icantsee

Did Honda steal & copy the design from the Toyota Prius?

2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Honda Insight

Source: www.sfgate.com

Detroit Auto Show
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object...o_Show.DTL&o=0

[More Pictures] - 2010 Toyota Prius
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/2010-toyota-prius-detroit

[More Pictures] - 2010 Honda Insight
http://autos.aol.com/gallery/honda-insight-detroit

Source: www.aol.com

DISCLAIMER: I'm not affiliated w/ these companies...just passing information.

TJW98LS

iTrader: (1)

What the ****. What a rip off.

At least it's just the general Shape. I got to looking at the pictures and they didn't seem too similar.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

We've discussed this many times already. They look the same because they share the same basic shape. Just like how all trucks look alike, and same goes for SUVs. It's the smaller details that distinguishes one vehicle to another. This cheese-wedge shape isn't new at all. Honda had the CRX with the wedge shape, just not in sedan form.

RXSF

its the most aerodynamic shape possible for a car.

as for copying, i think honda needs to take back all those commercials where they taunted the "cheese wedge" shape of the prius

speedflex

I hate the styling of them both. Honda's original Insight was in no way attactive but they could have gone in any one of a dozen other directions than coming so close to the Prius and probably done better.

BrickHead

ugh, the Prius is sooo ugly

Koma

iTrader: (3)

Actually there are more aerodynamic shapes but this is probably the best for passenger cars.

Faymester

Don't like either of them (since they're the same and all) but I'm not buying one so it doesn't really matter to me. It's mostly the question of which one would I prefer to be passing (or in the worst case, stuck behind).

bruce van

I can't wait to read all about the comparison in the first shoot-out.

I'm thinking Toyota has the edge considering it's got a huge head start.

IS-SV

I guess Honda won't be calling the Prius the car that "looks like a cheese wedge" in their new commercials. I see they will be building their own cheese wedge.

-J-P-L-

True. Cars like a Veyron or Murcielago are most definitely more aerodynamic but they are able to be very low. A Prius is intended to be a practical family hauler and has to be much higher. Nevertheless, notice how the Prius and Insight have a similar shape to most exotics, just taller with 4 doors.

LexFather

The Prius is the most aerodynamic car. The Veyron and Murcelago need more downforce since they are high speed cars. They can overcome a higher cd. b/c they have so much power.

LexFather

LexFather

The only reason to buy the INsight over the Prius is b/c it will be cheaper by about 2 grand. The Insight also gets WORSE MPG than the OLD Prius. I compliment Honda for bringing a real hybrid like the Insight but they didn't try that hard.

RXSF

the prius has a much less offensive exterior and interior. the honda has that ugly smiley face like the new mazda 3, and the rear is just like the prius. the honda interior is overcrowded and that nav looks out of place.