The Honda Insight Concept, making its North American debut at the LosAngeles Auto Show, provides a strong indication of the design and styling ofthe all-new gasoline-electric hybrid model from Honda.

Eco Assist combines multiple functions: the driver-activated ECON modethat optimizes control of the continuously variable transmission, engine andrelated powertrain components to conserve fuel; and a feedback function thatuses speedometer background color to provide real-time guidance onenvironmentally responsible driving. An economy scoring function furtherprovides feedback about current driving techniques, as well as feedback oncumulative, long-term driving style.

"Hybrid drivers enjoy trying to get the most fuel economy from theirvehicles," said Dan Bonawitz, vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc."The visual nature of Eco Assist is intended to help drivers improve theirefficient driving skills by making the hybrid experience more fun andrewarding."

Honda developed the powertrain control, driver guidance and driverfeedback functions of Eco Assist to help enhance real-world fuel economy. Inparticular, the scoring function provides cumulative, long-term feedbackthrough graphic 'leaves,' which grow over time as drivers learn and implementdriving practices that increase fuel economy.

Activated by a green "ECON" button on the instrument panel, ECON modeoptimizes control of the transmission, engine and other powertrain elements toconserve fuel. ECON mode also adjusts air conditioner operation, increases thepotential for engaging the idle stop feature sooner and increases batterycharging during regenerative braking.

The guidance function uses the speedometer background's color-changing,three-dimensional appearance to indicate fuel efficiency in real time.Fuel-saving activities like smooth acceleration and braking make the meterglow green. Somewhat less efficient driving makes the meter glow blue-green.Aggressive starts and stops that consume extra fuel make the meter glow blue.By observing the speedometer background's response to driving practices andseeking to achieve a consistently green color, drivers can receive assistancein developing driving habits that typically enhance fuel economy.

The scoring function provides feedback about current driving practices, aswell as cumulative, long-term feedback tracking progress. Located in thecenter of the instrument panel of the all-new Insight, the Multi-InformationDisplay offers drivers a selection of informational displays, including thescoring function, in which the number of 'leaves' displayed indicates thelevel of environmentally responsible driving performance. When the ignitionswitch is on, the display scores driving practices in real time. When theignition switch is turned off, the 'leaves' in the top line of the displayscore driving in the just completed cycle (startup to shutdown), while ahorizontal bar in the lower part of the display scores cumulative lifetimeperformance.

The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economyfigures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fueleconomy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take aninterest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term.

Going on sale in North America next spring, the all-new, purpose-builtInsight will come to market at a price significantly below that of hybridsavailable today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Insightwill advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a newgeneration of buyers.

With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the bestvalue in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will beproduced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka factoryin Japan.

The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units peryear -- approximately 100,000 in North America. Following the launch of thenew Insight, Honda also plans to introduce another unique sporty hybridvehicle based on the CR-Z, a concept car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo MotorShow.

The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as NorthAmerica's first gas-electric hybrid car. The original Insight was designedfrom the ground up to demonstrate the ultimate potential for fuel-economy in atwo-seater subcompact automobile.

A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobilityproducts, Honda was the first to market low-emission gasoline vehicles, agasoline-electric hybrid car in North America, and the world's firstEPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX. In 2007, Honda was named"greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourthstraight time.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of theInsight Concept and other Honda vehicles, please visithttp://www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available athttp://www.honda.com.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.