Honda Motor Co will present its hybrid car at the Paris auto show next month. The car is expected to hit U.S. showrooms next April, the company said.

“The name Insight was chosen to denote Honda's ‘insight’ into a new era in which hybrid vehicles come within reach of most car buyers,” Honda Motor Co. said in its release. Honda actually had a previous generation of the Insight cars. It had two seats, had the highest fuel economy of any vehicle available in the U.S. at that time, but sold only 17,001 units from its launch in 1999 to 2006, when production ended. Its competitor, Prius, from Toyota, has sold more than 1 million since 1997 thus being the world’s number 1 hybrid car.

At an estimated price tag of $18,500, the new Honda Insight is set to compete at a much lower price point than any other hybrid on the market.

The car is primarily powered by the gasoline engine, with standard hybrid electric startup and acceleration duties. Electricity to power the electric motors is generated during braking and from the gasoline engine.

100,000 models are expected to be sold in North America only during one year and 200,000 worldwide.

Honda will have another hybrid option soon in the form of a sports-themed vehicle. The company did not announce when it plans to officially introduce it. Honda will also launch new hybrid versions of the Civic and Jazz.

The new Insight is expected to make its U.S. debut at the November 2008 Los Angeles motor show.