Honda is readjusting its electrification targets. Given the general slowdown of EV sales, the Japanese automaker is reallocating its efforts to further enhance its hybrid portfolio. It’s not that Honda isn’t doing enough as the company is one of the pioneers of hybrid powertrains, but greater demand for hybrid vehicles has increased dramatically.
Toshihiro Mibe, the current CEO of Honda Motor Company, hinted that 2027 will be a huge year for its hybridization efforts. The company is set to reveal an all-new e:HEV model that will feature the latest advances and innovations in the field of electrification.
The next-generation e:HEV platform will be simplified to just two, namely the mid-size series and small-size series. There’s also the goal of further improving efficiency by another 10%.
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So, what could be the first car to get the new e:HEV technology? Signs point towards the next-generation Honda Civic. How so, you ask? Read on.
The current Honda Civic was unveiled in 2021 for the 2022 model year. By 2027, the popular sedan and hatchback will be six years old by then. Five to six years old is the typical life cycle of the Civic, and 2027 might be the best time to roll it out.
If so, there’s a strong possibility of the future Civic e:HEV using the mid-size series given the product’s positioning. Presently, the model uses a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle engine mated to two electric motors.
Aside from the Civic, there might be another Honda model that could become the first recipient of the company’s next-generation e:HEV powertrains. The fifth-generation Honda Jazz has been around longer than the current Civic as it was launched in late 2019. That means it’s already entering sixth year in production and likely due for a full model change.
But whichever model gets redesigned first, e:HEV is the future of Honda. The company announced that it will roll out 13 all-new hybrid models starting in 2027. It also suggests that every major Honda product in the years that will follow will, at the very least, have a hybrid powertrain option.
