[Cartoday]
Honda will take the fight to the Toyota Prius with the unveiling of a compact five-door hatchback hybrid at this year’s Paris Auto Show.
According to a report from Edmunds the as yet unnamed newcomer has been labelled the ‘New Dedicated Hybrid Vehicle’ and is the first of four new hybrid models that Honda hopes will boost its hybrid sales to 500 000 units by 2012.
This car has been touted as an "entry-level" model that should undercut the price of the Toyota Prius as well as its fuel economy. Early indications suggest this model will return less than 4-litres/100 km from its smaller, lighter version of the Civic IMA’s 1,3-liter hybrid system coupled with a CVT transmission.
In its bid to correct the practicality woes of the Insight hybrid coupe, Honda will locate the nickel metal hydride battery pack beneath the rear floor. This five-passenger vehicle shares its curved profile with that of the FCX and will borrow a number of chassis components from the Jazz.
A production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe from last year's Tokyo show and is now due to arrive in early 2010. There will also be a replacement for the current Civic IMA Hybrid is expected to break cover in late 2010, while 2012 will see the introduction of a hybrid version of the Jazz.