Honda plans to build hybrid version of Fit

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According to Hans Greimel writing for Automotive News, Honda has plans to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the popular Fit subcompact in 2010.

The car will be the fourth hybrid from Honda Motor Co. by 2015, as the automaker tries to keep pace with Toyota Motor Corp in the low-emission car race. The greener Fit will eliminate Honda's earlier skepticism about the viability of mounting pricey hybrid systems on small, low-priced cars that already get great mileage.

"The Fit has great fuel efficiency to begin with, and if you put in a hybrid, it's going to get even better," Fukui said while announcing the car at a mid-year news conference. "So with crude oil prices going up this much, I think a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense."

"We're not that interested in comparing ourselves with Toyota, but I don't think we're going to come in as second runner to them," Fukui pledged.