Clean-living Honda at Geneva

Monday, February 05, 2007

New hybrids, diesels and fuel-cell cars on display
Hybrid could be a successor to the Insight coupe
New diesel engine on sale within three years

Honda will unveil a petrol-electric coupe concept car at the Geneva motor show

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Honda is unveiling a package of clean technologies at the Geneva motor show next month, including a new coupe to succeed the petrol-electric Insight coupe.

Honda says its Small Hybrid Sports Concept displays 'a continued commitment to hybrid car technology'.

Honda has already announced that it will launch a hybrid-only range in 2008, but this is likely to be a more mainstream model along the lines of the Toyota Prius.

Although carbon dioxide is top of the agenda in environmental discussions, there are other emissions from cars that Honda is intent on reducing. It will unveil a new diesel engine at Geneva that can convert nitrous oxides into harmless nitrogen.

Honda's system uses ammonia generated within the catalytic converter to convert the nitrous oxides. Honda says this next-generation diesel engine, only the second it has developed in-house, will be on sale within three years.

The fuel-cell-powered FCX will also be on show for the first time in Europe. The hydrogen-fuelled car is a fully working design that will hit the roads in the US and Japan next year, but only in limited numbers and with specially selected customers.

In the meantime, Honda says it has decided to increase supply of the IMA hybrid version of the Civic. This year, 3000 of the cars are expected to be sold - three times the original number available.