So they took over the hardware (engine) from the Insight Mk3 which is available in the US only (AFAIK) and de-tuned it from 151 hp/267 Nm to 109 hp/253 Nm. Not sure why but maybe because of road taxes in Europe.
I'm slightly disappointed by the mpg numbers though. A 3 cyl 1.2 or 1.3 liter engine would have shaved off a little bit more. But I understand that development costs are high.
4.5l/100 km is not that low, compared to a Toyota Yaris. Compared to a 1.3 CVT (ok, not available in the UK) I only see a difference of 18% (5.5 versus 4.5), not 30%.
But a low-end torque of 253 Nm should be quite fun to drive, even though it must really feel restricted at WOT. I was really hoping for 120-130 hp. My first question would be how to free up the ponnies and tune it to the power figures the Insight Mk3 offers.
Or to wait for another model with more hp.