Despite taking a measured approach to its EV rollout, Honda's electrification plan is currently dead in the water. The automaker just reported its first annual loss since becoming a publicly traded company in 1957. Between economic uncertainty and wavering American interest in electric models, Honda is moving its eggs into the proverbial hybrid basket.
During its annual business update conference last night, Honda revealed a pair of prototype models that seem to hint at the next generation of the Accord sedan and the Acura RDX SUV. According to the automaker, the two prototypes are scheduled for global releases within the next two years.
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Simply tabbed as the Honda Hybrid Sedan Prototype and the Acura Hybrid SUV Prototype, the two models preview Honda's upcoming next-generation hybrid vehicles, which it will begin to release as early as 2027. Honda says the new hybrid system aims to reduce costs by more than 30 percent, while also improving fuel efficiency by more than 10 percent. Honda also says some of the efficiency gains can be tied to a newly developed electric all-wheel-drive unit, though Honda didn't share any specifications.
Last year, we got the chance to sample Honda's next-gen hybrid system in a prototype Civic. The automaker kept quiet about the nitty-gritty details, but it confirmed that both the combustion and electric systems are new. That means some variation of the 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder and more compact electric motors. There should be a new battery as well, which Honda said will be shared between compact and mid-size models as part of the effort to keep costs down.
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Along with the arrival of the new prototypes, Honda also announced plans to introduce 15 models globally within the next three years. Some will be updates to existing nameplates, while others will be entirely new models, the company announced.
While Honda's multi-billion-dollar bet on its 0-series didn't pan out, the company isn't planning to let all that investment go to waste. Instead, Honda is planning to repurpose some of the architectures and components from the 0-series in the upcoming hybrids, said Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe. The automaker will also direct its Ohio-based assembly plant to dedicate all surplus capacity to internal-combustion and hybrid vehicles, while all of its North American facilities will be tooled to produce hybrid models.
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
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