The first-generation (G1) Honda Insight was one of the greatest cars ever made. Built in the same factory, and derived from some of the same technology as the original Acura NSX, it was the first mass-produced hybrid released to the U.S. market. Available with a proper manual gearbox, and boasting the best drag coefficient and highest fuel economy of any production car for over a decade, the mass market misunderstood the G1 Insight—it was too much too soon.

Our mission in this episode is to unravel the story of the G1 Insight by subjecting its revolutionary design to a daunting test. We embark on a quest to locate Prometheus, the world's oldest tree, with just one tank of gas. Once the oldest known tree in the world, Prometheus met a tragic fate in 1964 when it was felled by graduate student Donald Currey. Our journey to find it would require us to cover nearly 700 miles on just over 10 gallons of gas, a true testament to the G1 Insight’s capabilities. Join us on this captivating adventure as we weave together the narratives of the G1 Insight and the Prometheus tree.

0:00 Cold Open
1:20 The Challenge
2:11 The Tragedy of the Prometheus Tree Stump
3:33 NSX Lineage
5:22 Insights to Insight
8:10 A Geologist's take
10:31 651 miles on one take of gas
12:38 The journey begins
13:41 Getting out of Denver
14:57 Drafting Nate
15:31 I-70
16:52 Trouble with the Motocampo
18:49 Going up Vail Pass
21:16 Morning in Mack Mesa
21:50 Back on I-70
23:29 San Raphael Swell
25:07 120 miles to the park
25:54 Final Leg
26:37 Wheeler Peak
27:38 And now the Hike
28:50 First Bristlecone Pine
30:03 The first marker
30:42 The second marker
31:17 Walking among giants
34:12 One one hand
35:25 Running on Empty - 810 miles, 74.4 mpg

Directed by Jeremy Heslup
© Valkyr
@glenshellyauto

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*All filming was done with permission of the National Park Service and in accordance with all rules and regulations. Mountaineering is dangerous, and we practice leave-no-trace ethics in the wilderness. We respectfully ask that you do the same.