DEATH VALLEY, California — Spy photographers today snapped the first shots of the 2010 Honda Hybrid, a hybrid-only model that Honda has developed to go head to head with the dominating Toyota Prius. Honda's new prototype was caught running with a Toyota Prius and Honda's redesigned 2009 Civic Hybrid.Expected to be smaller than the current Honda Civic and Accord hybrids, the new Honda Hybrid will deliver greater fuel efficiency, and likely a lower price tag because of the more spartan content that is acceptable in the subcompact segment.The shape and packaging of this prototype is clearly Prius-inspired, but spy shooters on the scene say the new Honda Hybrid's overall size looks larger than Toyota's popular Prius.Expect to see the 2010 Honda Hybrid in showrooms by the end of next year.What this means to you: Honda finally has the Prius squarely in its crosshairs. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor