5 Paris Motor Show Originals

Back from the scrapheap of good-ideas-in-search-of-better-execution, the new Honda Insight has its sights set on the Toyota Prius.

At under $19,000, the five-door, five-passenger compact will be $3k less than the Prius and nearly $5k less than its housemate, the Civic Hybrid. The lower price was achieved by simplifying the hybrid system, dubbed the Integrated Motor Assist.

Still the Insight will come up roughly 4mpg shy of the Prius' industry-leading 46 combined mpg. Honda is betting that the under-$20k price tag will level the playing field. With a global annual sales goal of 200k units - half in the U.S. - it's a reasonable gamble for Honda.

The production version of the Insight will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January.