Honda to show small global hybrid concept in September

Honda will show a concept version of its upcoming small global hybrid at the Paris Motor Show in September. Sources say that the concept is expected to provide a clear picture of the production model. The small hybrid-only model will hit European markets in spring 2009 with a starting price of €16,000 to €20,000, and will be introduced to the U.S. market in 2010.

Honda said that the unnamed model was designed and engineered from the ground up and will be better packaged and more efficient than its other cars that have been re-engineered to incorporate hybrid systems. The new Honda hybrid-only model will use an updated version of the Intelligent Motor Assist system found in the current Civic hybrid.

Initial production of the small global hybrid model is estimated to be 200,000 units a year, half of which will be sold in North America.

Honda is also working on an updated model of the Civic hybrid and third-model that will be based on the CR-Z concept.

“Around 2011, with those three models ready to go,” Honda’s CEO Fukui said, “we’ll be producing 400,000 to 500,000 hybrids a year.”

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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