Honda’s green car strategy will see the automaker electrify 65 percent of its lineup by 2030 and to get there Honda is going to release several new electric models. While Honda in the past has failed to release a strong rival to the Prius, that could change this fall, since it’s being reported that Honda is going to reveal a new standalone hybrid model at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The new Honda standaone hybrid will rival the Prius and Hyundai Ioniq.
The new Honda standalone hybrid won’t be based on any current model in its lineup, but it’s not known if it will be a new hatchback similar to the old Insight or maybe a new crossover-like hybrid. The latter would probably find more interest, since sales of the Toyota Prius have dropped off and even Hyundai’s new Ioniq is being beat out by its Kia Niro crossover hybrid cousin. Either way, we’ll see what Honda has planned this fall.
Besides the new hybrid, Honda is also working on a CR-V hybrid, which will rival the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue hybrid models. There’s also a chance that the Honda Odyssey minivan could get a hybrid version as well, since it could borrow the Acura MDX hybrid’s powertrain.
While Honda hasn’t been very vocal about its plans for longer range electric vehicles, like the Chevy Bolt, the first one will reportedly arrive in China in 2019. Unfortunately the first true long range Honda EV is still a few years away.
Source: Car and Driver
