Honda launches new hybrid vehicles

Honda has today announced it is to start producing a new generation of 'green' cars.

Both a lightweight, hybrid sports car and the FCX hydrogen fuel cell car will be produced, with a production version of the FCX making its debut next month.

Honda's president and chief executive, Takeo Fukui, today revealed the new production version will be unveiled at the Los Angeles motor-show during November.

This is in preparation for the vehicle going on sale across Japan and America in 2008.

The CR-Z concept car - a compact, lightweight sports car powered by a hybrid power train - will also enter production, with an expected launch date of 2009.

The ethos behind both vehicles is to take the environmentally friendlier attitude to a wider audience.

"Hybrids have always been seen as niche products, and hybrid car design has mostly been based around practicality and versatility," said John Kingston, environment manager at Honda (UK).

"The CR-Z concept looks stunning, and shows green cars can be sexy and exciting - but also minimise environmental impact.

"The fact that we will be producing cars like this - and the global hybrid - proves that hybrid cars are becoming key volume products within our range.

"All of this means that Honda will be selling over a quarter of a million hybrids a year by 2009."