Topic: Honda Fit Hybrid to chase Prius in Japan

[airbalancer]

Looks like there is going to be a hybrid war in Japan

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/06/honda-fit-hybrid-pricing-japan.php

Honda seems to have figured that if it isn't going to win the hybrid war on technology, it should at least try to win based on price. The first salvo was the Insight hybrid V2.0, which was about $3k less than the 3rd generation Toyota Prius, and the second on is coming soon under the shape of a hybridized Honda Fit which should sell for about 1.5 million Yen in Japan (that's about $16.5k in US dollars).

Will it NA shores ?

[initial_D]

Unfit to play here. 

[dr_spock]

Price wars are good, n'est-ce pas? 

[airbalancer]

Price wars are good, n'est-ce pas? 

I believe so, as long as it is not in my field

[johngenx]

$24,995CDN.

[The Mighty Duck]

I wonder if there's a point to these small hybrids. The regular Fit already gets pretty good mileage - how much can they really improve it by adding weight?

I guess we'll see...

[dr_spock]

I think you would be cutting down on car exhaust with them.   That might be good for people with breathing problems who are sensitive to smog in the big cities. 

[G35X]

“I wonder if there's a point to these small hybrids. The regular Fit already gets pretty good mileage - how much can they really improve it by adding weight? ” - Demosthenes X

Idling stop: Saves gas.
Low RPM torque boost: Improves performance.
Energy recovery: Saves gas and reduces brake wear.

I do not know how the public judge the benefits/cost of sub-compact hybrids.  But, Honda’s move is in the right direction.  Because of high cost and heavy weight of the NiMH battery, Honda cannot use the electric motor power more aggressively.  The industry expects the price of Li-ion battery to come down as low as $220/kWh by 2014-2015.  Then, Honda can use more powerful motor and higher capacity battery pack so that its hybrids can go on battery power alone for much longer distance with much better performance.  There is nothing wrong with the concept of IMA.  It is simple in construction and MT(and dual clutch) friendly.