4:11 pm, March 28, 2011
HONDA could be considering adding more hybrids to its current model range says the firm’s MD, David Hodgetts.
The Honda boss exclusively revealed to Car Dealer that the current four-door Civic hybrid hasn’t been a successful enough seller, so the firm might add the green technology to already popular models.
‘There is a possibility of having other cars in our range being available with a hybrid power-train,’ said Hodgetts.
‘We have a four-door Civic model with hybrid technology, but that has never a big-seller in Europe – the non-hybrid three and five door models are.’
If Honda introduced a hybrid version of its Accord saloon, the maker would be bringing new technology to an otherwise conservative sector. Hodgetts agreed, but added: ‘There’s a possibility with the Civic and with the Accord, but they wouldn’t be top-sellers merely a proportion of what we would sell.’
As revealed by Car Dealer last week, Honda UK is investigating bringing back the Type-R name but, certainly for the time being, the firm is concentrating on developing it’s hybrid range. ‘We know there’s a maker out there that sells hybrids at more expensive prices, but we feel we have the best range,’ said Hodgetts. ‘We will continue to make hybrid cars – from plug-in hybrids to electric cars.’
Hodgetts also revealed the maker will be selling a new diesel engine next year. ‘We will be introducing a new smaller diesel engine which will be here by the end of 2012,’ he said. ‘This engine is being specifically built for the European market and it is something which we are concentrating heavily on. We recognise that we have had a gap in the small diesel engine market for too long, and we haven’t be able to capitialise on this sector – this new engine will combat this.’
