2011 Honda Jazz Hybrid, Cheapest Hybrid in Japan

Dubbed Fit Hybrid in its home market, the 2011 Honda Jazz Hybrid went on sale today in Japan with a starting price of 1.5 million yen (approximately $19,300 at the current exchange rate). This way, the hybrid version of the Fit is not only the most affordable of the entire Honda hybrid vehicle line-up, but is also the cheapest hybrid in Japan.

The Japanese manufacturer also revealed it expects to sell around 5,600 units a month. On the other hand, the home-market Honda Fit sales have surpassed the 1.5 million-unit mark at the end of September 2010, since the introduction of the first-generation model in June 2001, so the hybrid is expected to also be a successful selling model.

Global sales of the Fit model surpassed the 3.5 million-unit mark at the end of July 2010. While the automaker has no plans to offer the Honda Fit Hybrid in the United States, the hybrid model will go on sale in Europe in early 2011 as the Honda Jazz Hybrid.

Visually, the greener Fit will feature revised headlights with a blue surround, clear rear lights, new front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colors plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.

The Fit Hybrid uses the same technology used on the Insight and CR-Z. Even more, the carmaker transplanted the 1.3l i-VTEC engine found on the Insight. Combined with a CVT gearbox, in a parallel hybrid system, the Jazz promises a combined fuel consumption figure of 53 mpg (4.4 l/100km) and CO2 emissions of 104g/km.