Spy photographers have captured the first images of Honda ’s all-new “Global Small Hybrid” mule. Designed to compete with the Toyota Prius , the new Honda will be a hybrid-only model that promises to be more fuel efficient and cost less than Toyota ’s Prius. The mule is covered with body panels from the Honda Airwave and Fit.
Details on the powertrain remain unclear but the new Honda hybrid is expected to have a base price of about $17,000 when it bows in 2009 as a 2010 model. Honda is planning on annual global sales of 200,000 units, with the U.S. market accounting for about half of those sales.
The new hybrid will be built in Suzuka, Japan.
