Honda has released the first official picture of the production-ready Insight Hybrid ahead of its worldwide premiere at the Detroit auto show in mid-January 2009. Not much has changed compared to the concept study that was shown in Paris this past October (click here for the gallery), meaning that if you found the prototype's styling somewhat dull and uninspired, then you're definitely not going to appreciate the further toned down appearance of the production version. Changes include a less sloppy roofline, smoothed out body creases, production headlamps and mirrors, a less aggressively styled front bumper as well as more-down-to-earth front grille and alloy wheel designs.

Underneath the sheetmetal, the five-passenger, five-door Insight will feature a mild hybrid powertrain which is essentially a development of the one found in the current Civic IMA combining an electric motor with a small displacement petrol engine and a CVT gearbox. This means that the Insight won't be able to run solely on electric power.

Honda supports that when the Insight goes on sale worldwide in the spring of 2009, it will be the most affordable hybrid car in the market. Even though has not been announced, Honda officials have said that the car will be priced around $18,000 to $19,000, significantly undercutting its arch rival, the Toyota Prius which begins from around $22,000

The Japanese firm expects to sell of 200,000 units of the Insight per year, with half of the sales coming from the North American markets.

HONDA INSIGHT CONCEPT STUDY