Honda is hoping it can catch up to rival Toyota in hybrid sales by offering an extremely low-cost model in 2009. “The success of a small hybrid is based on offering it at an affordable price,” said U.S. Senior Vice President John Mendel in a recent speech on environmental issues. “Our R&D operations have taken on this challenge… and the new small hybrid vehicle will be launched in 2009… with a projected North American sales volume of 100-thousand units.” Recent reports have suggested the vehicle will get unique styling to differentiate it from any other Honda.
Mendel also reiterated the automaker’s plans to introduce a new 4-cylinder diesel engine for larger vehicles around the same time. He said Honda has “determined that hybrid technology is most effective in smaller displacement vehicles,” and diesels are more effective in larger cars and trucks.
As previously reported, the 2.2-liter diesel engine will be be offered for the Civic, Accord and CR-V.
He also said a V6 diesel engine is in the works, but there is currently no timetable for introducing such an engine.
