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Honda Confirms Fit Hybrid - and a New Prius-Fighting Hybrid
TOKYO/TORRANCE, California — The Honda Fit will become even more fuel-efficient in the near future. The automaker on Wednesday announced plans to launch a hybrid version of the car in the early 2010s. At the same time, Honda spelled out more details regarding its all-new dedicated hybrid vehicle that will butt heads with Toyota's 2010 Prius.
"Honda will expand hybrid sales in the small class by introducing a new sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Fit Hybrid model," said Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor, in Tokyo. "Combined annual sales of these four hybrid models is expected to reach approximately 500,000 units [globally]."
The spike in crude oil prices convinced Honda that "a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense," Fukui told reporters during his 2008 midyear CEO forecast.
The gas-powered Fit is already one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles on U.S. roads. The EPA says a 2008 Fit equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine returns 27 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway. Presumably, a gas-electric hybrid version of the Fit would get even better fuel economy, although Honda has not issued any kind of fuel economy estimate.
Honda also detailed its all-new dedicated hybrid vehicle, which was already in the pipeline and poised to take on the formidable Toyota Prius. The new small hybrid is scheduled for introduction in early 2009, Honda confirmed. American Honda noted that "an official name and full product details will be announced later this year."
This hybrid vehicle will be a five-door hatchback with seating for five passengers. It "will employ an exterior design concept that evokes the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle," American Honda said in a statement. The Clarity has a signature wedge-shaped design that makes the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle stand out on the road. That car will begin lease sales in the U.S. in July.
Honda said this unnamed hybrid will have "expected annual global sales of 200,000 units per year — approximately 100,000 of which are bound for the North American market." Following the launch of its Prius fighter, Honda will introduce another small hybrid based on the CR-Z sports car, which was first shown in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.
Honda is touting its Prius fighter as affordable because of "a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist components." Fukui told reporters that the company's Prius fighter won't have next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, the batteries it will have are lighter and more powerful than the current nickel-metal hydride variety.
"These new advancements in Honda's technology and production systems will result in cost reductions that will allow us to make hybrid technology available to a whole new generation of buyers," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.
The Prius-fighting Honda hybrid will be built at Honda's Suzuka factory, which currently makes the Civic Hybrid.
What this means to you: Honda will be bringing you more hybrid choices in the near future to further ease your pain at the pump. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
"Honda will expand hybrid sales in the small class by introducing a new sporty hybrid based on the CR-Z, Civic Hybrid and the addition of a Fit Hybrid model," said Takeo Fukui, president and CEO of Honda Motor, in Tokyo. "Combined annual sales of these four hybrid models is expected to reach approximately 500,000 units [globally]."
The spike in crude oil prices convinced Honda that "a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense," Fukui told reporters during his 2008 midyear CEO forecast.
The gas-powered Fit is already one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles on U.S. roads. The EPA says a 2008 Fit equipped with a five-speed automatic transmission and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine returns 27 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway. Presumably, a gas-electric hybrid version of the Fit would get even better fuel economy, although Honda has not issued any kind of fuel economy estimate.
Honda also detailed its all-new dedicated hybrid vehicle, which was already in the pipeline and poised to take on the formidable Toyota Prius. The new small hybrid is scheduled for introduction in early 2009, Honda confirmed. American Honda noted that "an official name and full product details will be announced later this year."
This hybrid vehicle will be a five-door hatchback with seating for five passengers. It "will employ an exterior design concept that evokes the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle," American Honda said in a statement. The Clarity has a signature wedge-shaped design that makes the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle stand out on the road. That car will begin lease sales in the U.S. in July.
Honda said this unnamed hybrid will have "expected annual global sales of 200,000 units per year — approximately 100,000 of which are bound for the North American market." Following the launch of its Prius fighter, Honda will introduce another small hybrid based on the CR-Z sports car, which was first shown in concept form at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.
Honda is touting its Prius fighter as affordable because of "a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist components." Fukui told reporters that the company's Prius fighter won't have next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, the batteries it will have are lighter and more powerful than the current nickel-metal hydride variety.
"These new advancements in Honda's technology and production systems will result in cost reductions that will allow us to make hybrid technology available to a whole new generation of buyers," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.
The Prius-fighting Honda hybrid will be built at Honda's Suzuka factory, which currently makes the Civic Hybrid.
What this means to you: Honda will be bringing you more hybrid choices in the near future to further ease your pain at the pump. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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