MotorTrend: Comparison: 2010 Honda Insight vs 2010 Toyota Prius

Here's a little snipet of the article, btw, it's a really good read even if you're not thinking of buying one.

"But which is the more important hybrid? That leads us back to the issue of price. Although the Prius will eventually entail such far-reaching technologies as lithium batteries and possibly plug-in capability, that's in the future. Not now. And when these two go on sale, the price spread is likely to be at least $3000.

Starting at just over $20,000, the 41-mpg Insight is the first hybrid that's simultaneously within the reach of just about every pocketbook and also a solid business proposition for its builder. Amazingly, it delivers nearly identical mileage as the current Prius at about 85 percent of the price. The incremental value of 50 mpg versus 41 mpg -- whether you judge it by gasoline cost, greater national security, or CO2 reduction -- seems dwarfed by the benefit of its potential sales volume. It's a milestone that can't go unnoticed.

1ST PLACE HONDA INSIGHT

An imperfect car, loud and coarse-riding, and also perhaps the most important hybrid ever built.

2ND PLACE TOYOTA PRIUS

The world's best hybrid has become more solid and refined, yet has somehow upped its fuel economy as well. It's an engineering triumph for the textbooks.

Source;

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/112_0905_2010_honda_insight_vs_2010_toyota_prius_comparison_test/index.html

Toyota to Sell Older Prius Along with New (more expensive) Prius to Stay Competitive with HONDA

The new Prius is expected to be more expensive than the outgoing previous generation.

Here is the upcoming Honda Insight!

Toyota bosses are in for a real shock! That’s because pictures of the new Prius hybrid have been leaked. And that’s not the only scoop – Auto Express has details of a cut-price version of the petrol-electric model, too.

Surfacing on the Internet ahead of its launch next year, these images show how the new model evolves the look of the current car with a more distinctive front end. In profile it’s near identical, but the shape is tweaked to improve aerodynamics. The new Prius is slightly larger than the outgoing car, and has a more compact hybrid powertrain, so there will be extra space for passengers and in the boot.

Under the bonnet lies a more powerful 1.8-litre engine, which works in tandem with an uprated nickel hydride battery pack. It will help the car return 75mpg combined, and emit less than 100g/km of CO2.

The latest Toyota is expected to be more expensive than the outgoing model, starting from around £20,000. However, Auto Express has learned that bosses plan to keep the current Prius on sale – and to compete with Honda’s forthcoming Insight, it will be at a new low price.

The next Insight is tipped to weigh in at less than £15,000 when it arrives here in March – undercutting the Prius by at least £3,000 for now. So, Toyota aims to tempt buyers into showrooms by marketing the current version at around the same price as its rival.

Source;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/229797/secrets_out_on_new_prius.html

Pictures of the Next Gen Prius Leaked Online

And just for good measure I have put a pic below of the Next Gen Honda Insight Concept, and even though this is a concept, expect this to be a SHARP indication of what the production model will look like.
DETROIT — Exterior and interior images of the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius have been posted at Priuschat.com and subsequently snapped up around the blogosphere.

Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister on Thursday morning confirmed for Inside Line the authenticity of the images, and said they were "accidentally leaked." He added, "More details at the Detroit show."

The car's formal unveiling is slated for January at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The new Prius will face off against the Honda Insight, which was introduced last month at the Paris show and also goes on sale next year as a 2010 model. Look for the Insight to be priced from $2,000-$3,000 below the Prius.

The 2010 Prius will be fitted initially with nickel-metal-hydride batteries, but is expected to switch to lithium-ion batteries within a year or two. The car's four-cylinder gas engine is expected to get a modest bump in displacement, from 1.5 to 1.6 liters, with more power, but better fuel economy.

Inside Line says: Judging from the evolutionary styling of the new car, Toyota isn't about to mess with a winning formula. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent

Source;

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=133808#2