Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co. President, said in a report from the Automotive News that Honda has decided not to proceed with its plans to put clean diesel engines in its large cars. He cites the cost of clearing tough emissions regulations in the United States and Japan as the reason. The more cost-effective solution will be a modified or possibly new hybrid drive system which will instead become the future green drivetrain for big vehicles.
The big question here is whether he means "big vehicles" as SUVs and the Odyssey, or if that also includes a Honda Accord. You may remember when the current generation Accord came out, Honda decided not to produce a hybrid version and instead planned to come out with a diesel version (mainly because the Accord Hybrid was such an utter failure). Back in 2006, Honda said a diesel version of the Odyssey would be available in 2009.
Honda has not said when it will begin to offer a hybrid powertrain in its larger vehicles.
Is Honda now joining the race with Toyota to offer 10 new hybrid models by 2012?
I have to admit, a hybrid version of the Ridgeline's V6 would be very attractive.
Thanks, Automobile Magazine.
