Contrary to what has been reported elsewhere, the Fit hybrid will not get the three-cylinder Insight hybrid engine, which is already more than six years old, a senior Honda source told IL. Instead, Honda will adapt the Civic-style IMA hybrid for Fit duty.
The buzz in Tokyo is that the Fit hybrid will be only about $1,800 more expensive than the regular gas version — which is less than half the premium buyers are paying for hybrids right now.
For 2008, the Honda Fit inherits the hybrid package that formed the underpinnings of the Insight, the first hybrid sold in America and loved for its 60-mpg estimated fuel mileage--but not its two-seater status. The Fit Hybrid is expected to make a splash in the hybrid market since it's expected to sell for around $16,500, making it the most affordable hybrid on the market.
The original story in 2006 suggested that the Fit would use the Honda Insight drivetrain. The wheel-hub to wheel-hub dimensions of the Fit and Insight are nearly identical. The Honda Fit would become a more practical four-door version of the Insight—which had stellar fuel efficiency in the 60s, but only two seats. The Insight was discontinued in 2006.
The current conventional Fit consists of models with engine displacements ranging between 1.3 and 1.5 liters.For the hybrid version, Honda reportedly is developing a 1-liter-class engine.
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