Honda has already announced plans to increase its current hybrid lineup, but now Honda's President, Takeo Fukui has released even more info about the upcoming models.
The first new hybrid model that will be released will be Honda's Toyota Prius fighter. The model will feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system. It will be a 5-door hatchback, like the Prius and will seat five passengers. It's styling will draw cues from the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle that was unveiled at the LA Auto Show last fall. The yet to be named vehicle will launch in early 2009 and will be built in Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan. Honda expects global sales of the model to reach 200,000 units with 100,000 of those going to North America.
Honda is also working on a hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z sports car (think CR-X) that was unveiled next year. In addition Honda has also announced plans to introduce a hybrid version of its popular Fit.
Honda expects to sell 500,000 hybrid models worldwide combined (Civic, Fit, CR-Z and Prius-fighter) once all four models are up and going. The Fit hybrid will not be released until 2015. But the CR-Z based hybrid will launch before the Fit, right after the next Civic hybrid.
It's going to be interesting to see how Honda's Prius fighter stacks up against the all-new Prius that will be launching around the same time next year.
Related Stories:
All-New 2009 Honda Fit Hits New York
LA Auto Show: Honda Reveals the FCX Clarity...The Ultimate Green Car!
Honda CR-Z Concept Unveiled...Finally a Successor to the CR-X?
2010 Toyota Prius Will be Unveiled Next January...It's Going to be Bigger and More Powerful
PRESS RELEASE:
Honda Announces Additional Details on New Small Hybrid Vehicle
Honda today announced additional details regarding its new small hybrid scheduled for introduction in early 2009, as part of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. CEO Takeo Fukui's mid-year address. An official name and full product details will be announced later this year.
In addition to weight reduction, a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components will result in the most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. This dedicated hybrid vehicle will be offered as a 5-door hatchback with seating for five passengers and will employ an exterior design concept that evokes the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded IMA production line at Honda's Suzuka factory in Japan.
The new small gasoline/electric hybrid vehicle 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 this launch, Honda also plans to introduce another unique small hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z sports car first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show as well as a Fit hybrid model. Including the Civic Hybrid, these four hybrid vehicles are expected to reach combined annual global sales of approximately 500,000 units.
"Honda has been at the forefront of hybrid development since it first introduced the American public to hybrid technology with the Insight in 1999," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "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."
Featuring seating for five passengers, distinctive styling and high-value amenities, the new hybrid will present an appealing package. Taking advantage of reductions in the size of components, the battery and the internal processing unit will be positioned below the rear cargo area, allowing the hatchback design to provide adequate cargo space to meet the needs of a family. Additionally, various technologies, including a function to assist more fuel efficient driving, are being installed to achieve a further improvement of practical fuel efficiency. With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best value in its segment.
The new hybrid will be produced at a newly developed second IMA production line at Honda's Suzuka factory, which currently produces the Civic Hybrid. With the second line in operation and improvements in IMA production efficiency, hybrid production capacity at Suzuka will increase from 70,000 vehicles per year to approximately 250,000 units, with future expansion possible if needed.
Honda is committed to offering products with the highest environmental performance produced at factories with reduced environmental footprints. A leader in the development of cleaner, more fuel-efficient mobility products, Honda introduced the first low-emission vehicles; America's first gas/electric hybrid car, the Insight and the world's first EPA-certified hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, among other environmental achievements. In 2007, Honda was named "greenest automaker" by the Union of Concerned Scientists for the fourth straight time.
Comments (17)
'yet-to-be-named'
The new Honda Toyota Prius Fighter. Not bad...
Posted by dork retard | May 21, 2008 9:16 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 21:16
Hybrid wars.
Posted by Tim | May 21, 2008 9:45 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 21:45
I guess the 'Big 3' are going to sit this one out.
Posted by Tommy Boy | May 21, 2008 10:45 PM
Posted on May 21, 2008 22:45
last time i checked, the big 3 were: Toyota, Volkswagen and .....GM?
Posted by lowest iq | May 22, 2008 2:45 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 02:45
"big 3 were: Toyota, Volkswagen and .....GM"
Are you freaking joking?
The Big 3 are: Toyota, Honda and Nissan....who make money on every car they sell.
Posted by Noya | May 22, 2008 4:41 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 04:41
I'm all for healthy competition, more choices and all that, but do they really have to make their "Prius-fighter" look like another Prius?
Posted by Jimb | May 22, 2008 6:35 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 06:35
I agree with Jimb, do all hybrids have have to look like a mis-shapen hardboiled egg?
Posted by Jason | May 22, 2008 6:52 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 06:52
@ Noya,
you are right, in Japan
Posted by lowest iq | May 22, 2008 7:24 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 07:24
this is not a good sign i thaught with the honda clarity the hydrogen fuel cell vehicles where on the agenda at honda but it looks like they are milking the gas buying consummers for all they have before they go to a 100% green format.
Posted by dennisil | May 22, 2008 9:49 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 09:49
If your Fit already gets 30+mpg, do you really need a hybrid? With the cost of manufacturing and recycling the NiMh batteries, I can hardly see the merit in gaining ~7mpg.
Not only that, wait 7 years before bringing it to market? Smooth move.
And, yes. It does look like a red turd. Most hybrids do.
Posted by Rich | May 22, 2008 10:04 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 10:04
@ Dennisil
At a million dollars a copy it's hard to see fuel cell vehicles ever being common-place.
@ Rich
Honda was the first to market with a hybrid. It is also the most fuel efficient mass market vehicle ever released in the US. All the way back in 2000. They targeted no-frills commuter cars with super MPG though. Now they're hitting the real consumers who for some reason wany sedans even though they're single and have no friends. The Prius targeted the right thing, and thus Toyota won out.
Posted by Cheap Car Lover | May 22, 2008 11:14 AM
Posted on May 22, 2008 11:14
I can't wait for the CRZ.
It probably will be Honda that brings us a fun-to-drive, high-mileage, 2-seater. (again)
Posted by bubba551 | May 22, 2008 3:39 PM
Posted on May 22, 2008 15:39
"I agree with Jimb, do all hybrids have have to look like a mis-shapen hardboiled egg?"
This (alsong with skinny tires & certain wheels designs) give them a very effecient shape (Cd) to cut through the air with minimal drag = improving MPG.
Posted by Noya | May 22, 2008 6:29 PM
Posted on May 22, 2008 18:29
Hmmm... Where to start...
1) Who killed the mid-sized hybrid... HONDA, the Accord patents were bought by aliens who only want to invade the planet when it's carbon-dioxide poisoned (apparently, they're vegetarians)
2) @ Tommy Boy - 6 "real" hybrids announced this year by GM, 3 by Chrysler and 1 that has been sold at Ford dealerships for 3 years now, that's sitting it out. Oh, and I won't mention mild hybrids 'cuz I don't want to hear how $6K hybrids kick $1.5K hybrids butts when they get exactly the same highway mileage.
3) @ lowest iq - Close, maybe you're not the lowest, It's Toyota, GM and Ford, VW is 4th in terms of volume...
4) @ Noya - I bet you're close in terms of profit, but you don't really believe that Toyota makes money on Yaris, in America,do you? They make a calculated loss on every high mileage car so they can sell more V6 Camrys, Avalons, LS, GX and LX Lexi. I bet they don't make money on Prius, yet. But they do make a ton of money by making great cars people want, no question.
5) @ Jimb and Jason - get used to it, 35MPG (even as watered down as it is with the 2007 ratings as a base) will require better aerodynamics.
6) @ Dennisil - See 4) above, they can't lose that much money. I would like to see the technology work @ reasonable cost, let's hope someone (probably Honda, but GM is working on it, too) gets there soon.
7) @ Rich - better MPG is better always, given the other requirements are met. NiMH batteries can be recycled, at great expense and energy. Neither one may be economically sensible, which is what you probably meant. And the Insight really is a better super-mileage product, which suddenly makes me think (very nearly) all the Prius drivers are poseurs, oh, I already did...
8) @ Cheap Car Lover - Like that style, oh, I guess you knew that because I've totally ripped it off here.
9) @ bubba551 - That sounds like fun, hope it happens, not an oversized, overweight and overcomplex beast like most other Honda products of late.
Posted by ohnotagain | May 22, 2008 7:04 PM
Posted on May 22, 2008 19:04
@ ohnotagain
Yes, you did get the idea of what I meant. The eco-snobs who think they are actually saving the planet by driving a hybrid really need to pull their heads out of their collective asses. If any of you researches what is involved in mining the nickel and manuacturing the batteries for these little pompous ass-mobiles, you would most likely be surprised. I doubt any of the car manufacturers are really making a profit on these things, since they cost so much to design and build. The makers are attracting buyers by making them think they are helping save us all, when, in fact, they are not.
Posted by Rich | May 23, 2008 10:49 AM
Posted on May 23, 2008 10:49
It's nice that Honda has a plan for these cars, but 2015 for the Fit hybrid. Geez that's 7+ years away. Not much of a plan. If they had a real plan, the Insight would have already been replaced with something instead of stupid Accord hybrids.
Posted by Bob | May 24, 2008 3:15 PM
Posted on May 24, 2008 15:15
Hello,
I'm not sure what to think when presented with the statement that hybrids are SO much more expensive to manufacture. Toyota's Prius transmission is a 3 takeoff planetary gearset, (think, very early Ford), with magnetics controlled by a cheap laptop. Standard automatics are more complex. What impresses me is the small items...weight savings and aerodynamics.
North America needs to wise up, and put some money behind hybrid conversions, engine stop at idle, dynamic regenerative braking, and just plain smaller/lighter cars. Having just come back from Italy, I can say that just dropping the size, and weight of the average vehicle will do a lot to save money. Their fuel is above $8.00 per gallon. 33 years ago, when I was in college, I had a 4 door sedan that got 30mpg in town and 41 on the highway. Now I have a Toyota Matrix that gets 30mpg in town and 41 on the highway...But now it has air conditioning and a great stereo.
Progress!
Posted by Ed Hawke | July 2, 2008 11:36 AM
Posted on July 2, 2008 11:36