A simple mod that Honda should do to update Insight
As gas prices increases, I think the demand for hybrids will increase, however the insight as it looks now, is ugly, mainly due to the rear covering of the wheels.
I quickly photoshopped a "concept" of what honda could make... I apologize for the crappy quality as I finished them in 20 min.
I love and prefer the Insight the way it looks now.
In fact if I had things my way I would have front wheel skirts have a solar cell covered body panels photelectric power glass for windows be plug in have a ~15 Mile EV only range.
But to each there own.
Most who want a convensional looking car will just get a civic or something.
Reminds me of my CRX and another car, perhaps a Supra?
That said, an Insight without rear covers is like a Zebra without stripes...just another small horse.
I have always liked cars and aeroplanes with smooth flowing lines. The covers are functional, futuristic, and distinctive.
If I were going to change the style I'd throw on a couple of NACA ducts ahead of the rear wheels, put the radiator in the rear, improve the airflow at the front of the car, install a power moon roof with high efficiency solar panels, and put 3 louvered plates for solar panels in the rear glass.
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Kip Munro
The laws of physics don't need changing, but rather our attitude and values. 72.8 LMPG
I love the looks of "your" car, and the white CRX/Insight mod. Maybe I'm closed-minded but I don't care if it would cost .1 mpg, I'd rather have the open rear wheels.
There's more to it than just taking off the skirts. Having the air flow can also cool some brake/motor parts which if left open might now run hotter. It's my experience that the car was made exactly the way it was designed, and changing it will throw out of sync other things.
If you really wanted, you could make the rear panels out of clear plexiglass with a non-stick surface on the inside. SHouldn't be a difficult project.
I find the rear wheel well covers to be quite cool
Gives the Insight a very futuristic retro look
The Honda salesman called it the George Jetson car
And the covers are integral to the smooth aerodynamics of the car.
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The Power Puff: 2006 MT Insight
54 lmpg
What we think, we become.
The rear skirts were the main visual thing that attracted me to this car in the first place. That and the crazy green color! In my ongoing unscientific polling of those who stop me to chat about the car, 70% love the color, 30% hate it, no middle ground. The rear skirts are what make our cars so unique.
Anyone ever thought about going the opposite direction on this--putting skirts on the FRONT wheels??! Can you photoshop THAT?!
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2000 Citrus 5Spd 75k miles. 65 LMPG. Pioneer CD w/Infinity 6.5 speakers.
Le Cardborde Modificatione de Winter. Best 100 mile roundtrip: 90.4mpg
Tires: 45 psi Fave thing about the car: its aura. Least fave thing: front license plate
Front spats? Too Nash Metropolitan... The front wheels would have to be too far in for turns to happen... or the spats would have to bulge out
But my ongoing Flux Capacitor project would turn the wheels into levitators so the front end wheel openings could also be enclosed (just when I start to make progress on the FC, however, I invariably run out of adult beverages, and the next morning I have to start from scratch...)
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Driving on down the road in my 2001 CVT, going "Boogety Boogety" ...and until avatars are provided, my car looks just like the original silver Insight on the header, above... =)
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A simple mod that Honda should do to update Insight
The front wheels would have to be too far in for turns to happen... or the spats would have to bulge out 
