Spy Shots: New Honda hybrid mule spotted
A development mule for the new dedicated hybrid that Honda is due to release in 2009 has been spotted in the wild. The body of the test vehicle is built up from a Honda Airwave with the front of a Fit grafted on. The Airwave is a Japanese market wagon, but the prototype features a left hand drive interior in place of the usual JDM right hand drive setup. The new Global Small Hybrid, as it's been dubbed, is expected to have an all-new hybrid power-train to replace the current mild hybrid IMA system. Sales targets for the new car are 200,000 a year, with half of those going to the US market.[Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
blogged to death 2:16PM (9/26/2007)
Correct me if I'm wrong. Honda's IMA hybrid is not a "mild" version but a full fledged hybrid model. The "mild" hybrids are GM's green line things with alternators that also act as generators and have a battery pack.
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Joseph 8:19PM (9/26/2007)
That car better be only a test-bed for components, because it's not small, and it doesn't cool like an Insight.
(I'm aware that mules are supposed to be a test-bed for components.)
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mike 9:19PM (9/26/2007)
1) It's a wagon, which is good for me.
2) They plan to Beat Toyota's fuel Economy? Sounds very Positive.
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mike 9:19PM (9/26/2007)
3) If it's a wagon, will they offer a solar panel? that would be cool.
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Sam Abuelsamid 9:38PM (9/26/2007)
Blogged to death, the Honda IMA is a mild hybrid because it is not capable of running on electric power only. The motor is sandwiched between the engine and transmission like the Prius but the engine can't be decoupled. Although the packaging is different the functioning is pretty much the same as the GM mild hybrid. It provides start-stop functionality and a power boost to a smaller engine along with some regen braking, but no EV mode.
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