Honda to Release Redesign Fit and New Prius Killer in 2009

Honda Motor Co. will launch a redesigned version of its popular Fit subcompact in the fall, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui said in Japan today in a speech updating the automaker's progress on its three-year strategic plan.

He confirmed that Honda would introduce a clean diesel engine to the U.S. market in 2009 that would meet emission standards in all 50 states, and he announced that the engine also would be marketed in Japan.

Fukui confirmed that Honda will roll out a dedicated hybrid model in 2009 that will cost less than the Honda Civic hybrid, which starts at $22,600.

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Will_ - 7/18/2007 11:40:05 AM

+1 Boost

Great, but send that Accord back to the design studio.

cktoo - 7/18/2007 1:37:58 PM

+2 Boost

Well, he's linking it to the new, dedicated hybrid coming out in 09. Whether or not it is a "Prius killer", is a little bit of hyperbole, but still has some truth to it...a la Fox News. Whereas there's almost no truth out of a "news" source like CNN, which it sounds like you would make a good candidate for.

w209w114 - 7/18/2007 5:08:36 PM

0 Boost

cktoo

People trust neutral CNN more than that right wing Fox News. Now theres media bias for you!

ceric - 7/18/2007 4:22:39 PM

+1 Boost

Honda is not going to compete with Toyota with full-line hybrid vehicles. Instead, Honda's strategy is
- Civic and below -> "hybridize"
- Accord and above -> "dieselize" (2.0L and 3.0L, Teir2-Bin5 50-state legal in 2009 as 2010 models).
Here is the link to the new diesel engine anouced in Japan.
http://response.jp/issue/2007/0718/article97008_1.html
Click on the picture to view enlarged one.

The new dedicated hybrid will be a 2-door that is smaller in size than Civic. It is most likely to be a compact or subcompact. Prius, on the other hand, is a mid-size.
The new dedicated hybrid is to be priced at $18k to $20k, while Prius starts with $21k (like Civic-Hybrid).

Htay7500 - 7/18/2007 4:26:57 PM

0 Boost

and tht is very determing.