Paris trigger for Honda's green fightback

Honda will seek to take the fight for the green vehicle high ground back to Toyota. Least that's the view of Honda Australia CEO and Managing Director, Yasuhide Mizuno.

And according to Mizuno, the trigger for the fight back is the new global hybrid set to debut at Paris Motor Show (more here).

One of the pioneers of hybrid mass production, Honda has lost the hybrid 'halo' to Toyota. Locally and around the world, the carmaker's sole hybrid offer, the Civic Hybrid, has lost the PR war and been overshadowed by Toyota's Prius, as well as other Toyota and Lexus models.

Due to be unveiled at Paris in early October, the maker's new global hybrid model is the opportunity the world's largest maker of four-stroke engines needs, insiders say.

"In terms of image, we have fallen behind in our green/hybrid strategy. Not only in Australia, but all over the world," a frank Mizuno told the Carsales Network in an exclusive interview in Melbourne last week.

"However at the end of this month, we will announce more details on a new global hybrid -- a small car. This is the trigger for us to cultivate the hybrid market again."

Mizuno revealed that Honda would not follow Toyota, but rather would continue to use its IMA 'mild' hybrid system.

"Our hybrid is different from Toyota's. Our direction has been Integrated Motor Assist. Basically our system is a petrol engine with hybrid assistance -- not separate hybrid and petrol engines. We cannot sacrifice drivability and the customers' enjoyment of driving.

"This time, however, our showcar focuses on being much more 'hybrid'," Mizuno revealed.

Just as diesel is a priority for the carmaker in medium to large sedan and SUV segments, Mizuno says hybrid will be Honda's mainstay in the small car arena. The local brand boss says Honda must produce more "reasonably priced" hybrids to approach the volumes it plans. That will be Honda's focus in the medium term, he contends, suggesting that future models must undercut the current $32,990 Civic Hybrid without the help of any government incentives.

In addition to the global hybrid and the Civic, he confirms Honda Australia is interested in a "small hybrid."

Though not confirmed for Australia yet, he says his team is also looking at the business case for Honda's soon-for-production CR-Z hybrid sports coupe, he stated (more here).

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