Honda's electric push hasn't gone as planned, with multiple EVs canceled over the past few months. The company is now shifting its focus to hybrids featuring improved combustion engines and electric motors. During a business briefing, two upcoming models were introduced, described as prototypes rather than concepts. The Honda sedan and Acura SUV are scheduled to go on sale within the next two years, with the US market being a key target.
Details remain slim, but we do know the cars will feature Honda's next-generation hybrid powertrain, designed to improve efficiency by more than 10 percent over the current technology. The sedan's design bears some resemblance to the now-canceled 0 Sedan, while the Acura has hints of the aborted RSX. Both look nearly production-ready but won't reach dealers until 2028.
View Price on AmazonHonda aims to launch 15 models with its new hybrid powertrain by March 2030, with the US getting the majority. Most of the new models will be SUVs, with all-wheel drive enabled by the electric motor. A new platform is currently in development, and engineers are working to reduce weight to improve fuel economy further. At the same time, costs are expected to drop by more than 30 percent. Honda claims that future hybrids launching from 2027 onward will benefit from the "world's most efficient powertrain."
The company will invest 4.4 trillion yen (nearly $28 billion) in upcoming gas and hybrid models within the next three years. During the same timeframe, Honda hopes to recover the losses incurred from canceling multiple EV models through a new wave of models across its two brands. Investments in purely electric cars will continue, albeit in a more measured way, with the company setting aside around 0.8 trillion yen (about $5 billion) to fund the development of future EVs.
Source: motor1.com
