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As the first mass-produced gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle sold in the U.S., the Honda Insight remains America's
most fuel-efficient 2006 model year vehicle.
The 2006 Insight is available with either a 5-speed manual transmission or an advanced continuously variable automatic transmission
(CVT), achieving EPA city/highway fuel economy ratings of 60/66 and 57/56 mpg, respectively.
As the first of three hybrid vehicles offered by Honda, the Insight remains a favorite vehicle choice among customers seeking
cutting edge technology and industry leading fuel economy, and demonstrates Honda's long-standing commitment to technological
and environmental leadership.
The Insight employs Honda's unique Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system that couples a 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine with
a thin, lightweight electric motor for enhanced fuel economy and added power when accelerating. The system recaptures energy from
the car's momentum during braking and deceleration, with the electric motor acting as a generator that automatically recharges the
batteries so that it never needs to be plugged in.
The IMA system in the Insight also uses an "idle stop" feature that automatically turns off the engine when the car is not moving
to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and emissions. On models equipped with the CVT, the engine automatically restarts when the
driver's foot is removed from the brake, and on 5-speed models it restarts when first gear is engaged.
The Insight was designed from the ground up to deliver world-class fuel economy and ultra low emissions. This was accomplished in
part by using a lightweight, aerodynamic, aluminum-intensive body and chassis combination that delivers a low 0.25 coefficient of
drag, and contributes to a range of more than 500 miles on a single tank of gas.
An extensive number of features come as standard equipment on the Insight, including dual air bags, anti-lock brakes, electric
power steering, power windows and mirrors, power door locks with keyless entry, anti-theft Immobilizer system and available
automatic climate control.
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