on components.
The Integrated Motor Assist System: A Key to Affordability
Honda credits its long-standing experience with the integrated motor assist system (IMAS) as a major factor in its ability to produce affordable hybrid vehicles. This system enables Honda to develop and produce high-quality motors at a reasonable price level, allowing the company to offer eco-friendly cars at a more accessible cost.
The Future of Environmental Technology
As we move forward in the automotive industry, it's clear that environmental technology will continue to play an increasingly important role. With the new Insight concept leading the way, Honda is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and provide consumers with affordable, eco-friendly options. As Mr. Brachman explains, Honda's commitment to environmentally friendly technology is unwavering, and its innovative approach will undoubtedly pave the way for a more sustainable future in the automotive sector.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enenvironmental technology is uh the flavor of this year's Paris motor show you join us on the Honda stand where we're looking at the new Honda Insight concept with me is Thomas brachman who's from Honda's European research and development center um Thomas you're going to tell us a bit about this new insight concept it's not a Honda Insight as we've come to know it yeah it's the Honda inside of the second generation we want to show the insights of Honda actually how our hybrid strategy will look like in the future and that's why we are leaning a little bit on the first car because shapewise it's pretty much similar and the new thing about this car is actually that's an affordable hybrid which should be in the direction of the very first inside which we offered 1999 can you explain to me why it looks so similar to the hydrogen car well it looks so similar to the hydrogen car because we want to make the people aware that this is a really environmentally friendly car so the FCX the fuel set car is our Flagship in our whole environmental lineup and so why not the hybrid to be quite similar to that and that's the reason why we have created this design on this car the car industry seems to have be in the middle of developing uh second generation plug-in Hybrids Honda is very much sticking to its uh first generation IMA hybrid systems why is that yeah actually we are con yeah we are sticking to our IMA concept but it's not the first generation actually it's now the fifth generation inside here because of lots of improvements but the plugin hybrid is a hype at the current moment yes we know know that but please allow us a certain development time until we can offer something very similar we are not wiping away the plug-in hybrid but just we have to make sure that the quality is right at the right time when the markets are ready as autar understands it it's going to be available in the UK uh next year from around 15,000 which is about £3,000 cheaper than a Toyota Prius um how is it that Honda can make hybrid cars so much more cheaply than Toyota can because of the system which we call the integrated motor assist system we have now long EXP experience um with our Motors and we can develop and produce them at a quite reasonable price level and also we have taken some consideration in terms of cost reduction on components and that makes us a yeah in the POS that gives us the position to offer a car an affordable level thas thank you very muchenvironmental technology is uh the flavor of this year's Paris motor show you join us on the Honda stand where we're looking at the new Honda Insight concept with me is Thomas brachman who's from Honda's European research and development center um Thomas you're going to tell us a bit about this new insight concept it's not a Honda Insight as we've come to know it yeah it's the Honda inside of the second generation we want to show the insights of Honda actually how our hybrid strategy will look like in the future and that's why we are leaning a little bit on the first car because shapewise it's pretty much similar and the new thing about this car is actually that's an affordable hybrid which should be in the direction of the very first inside which we offered 1999 can you explain to me why it looks so similar to the hydrogen car well it looks so similar to the hydrogen car because we want to make the people aware that this is a really environmentally friendly car so the FCX the fuel set car is our Flagship in our whole environmental lineup and so why not the hybrid to be quite similar to that and that's the reason why we have created this design on this car the car industry seems to have be in the middle of developing uh second generation plug-in Hybrids Honda is very much sticking to its uh first generation IMA hybrid systems why is that yeah actually we are con yeah we are sticking to our IMA concept but it's not the first generation actually it's now the fifth generation inside here because of lots of improvements but the plugin hybrid is a hype at the current moment yes we know know that but please allow us a certain development time until we can offer something very similar we are not wiping away the plug-in hybrid but just we have to make sure that the quality is right at the right time when the markets are ready as autar understands it it's going to be available in the UK uh next year from around 15,000 which is about £3,000 cheaper than a Toyota Prius um how is it that Honda can make hybrid cars so much more cheaply than Toyota can because of the system which we call the integrated motor assist system we have now long EXP experience um with our Motors and we can develop and produce them at a quite reasonable price level and also we have taken some consideration in terms of cost reduction on components and that makes us a yeah in the POS that gives us the position to offer a car an affordable level thas thank you very much\n"
