Today Honda officially announced they will put the hybrid sportscar CR-Z Coupe and the hybrid version of the Fit model into production next year. CR-Z, which is based on the concept car sown in 2007 Tokyo Motorshow, would go on sale in Japan by Feburary 2010, while the Fit hybrid wouldn’t make it until year-end.
Both of this car will get Honda’s intelligent hybrid drivetrain called Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) which is already used in the Insight and Civic hybrid. This system is a combination of a small electric motor and an internal combustion engine, with a system which uses the wasted energy when you brake or decelerate, turn it into electricity and feed the electromotor with it.
In brief, characteristics of this system are compact size, light weight and high efficiency. Honda will definitely become one of the greenest automakers with these new model joining its range of cars, they are developing a new hybrid platform for mid- to large-size vehicles.
Both of these cars will go on sale in Japan first, but will make their way to other markets, U.S. included, shortly afterward.