Honda rejects hybrid power for SUVs

Last week, a Honda source told publication HybridCars that the automaker was working on hybrid versions of the Fit subcompact and CR-V crossover. Today, Edmunds -- citing a senior Honda executive -- says plans for a hybrid CR-V have been dropped. The source said the car company will not create a hybrid SUV to rival those from Toyota and Lexus because the lack of performance and added cost are too prohibitive to consumers. A person who spends an extra $7,000 on a CR-V hybrid is "never going to get that money back in fuel savings," the source said. The hybrid Fit will see production with the next generation model in 2007, but will not get the previously-rumored Insight engine. Honda will instead use the Civic-style IMA powerplant.