Honda to develop hybrid system for larger cars

Honda has taken a big step towards developing a new hybrid system for larger cars, an indication that a finished product could be about three years away. Honda had originally planned to raise fuel efficiency in its bigger cars by using clean diesel technology, but abandoned that strategy in late 2008, switching instead to developing a hybrid system that can be mounted on larger cars, such as the Odyssey mini-van and the CR-V SUV. Honda R&D Chief Tomohiko Kawanabe declined to specify when the new hybrid system would be ready, but said it would be “roughly the same time frame” as the three years it takes on average to develop a new vehicle. Kawanabe said Honda is studying the development of a small diesel engine for Europe and India. (March 4, 2010)