Where have I seen that car before?

There’s more pictures at the link.

NEW HONDA HYBRID
Honda’s New Hybrid Prius-Fighter Caught Desert Testing, Listening To “Eye Of The Tiger”

No, it only looks like the Toyota Prius. The crafty car spies of KGP caught up again with the Honda engineering team in the hot desert sands out west. Just in the nick of time to take an exclusive first set of shots of Honda’s new Prius-fighting hybrid. We don’t know much about it other than we knew the boys from Honda had something in development to sit on top of Honda’s hybrid hierarchy — in the slot just above the 2009 Honda Civic hybrid sedan we saw earlier today. We also know it’ll be a global model. Otherwise, you’re on your own.

Honda Hybrid Heating Up In Summer Sun

We just caught Honda’s hybrid-only model that’s designed to take on the Toyota Prius. The shape and packaging of this prototype is clearly Prius-inspired, although the overall size looks larger than Toyota’s hybrid favorite. The test group consisted of a Toyota Prius, Honda’s facelifted Civic Hybrid, and this prototype, which is sure to be considered the top of Honda’s hybrid vehicle range.

So, what do we think? Well, it looks a bit like a bulked-up Prius. Maybe the Honda’s doing push-ups out there in the desert. However it’s gotten that big, we’re assuming because of the uncanny resemblance, it’ll help sales.

I think that someday we’ll find that the shape of the Prius was not so much of a design “statement” as nearly everyone in the media has made it out to be and it was really just a very, very efficient shape. Which isn’t to say every car will look like the Prius someday, just the really efficient ones.

Of course places like Japlopnik will still think Corvettes are cool and Prii look stupid. That’s easy when you expense your gas and drive loaners from car companies. Not so much if you’re the one footing the bill.