The Japanese automaker, Honda, presented at Los Angeles Auto Show 2010, the electric version of their little Fit (known by the Europeans as Jazz) and a new plug-in hybrid propulsion platform designed for the medium and large vehicles. As you probably expected, the small electric city concept is called Honda Fit EV.

Honda Fit EV is scheduled to be launched in US and Japan for 2012, is said in a Honda press release. The date when this electric vehicle will hit the European market was not unveiled.

Fit EV Concept model is designed to satisfy the day-by-day needs of the people living in the big cities of the world and uses the same five-seats configuration of the Fit hatchback with petrol engine, a model known in Europe as Jazz. When will enter production, Honda Fit EV will be powered by a coaxial electric motor using lithium-ion battery. The electric city car will have an autonomy of around 100 miles and a top speed of 90 mph. The battery recharge can be made in 6 hours from a 230 – 240 V outlet.

The plug-in hybrid platform anticipates the next step Honda is set to make in the field, with two electric motors and a petrol engine, ready for launch in 2012.

The technology looks very much alike the one Toyota uses on their hybrid vehicles line-up, Prius and Auris HSD, because that the car’s propulsion system will work in three modes: electric, electric+gas and just gas.

Still, the difference between the Honda’s new hybrid drive train is that batteries can be recharged from an outlet, and Toyota’s technology not allowing this for the moment. Starting 2012 Toyota will also be able to sell plug-in cars, making the two hybrid drive trains equal in the eyes of the customers.

A technical difference is that Honda will use two electric motors, while Toyota uses only one.

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Honda Fit will make its world debut at Paris Motor Show in September this year, showing us Honda’s commitment to hybrid technology.

After the new member of the Fit family will be launched, the car will be the first hybrid car of the subcompact car segment. The IMA hybrid engine and the control system are the same as of the Insight and CR-Z hybrids, having the advantage of the high reliability proved by this important technology. With almost two decades of development and 10 years of sales, the IMA Honda system proved to be flexible and trusty technology – over half million vehicles that benefit from the low emissions and high fuel mileage combination are present on the roads.

The new model will have the same engine as the Honda Insight hybrid, 1.3-liter i-VTEC matted to a CVT transmission and an electric motor between the two, creating a parallel hybrid system. Just like the Insight and Civic models, Fit hybrid will be capable of running with an electric motor in certain conditions and at low speeds.

A big part of the practical character of the Fit hybrid model is owed to its hight, but despite it is taller than Insight, Honda Fit manages to keep the CO2 and fuel mileage at comparative levels.

Visually, Honda Fit Hybrid stands out by an improvement of the halogen headlights, new tail-lights, protection bumper and a revised hood, with chromed accents. The new hybrid will also be available in the existent range of body colors and can be personalized using Lime Green metallic.

The interior is also refreshed with a new look, the dashboard has one color, darker, contrasting with the blue light of the gauges and audio system. The new hybrid is available with leather seat covers, being the first time when this feature is available on a Fit model for Europe (Jazz). The prices of the Fit Hybrid will be announced in time, before the sales will begin.

Along with Fit Hybrid, Honda’s stand will display a special edition of the Civic model built for Europe, the 2011 Insight, CR-Z, the new Fit, CR-V, Accord and Accord Tourer, as well the motorcycles line-up, VFR1200F equipped with the V4 engine, and a PCX motor scooter, with low CO2 emissions and a 125cc engine.

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Honda is set to launch in October this year a hybrid version of their Fit model, on the Japanese domestic market. According to first informations, the small class car will become the cheapest hybrid model in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Honda will launch this fall, in Japan, the hybrid version of the Fit. There is no information about the fuel efficiency numbers, or about the CO2 emissions, but Honda Fit hybrid promises to become the cheapest hybrid car in Japan. At least this is what the Japanese automaker’s press release say, announcing a starting price of around $19,000 for their subcompact.

Being known that on the Japanese market the demand for hybrids is very high, Fit Hybrid is already announced as a notable success. Honda will probably bring the model in US too, most likely next year, the price for the subcompact hybrid starting probably around $25,000, almost $4,000 more than the most expensive petrol version.

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