Honda starts agency trawl for Euro launch of hybrid Insight

Honda is talking to agencies about the pan-European brief for the launch of its new Insight hybrid model. The car is due to go on sale next spring.

A spokesman for the manufacturer confirmed a brief had been completed and put out to tender, but was unable to provide further detailers. Chris Brown, Honda marketing manager, is leading the review from the company’s European headquarters in Reading.

Sources suggest that Honda has decided to talk to agencies to ensure that the launch campaign is “fresh and innovative”. It is not clear if Honda’s retained agency, Wieden & Kennedy has been invited to pitch for the brief.

Wieden & Kennedy has been the lead creative agency for Honda in the UK since 2002. It has created a series of famous ads for the Japanese car marque including Cog, where engineers at Honda constructed a machine made entirely out of car parts from the Honda Accord, and most recently devised a live TV ad showing skydivers jumping out of a plane and spelling out Honda.

A concept model of the new family hybrid was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in September and plans are on schedule for its launch in spring 2009.

A Honda spokesman says: “This latest Insight model will break new ground by providing an affordable hybrid for an expanded number of customers craving great fuel economy and great value.”