We don’t think it looks like the Prius at all, says Honda regarding the design of the Insight

Nobuki Ebisawa, managing director at Honda R&D, denies allegations that the Honda Insight has mimicked the design of the Toyota Prius. Very recently, the new versions of both hybrid cars went on sale in Japan.

Ebisawa concedes that there may be similarities in the roofline and considerations for maximizing aerodynamics and placing the hybrid system of electric motor and petrol engine may make for similar styling in hybrids. However, the Insight actually has more similarities to Honda’s fuel-cell Clarity and the CRX. Honda’s approach to design has roots in the origins of the company, which he called “design DNA.”
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MSP6 - 8/13/2009 4:10:51 PM

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Definition of Denial:

Denial is a defense mechanism postulated by Sigmund Freud, in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence.

source : wikipedia

Camryman - 8/13/2009 5:56:21 PM

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MSP6
I agree with you on that. Honda knows that they designed basically a Pruis that gets lower mpg but with a sportier ride. I can't believe they are denying it. I do see alittle CRX in there though.

theoptimisticpessimist - 8/13/2009 7:30:29 PM

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I thought denial was a river in Egypt..........Sorry.

MSP6 - 8/13/2009 8:47:38 PM

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No, it's actually in Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's favorite spot for fishing...

Gambit - 8/13/2009 4:36:57 PM

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so many cars look the same nowadays it's rediculous anyway. the front looks like a civic/clarity, the back looks like their old CRX

rxh8me9000 - 8/13/2009 7:27:18 PM

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They really messed up with this car man. It could have been so much more. From the reviews it rides rough and is not sporty at all. It gets less mpg than the Prius and the looks could have been improved,but i do like the headlights.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 8/13/2009 7:32:48 PM

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Both the insight and clarity look like the Prius.

theoptimisticpessimist - 8/13/2009 8:00:48 PM

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This from the people that brought you the Acura shield.

henbmw - 8/13/2009 9:11:00 PM

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Aerodynamics kinda have to be mimicked, it's silly to blame Honda for that. Look at F1 cars, they are all similar - it's no different for high mileage cars.

Bmw8ter - 8/13/2009 10:55:45 PM

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Agreed. It's like people protesting how the Toyota IQ looks like a Smart car. No sh*t...that's what happens when you design a car for a niche car class.

truckman - 8/15/2009 3:30:53 AM

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The prius looks like a civic and the Honda looks like the Toyota.lol