Honda has high hopes for new lower-cost hybrid

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (AFP) — Honda Motor expects a strong response to a lower-cost, five-door hybrid vehicle it will launch globally in April, a senior executive said Wednesday.

"We're targeting sales of 100,000 units of this new vehicle in North America," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president in charge of sales and marketing for American Honda Motor Co.

Honda will produce 200,000 units of the new hatchback in Japan. It will be launched on Earth Day, April 22.

Colliver would not disclose the vehicle's anticipated fuel economy or price but said it would be smaller and less expensive than Honda's Civic hybrid and rival Toyota's top-selling Prius.

But while Honda is expanding its production of hybrids, it considers fuel cell vehicles to be the...