Honda’s next hybrid may be called Insight

Honda is working on a new competitor for the successful Toyota Prius. Smaller than a Civic and with a unique five-door hatchback style will go on sale in America in the first half of 2009. It might revive the Insight name when it goes on sale.

The ’new Insight’ will adapt and repackage the Civic Hybrid’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) front-drive powertrain and first appear in public in concept form at this October’s Paris Auto Salon, ahead of its full official launch at the Detroit auto show in January.

Honda will produce not only a new Civic Hybrid, but also a version of its small, slinky CR-Z sports coupe concept seen at the 2007 Tokyo Show. Add this dedicated ’new Insight’ hatchback to the mix as well, plus a hybrid version of the next Fit, which may appear around 2013, and you have Honda’s new hybrid quartet and that fresh half a million-unit target.