We'll see a hybrid Honda Fit about 18 months ahead of schedule because the company wants to capitalize on growing demand for fuel efficient low-emission vehicles.
Honda and Toyota are seeing big demand for their new hybrids, with Toyota receiving 80,000 orders for the new Prius and Honda selling 20,000 Insights since February. Eager to build on that success, Japan's No. 2 automaker will roll out a Fit hybrid by the third quarter of next year, Reuters reports, citing Nikkei business daily. Nikkei says the car will cost $15,800.
The Insight and gas-electric Fit are among four hybrids Honda plans to introduce by 2012, the others being a new Civic hybrid and the CR-Z sports car. There also are rumors that the replacement for the S2000 roadster could be an all-wheel-drive car with a kinetic energy recovery system, if not a hybrid drivetrain.
Last month the Insight became the first hybrid to top the best-seller list in Japan. You can see our review here.
Via Reuters.
Photo: Honda
