Hybrid Honda Fit on the Way

[Matt Herring]

Read article below...due out fall of 2010...

Honda to roll out hybrid Fit in autumn 2010: report | Reuters

[Daox]

I'm not really sure why they'd hybridize the Fit... Sounds like it would only compete with the Insight (which is basically a hybrid Fit).

[SuperTrooper]

I believe the hybrid Fit will be JDM only. The rest of us will have to make do with the Insight.

[wolfraven]

Actually, the new Insight uses the Fit's engine and a few other components...so a Fit hybrid is merely them taking the electric motor and the trans and putting it back where they found it...but I forgot they were doing that lol!

[cfg83]

wolfraven -

Originally Posted by wolfraven

Actually, the new Insight uses the Fit's engine and a few other components...so a Fit hybrid is merely them taking the electric motor and the trans and putting it back where they found it...but I forgot they were doing that lol!

Ha ha, that makes a *lot* of sense. There were lots of rumors that the Fit would be used as the mule for a new super-cheap Honda hybrid.

For the USA, I can understand Honda doing the "Prius Thing" where the car is also an eco-statement. One complaint (that I read) of the Honda Civic/Accord hybrids was the lack of "status" associated with the cars because they didn't *look* like hybrids (hmmmm, that makes me wonder if an aero-pack option would have made a difference). The rest of the world loves the Fit, so why not offer a non-USA hybrid Fit?

CarloSW2

[stevet47]

From what I heard, Honda cancelled the plans for a US hybrid Fit a while back. As others have said, the insight is already on the Fit chassis, so it would pretty much be the same car.

[dremd]

Fit has more space than insight. Although Insight is very good . . . .
(I'm actually driving the Fit today.
It would be super cool as hybrid . . . . .

[wolfraven]

They haven't said anything at work about it, but generally Fits sell like hotcakes anyway...they DO sell aero kits for the newer Civics, but I've only seen one sell...and it's not all that impressive. The Fits that are on the lot now...are the only ones I've seen sit longer than it takes to get them PDI'd and detailed...so, we will see.

[RobertSmalls]

Honda just has to find room for the battery and related electronics, then offering a hybrid is as easy as offering a different engine option. That fact probably explains why carmakers are fond of promising that "six years from now, every car in our lineup will have a hybrid option".

If the Fit hybrid were to come out around $16-17k, that would space out the Fit, Insight, and Civic hybrids nicely in price. It would also spur Toyota to investigate dropping a Prius powertrain into a Yaris or iQ. :-D

[wolfraven]

I'll go look at the stickers today >.< But if I remember right (2nd hand info) the new Insight is less expensive than the Fit...and the Fits are the least expensive, but I'll let y'all know after work...I do know that he Civic battery pack costs $3400 alone, so...maybe it puts it up around that price range? I'll find out and let you guys know...