New Honda Insight Model Earns 57 MPG EPA City Rating

    TORRANCE, Calif., May 10 Just in time to help consumers
fight back against rising gas prices, a new version of Honda's fuel efficient
Insight gasoline-electric hybrid car is now arriving at dealerships nationwide
equipped with an advanced continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT),
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

    With EPA fuel economy ratings of 57 mpg in the city, 56 mpg highway and a
driving range of more than 500 miles, the Insight CVT is the most
fuel-efficient vehicle in America with an automatic transmission.  It is also
the second most fuel-efficient vehicle overall -- behind only the Insight
equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission with EPA ratings of 61 mpg city
and 68 mpg highway.  The Insight CVT carries a manufacturer's suggested retail
price of $21,180.

    The Insight CVT also meets California's Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
(SULEV) standard, the most stringent exhaust emissions standard in the world.

    The CVT is completely automatic and provides virtually an infinite range
of gear ratios for smooth and stepless shifting, combined with maximum
efficiency and performance.  These advantages make the CVT an ideal
transmission for the high-mileage Insight hybrid.

    The Insight CVT also has a unique "idle stop" feature, allowing consumers
to avoid wasting gas while waiting at red lights or idling in traffic.  The
engine automatically re-starts when the driver's foot is removed from the
brake pedal.

    The Insight features Honda's exclusive Integrated Motor Assist (IMA)
hybrid system that merges the world's lightest 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline
automobile engine with a thin and lightweight electric motor for improved
efficiency and added power when needed.

    The electric motor also acts as a generator during deceleration and
braking to recharge the IMA batteries.  The Insight's battery pack never needs
to be recharged by an external power source and, in fact, cannot be
"plugged in."

    The Insight has earned Four Star ratings in both frontal and side impact
crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The two-seat Insight features a lightweight, rigid and aerodynamic body
design.  It is made primarily of aluminum and its 0.25 coefficient of drag is
one of the lowest of any mass-produced automobiles in the world.

    There is an extensive list of standard equipment on the Insight CVT,
including anti-lock brakes, automatic air conditioning, electric power
steering, dual air bags, AM/FM stereo cassette, power windows and mirrors,
power door locks with keyless entry and an anti-theft immobilizer system.

    The Insight has earned numerous awards since it was introduced in late
1999 as the first gas-electric hybrid vehicle sold in the U.S.  The Sierra
Club presented its first ever "Environmental Engineering Award" to the Insight
and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recognized
the Insight with its top rating for 2001.

    Honda's CVT design was first introduced on the 1996 Civic HX and received
significant improvements for the introduction of the all-new 2001 Civic HX and
Civic GX natural gas vehicle, and the Insight CVT model.

    Honda has also announced plans to introduce the IMA hybrid technology to a
model in the Civic lineup beginning in Spring 2002.