Honda is looking to sell a hybrid version of its Fit compact car, a Japanese newspaper reports.

According to the Nihon Keizai business paper, the Japanese carmaker wants to sell the car for around $11,800, which would make it the cheapest hybrid on the market. The hybrid version would be $1,700 more expensive than the regular Fit.

The car could go on sale as early as next year.

A Honda spokesman said the company has the ability to fit a hybrid system on most of its vehicles, but denied that it has made a decision on whether to convert the Fit.

The Nihon Keizai went on to say that Honda aims to reduce the weight of a hybrid by introducing a smaller motor and battery.

The Fit's one-litre petrol engine will run in conjunction with a hybrid unit that will cut emissions by saving on fuel consumption.

Meanwhile, Honda is looking to provide a family in Britain with the first certified fuel cell car in the country, to show that the technology is practical, according to the Times. This follows a similar successful scheme in California.


Ÿ Adfero Ltd