Honda: fuel economy "like a Smart car" for 4-pass 2009 dedicated hybrid

[MetroMPG]

In an article about the demise of the hybrid accord, executive VP of Honda Canada says:

In a couple of years, Honda will also launch an entirely new hybrid that is smaller than the Civic. The ideal is "to bring a hybrid to the market in a form that gives you the interior space of a compact vehicle, but in more affordable packaging," Mr. Miller said.


The new vehicle will hold four passengers, but have fuel consumption comparable to the two-passenger Smart car from Mercedes-Benz.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...ry/Technology/

Of course they don't say which version of the Smart - the 2008 gas, or current diesel

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[Bill in Houston]

I would hope that it would do BETTER than the Smart... It will be great to see what they come up with...

[SVOboy]

I've been talking about this thing forever (Since honda has), I guessed that's why they axed the accord, to make way.

[kickflipjr]

fit hybrid? or something else?

Well if it uses a similar engine to the insight it will have no problems beating the new smart.

[MetroMPG]

They axed the hybrid Accord because they'll be selling a diesel Accord in the next year or 2.

And I realized the news of the dedicated hybrid wasn't new, but this is the first mention I've read anywhere of its FE potential.

kick: it's supposed to be a brand new hybrid-only model, not a hybrid version of an existing model.

[SVOboy]

Oh yeah, the accord diesel, I forgot! Silly me. Any new news on that? The 2ndgen FCX comes out in new york and cali next year as well,

[GasSavers_Ryland]

I'm just waiting for them to make an updated N600, after all they started making the S2000 a few years back (hondas S360, S500 and S600 sports cars were little two seaters) and the Mini cooper seems to be a popular car (any one here?) so with the whole retro/mini car theam, I think it could work.

[budomove]

yeah, accord diesel is still slated for '09 last i heard.

[cfg83]

kickflipjr -

Originally Posted by kickflipjr

fit hybrid? or something else?

Well if it uses a similar engine to the insight it will have no problems beating the new smart.

A Fit Hybrid is what I thought when I read this. I heard that the next gen Fit would offer a "Working Joe's hybrid", aka more affordable. I heard that it would get the Honda Insight drivetrain. This was all rumor mill, of course. I probably read it here.

From what I hear, the Honda Fit is already "undersold" in the USA. I heard that Honda won't let the dealers jack up the price, so they don't like to sell it (no profit for them).

CarloSW2

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by cfg83

From what I hear, the Honda Fit is already "undersold" in the USA. I heard that Honda won't let the dealers jack up the price, so they don't like to sell it (no profit for them).

CarloSW2

That's what the dealer told me when i wanted to buy my Fit.