Honda Hybrid Sports Car On the Way?

February 5, 2007 – Vol.11 No.46

HONDA HYBRID SPORTS CAR ON THE WAY?

Don’t get too excited. Don’t run to your dealership yet. Honda has just announced it will debut its Small Hybrid Sports Concept at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show in March. As its name clearly says, it’s just a concept. You can’t buy one. Yet anyway.

However, Honda does say that the car “represents Honda’s proposal for a future hybrid model.” So, that offers some hope and a bit of insight into Honda’s plans.

Speaking of Insight, it does make sense that Honda build a replacement for its first hybrid (the Insight) but one with a little more zap. Honda says that the concept is a “unique fusion of advanced hybrid technology and fun-to-drive sports car characteristics.” The Insight is efficient but is no sports car.

The Hybrid Sports Concept was developed at Honda’s R&D shops in Offenbach, Germany.

Honda will also be showing its fully drivable hydrogen fuel cell powered Honda FCX Concept. The swoopy sedan has a range of 350 miles (570 kilometers) and top speed limited to 100 miles per hour (160 kph).

Honda is planning limited sales of a NEW fuel cell model based on the FCX Concept that will begin in 2008 in Japan and the US. Honda is also showing off its next-gen clean diesels in Geneva. Those should be available within three years. (Expect US models then or soon after.)

Visit Honda World News at http://world.honda.com/worldnews/