Honda has announced that it will launch a new dedicated hybrid model in America in 2018, as part of its Electrification Initiative. The yet-unnamed model will be built in said country, and will employ a two-motor hybrid system as that found in the current Accord Hybrid.
In the D-segment car, the powertrain is made up of a 2.0 litre four-cylinder i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle petrol engine and a two-motor i-MMD hybrid system, but does not use a conventional transmission. Instead, it combines combustion and electric-energy conversion with fixed drive ratios to propel the car.
“Half of the all-new models Honda will launch in the United States in the coming two years will be electrified vehicles. In the long term, electrified vehicles are key to the future of carbon-free mobility,” said Takahiro Hachigo, president and CEO of Honda Motor.
Honda also announced it will expand the use of its two-motor hybrid powertrain from passenger cars to its light truck line-up in the future. In the US, light trucks include crossovers, SUVs, minivans, in addition to pick-up trucks. No candidates were mentioned here but the new CR-V and Odyssey appear to be highly likely recipients.
On another issue, the all-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of the Honda Clarity is set to make its debut later this year, after it was first announced back in 2016. Both will join the hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell, which is currently available through select California Honda dealers.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
What happen to Insight & CRZ?
Honda’s two motor hybrid system is one of the most ingenious system in the automotive market scape. Replacing the traditional gearbox for two electric motors, essentially is more of the ICE assisting the motors rather than the old IMA system that Honda use to have. The end result is that you have the insta-torque from the electric motor to move you about in low speed and when entering linear motorway cruising where the combustion engine performs at its most efficient, the 2.0l engine will re-engage with the wheels and conserve on the electric. A overall win win situation.
The only other company to have this system in production is Koenigsegg with the Ragera except the Ragera transition from EV to ICE is more linear rather than the Honda’s method where it switches to it when the car hits 6th gear crushing. Along with Nissan’s method for the Note-e, this is one of the few technology that I really love as it is advance yet priced in a way that is available to the majority of the masses.
Excellent comment AVH as always. Honda two-motor i-MMD hybrid system is indeed the best Hybrid system currently used by a mainstream car.
Is there a typo error in the last para – 6th gear “crushing”. Shalom & Cheers.
Bring back the CRZ… make it super efficient… sampai pump 2 litre boleh jalan sampai 800 km… then kita tak kisah petrol naik sampai RM4.50 per litre pada akhir tahun ini.
Love what AVH said but I not sure what he said… just love it!
Sum it all up
https://youtu.be/fmMb45PPrmg
Civic 1.5L Turbo Hybrid be something nice to have. If BMW can do it to the 330, then Honda can do it for the Civic.