Hybrid Honda CR-Z coming February next year!

Honda has announced that the Honda CR-Z hybrid sports car will go on sale in February 2010 and the Honda Fit Hybrid will go on sale before the end of 2010. Both cars will use Honda’s current Integrated Motor Assist system which currently combines a 1.3 liter engine with an electric motor.

They’ve also revealed that a new hybrid system for mid to large vehicles is also under development. This is definitely important especially for the Acura brand, as its competitors have line-ups full of hybrids now, and Lexus even has a dedicated hybrid model called the HS250h.

The last hybrid system with a large engine that Honda had was found in the previous generation Honda Accord in the US. It combined a 14kW brushless electric motor and a 3.0 liter V6 with Variable Cylinder Management that allowed it to run on 3 cylinders out of 6. Like the smaller IMA system, it was a parallel hybrid system which means it could not run on electric motor only.