Dramatic shifts in currency values are putting Honda UK under pressure over a plan to usher in a new era in hybrid motoring.

After heralding its next-generation Insight as the breakthrough in ‘affordable’ petrol-electric mobility, officials have admitted that the model will be more expensive than they expected when it reaches showrooms in April.

The C-sector five-door car is now likely to start at £15,000, rather than the £14,000 original figure.

“We have been dealt a double blow by huge changes in the value of sterling and the yen, plus steep increases in the cost of raw materials,” said company spokesman Paul Ormond.
Final pricing will be confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. 

Despite that hiccup and the recession, Ormond claims the corporate sector, which is expected to account for 65% of the 8,000 examples Honda hopes to register this year, is showing strong interest in the new car.