August 17, 2008

Honda Prices New Hybrid Lower Than Prius

A top Honda executive recently told AP (via Newsday), that the company’s new gas-electric hybrid will cost less than Toyota’s Prius and will be launched in April 2009.

The new hybrid will be smaller than Honda’s Civic and will only be available with a hybrid powertrain, but it will also be priced lower than a hybrid gas-electric version of the Civic, Richard Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., told AP.

Colliver said the company is not trying to match Prius sales but wants to make the hybrid affordable to a new generation of buyers.

While no fuel economy figures have been released for Honda’s new hybrid, the Toyota Prius gets around 45 miles per gallon on the highway and 48 in the city.

In June, a Synovate survey showed that high fuel prices and concerns about the environment are influencing consumers’ consideration of hybrid-electric vehicles.

Earlier this year, Honda also announced plans to roll out a gas-electric hybrid version of its Fit sub-compact, pricing it a couple of thousand dollars more than its gas-only counterpart.

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