Honda are bringing the Honda CR-Z Hybrid to market next year, based on the CR-Z Concept from 2007
Honda has been trying to play catch-up with big rivals Toyota in the Hybrid car game. Despite their publicly aired views that they believe the future to be in Hydrogen Fuel Cell cars, they know that there is a big momentum with petrol hybrids, and they don’t want to lose out.
Honda’s first production Hybrid – the Honda Insight, recently called the worst car in the world – has not been a resounding success. True, it looks better than the Toyota Prius but – and we haven’t driven one yet so we can’t comment from our own experience – it’s not a great car. It has also been eclipsed – after a promising start – by the Toyota Prius, which has doubled its sales in Japan. But that hasn’t stopped Honda from ramping up its plans for more Hybrid models.
First up wil be the Honda CR-Z Hybrid sports, which will be closely based on the CR-Z Concept Honda showed the world back in 2007, and will feature Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) as in the Insight. Expected to offer 140bhp, the CR-Z Hybrid is concluding development in Europe before a public launch at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, before being released in Japan at the start of 2010.
Also on the cards for later in 2010 is Honda Fit Hybrid. The addition of the Fit Hybrid will bring to four the total of Honda Hybrids on sale in Japan – The Civic Hybrid, Insight Hybrid, CR-Z Hybrid and the Fit Hybrid.
There is also confirmation from Honda that it is currently developing a Hybrid system for larger cars, but has released no details as yet.
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