Hybrid CR-V cancelled, Fit Hybrid will not get Insight engine
Inside Line seems confident it has the real scoop on Honda's upcoming hybrids, or lack thereof in some cases. For one, IL claims Honda insiders have confirmed that there will not be a hybrid version of the next CR-V. A $7,000 premium for a hybrid version is cited as the reason for not producing one, though that sounds a bit high to us. Perhaps more enlightening is the claim that the Fit Hybrid will not get the Honda Insight's hybrid powerplant, but instead a modified version of the same Integrated Motor Assist hybrid powerplant currently used in the Civic. While the Fit Hybrid won't be here until the next gen car arrives in 2008, the premium for its presence will only be a scant $1,800 with fuel economy still expected to be in the mid 50-mpg range.
The original claim that the Fit would receive the Insight's engine and that there would be a CR-V hybrid came from HybridCars.com, which claimed its information also came from insiders within Honda. So we're not quite sure who to believe this time.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kamil 9:10AM (5/12/2006)
There will be a CRV hybrid, and there will be a Fit hybrid, but it will not use the old(er) drivetrain from the Insight, as hybrid technolgy has progressed from the original Insight design days.
It's Honda, they like to keep things simple.
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Michael Karesh 9:17AM (5/12/2006)
No one keeps a tighter lid on future product plans than Honda. Frequently there aren't even rumors of a new product until it's publicly introduced.
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Mike Homeniuk 9:35AM (5/12/2006)
Fit Hybrid makes great sense....max utility and max fuel economy for a modest price premium. If we are not to get a CR-V hybrid, can we please have the excellent CR-V diesel that's available overseas?
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Howard Kerr 11:11AM (5/12/2006)
Considering that the Civic Hybrid is about on a par trim-wise with the Civic EX, I don't understand where they come up with the $7000 difference in price. i guess there is something about the CR-V that would jack up the price.
I'm not surprised that they are NOT going to use the hybrid system now used in the Insight, it's kind of "old tech", even if the Insight gets THE best gas mileage of any car in the U.S.
When the Fit was first being considered for the U.S. there was a lot of speculation as to when it would arrive and which generation of car we would get. If the next gen. is going to arrive in '08, the current U.S. Fit will be one of the shortest lived models Honda has ever sold.
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Robert Aitchison 12:20PM (5/12/2006)
As for the CRV hybrid it's a no brainer, relatively lackluster sales of the Escape, RX & Highlaner (compared to the Prius & Civic) have demonstrated quite effectively that hybrid buyers want actual gas mileage, the CRV would suffer the same fate.
The fit is a good choice but what Honda needs to do is make an Odyssey hybrid, it's gas mileage would not be as good as a Civic or Prius but should be outstanding for a 7 passenger vehicle (high 30s/low 40s) and is a natural fit as the typical minivan buyer is already practicality & efficiency minded as opposed to the typical SUV buyer who is (alomost by definition) willing to sacrifice practicality & efficiency for an image.
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Keith 1:30PM (5/12/2006)
I am off the topic but I am surprised by the lack of sales of the new Honda Fit in Vancouver, BC.
There are plenty of new Toyota Yaris scooting about town. -Keith
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Andrew 1:18PM (12/18/2008)
I don't think it should come as any surprise to anyone that Honda will not put the Insight engine into the Fit. The Insight has a curb weight of 1847 lb, whereas the Fit weighs in at 2593 lb. The Insight engine in current form is already pokey, and watching an unimpressive power-to-weight fall even more would be downright impractical.
As for the positioning of the CR-V, it's lackluster 23/29 mpg could pretty impressively be improved to closer to 30/30 with an electric motor to pull up torque. It's a good idea, if not necessarily a good sell...
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Tina 6:14PM (7/07/2006)
The CRV has better ground clearance, head and hip room than the Civic Hybrid and Prius. Line of sight in all directions is much better than the Prius. It seems a no-brainer that a CRV Hybrid would be a hit if the mileage was in the high 30s- low 40s mpg range. Those of us in the over 50 set would love a small SUV hybrid that is easier to get in and out of.
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