Honda to Sell Low-Cost Hybrid Fit in 2007/2008?

[genjy]

Bargain price hybrid in works at Honda?
Automaker to sell fuel-sipping version of its Fit subcompact for about $12K - newspaper.

February 22, 2006; Posted: 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT)

TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co. plans to sell a low-cost hybrid car, a version of its popular Fit subcompact, a Japanese daily reported, signaling the auto maker's long-term commitment to the fuel-sipping powertrain.

Japan's third-biggest auto maker aims to sell the Fit hybrid as early as next year for around ¥1.4 million ($11,790), or about ¥200,000 more than the gasoline-only version, likely making it the world's first hybrid to cost less than ¥2 million ($16,840), the leading Japanese business daily said Wednesday.

The model could be launched in the business year starting April 2007 and would be sold globally, the paper said.


Full Article:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/02/22/...eut/index.html

[genjy]

I wouldn't be surprised if it were true because Toyota is committed to hybrid-izing every vehicle in its fleet, which includes the Yaris. If a Yaris Hybrid is in the pipeline, then a competitive Honda Fit Hybrid should be in the planning too.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by genjy

I wouldn't be surprised if it were true because Toyota is committed to hybrid-izing every vehicle in its fleet, which includes the Yaris. If a Yaris Hybrid is in the pipeline, then a competitive Honda Fit Hybrid should be in the planning too.

Honda seems to be ahead of the game on this one. Right now, Toyota doesn't seem to have any plans to put a hybrid in the Corolla, let alone the smaller Yaris. I think they are going to go with larger vehicles first and then go smaller-more money to be made. The Corolla and Yaris are probably last on Toyota's list. I'll bet the first small/cheap hybrid from Toyota will be a Scion, anyways.