Honda Insight is back with an eye on the Toyota Prius

Honda is reintroducing its Insight hybrid car, a follow up to the earlier innovative but perhaps less-than-practical two-door vehicle from 1999. Although the company isn’t exactly known for being a styling pioneer — to their credit, at times, since their conservatism affords cars that age gracefully — the new Insight’s body shape is a shockingly flagrant rip of Toyota’s popular Prius hybrid. Perhaps Honda feels that they can swipe the Prius’ looks since Toyota swiped a large portion of the hybrid market away from the Insight in the first place.

Perhaps more exciting for fans of sporty cars, Honda is also moving forward with plans to produce the lovely CR-Z, a modern take on the popular CR-X two-door sports car but with a peppy new hybrid engine inside.

The new Insight should launch in 2009 (as a 2010 model year unit, presumably) for $18k — $3k less than a starter Prius.

Product Page [Honda.com via Earth2Tech.com]