Alright, this is more like it. The gas only Fit in America was criticized for not getting good enough mileage. And it wasn't incredible, to be sure. But this will have insight like mileage (almost) with a whole lot more versatility and practicality than the insight ever had. And it looks better. And it's cheap for a hybrid!

I just wish Honda would move away more from giving the gas engines so much priority in the hybrid equation. If it was 50/50 gas electric ratio, or something like that, instead of the 90/10 gas/electric that it is now (I'm guestimating here) it would get much better mileage, and even drive around on motor only for a good while cause it's not too terribly heavy. But their engines are what made Honda famous (they are excellent), and I think there is a bit of corporate pride involved here. Anyways, this is very refreshing to hear.

Would be great if they offered plug in & a second/third detacheable battery you could plug in in the back or hood as options on the vehicle, for extra electric mileage, assuming it has a big enough motor to drive solo electric for a while. Actually, why can't you just order a second battery anyways on hybrids and get an electrician to wire the two together in parallel for doubled range? (Besides cost, that is?)

Would also be great if they offered an electric only version with lithium ion/ultra caps in a few years--but now I'm dreaming. Maybe in a few years with clean diesel in North America we can get a diesel hybrid mix? Go Honda!

Honda has a 990cc engine already and its an award winner. The engine from the Honda Insight. Why not use that long with the newer hybrid system from the civic?

Current Honda IMA technology is not amenable to eletric only, at present. Perhaps the newest civic hybrid is to a small degree, but not sure on that one. The other vehicles from honda aren't for sure. Has to do with both the priority they give to the gasoline engine over the electric drive, but also because they are not seperate but joined at the hip, so to speak. The electic boost is not significant, considering what they could do, and especially if they would use technology such as Raser Tech's new AC induction motor technology to augment their own motor.

But companies don't seem to want to use other companies technology, unless they are desperate, even if the benefits would be stunning. More corporate pride again I think. I was hoping Honda would put seperate motors on the back wheels, or something like that, on the new Fit hybrid if it comes out. (But wouldnt' be surprised if they don't: people would say they copied Toyota. Corporate pride??)

Auto companies have offered different size internal combustion engines for decades, so yeah, the logical next step is to offer different size battery packs, different size elecric motots, and user adjustable programming to choose performance or economy. At the least, I believe that the latter will happen soon. Also would not be surprised to see the 2008 Prius as a Toyota provided PHEV.

cs1992:
good point

The current round of economy cars are heavier and more powerfull and safer but it seems like very little progress on MPG. Current emmission control takes a big hit on mpg too.

"The key thing here is that a hybrid will be truly affordable for the masses. From an economic perspective, there will be no reason not to buy a hybrid."

The Hyundai accent hybrid could help on that front too.

hey cs1992 put the two cars in a crash rating test and look at the results yourselfs. Sure it took this long but not without some progess, oh and Honda decided to add to pedestrian safety too so that adds more credit to Honda's "Safety for everyone".

i dont think a customizable(eg battery size/motor) hybrid would be coming out soon, its easier to mass produce the same car than to try+research+sell+support so many different stuff when this field is still that new.

if honda fit hybrid were to be announced tmr, i'll be the first to get it...the car itself is already nice, with hybrid, an additional advantage of saving fuel :P