The New Jazz Hybrid to Join Honda's Green Team in 2011

It is not enough for the clever folks at Honda to be busying themselves with the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Clarity. While the car that many insiders feel could be a potential long term solution to clean, green and efficient motoring continues its trials in California, Honda has been developing a range of hybrid cars that are the next step in the important quest for environmentally-friendly driving.

Honda UK offers a range of three hybrid vehicles, all of which combine the innovative Honda design, the famed reliability of the Honda engine and the quality of the Honda build, with a set of green credentials that will have even the most sceptical anti-motoring environmentalist nodding their heads in sage approval.

The least expensive vehicle in Honda’s green range is the Insight. This car comes with a 1.3-litre hybrid engine as standard, does zero to 62mph in just 12.5 seconds and has a top speed of 113mph. Not the typical performance you would come to expect from a green car; and the Insight emits just 101 g/km of CO2 and can achieve a fuel efficiency of 64.2mpg. All this efficiency comes in a four-door, comfortable, mid-sized family vehicle, which comes with the Eco Assist system, allowing the motorist to drive the car in an efficient and environmentally-friendly way. In addition, the Insight boasts a range of other add-ons such as electric steering and windows, a CD player with MP3 compatibility and now an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

The second vehicle Honda has developed is the beautiful and elegant looking Civic saloon. Powered by a 1.4-litre hybrid engine that gives the performance of a 1.6 but the economy of a one-litre vehicle, the Civic comes with a host of accessories that make it the perfect choice for the executive who wants a reliable, affordable and cheap-to-run car that will not harm the environment. Given that the Civic reaches 62mph in just over 12 seconds and does 115mph, yet emits just 109 g/km of CO2 and achieves a fuel economy of 61.4mpg, the car not only delivers on all these criteria, but does so handsomely.

At present, the CR-Z is the third and final option for Honda customers seeking a hybrid vehicle. The newest model available is something of an enigma. Labelled as a sporty coupe, or hot-hatch, the CR-Z boasts an incredible 1.5-litre hybrid engine that not only gives the car outstanding sporting performance when necessary, but also comes with green credentials that mean the car is as forgiving on the environment as its two siblings.

Furthermore, each of the current range of Honda vehicles not only offers superb, cleaner motoring, lower running costs and a handy eight-year warranty, but all are currently at the zero rate of UK road tax under current government legislation.

However, before the keen, green-minded motorist rushes out to the nearest Honda dealership, they may just want to be made aware that Honda UK will soon unveil a fourth hybrid car into its range, and the new model is shaping up to be something special.

The new Honda Jazz Hybrid will be released in 2011. The new version of the car is a hybrid version of the popular Honda Jazz petrol engine vehicle that has been on sale and much-loved by the British car buying public for a number of years.

The news that Honda is releasing a UK version of the new Jazz Hybrid was greeted with delight by motorists and motor industry insiders. Many flocked to the Paris Motor Show in October for their first glimpse of the new green Honda car and they will not have been disappointed with what they saw.

Green was certainly the byword as the Honda Jazz Hybrid was unveiled in a brand new lime-green metallic livery, which only served to underline the more environmentally conscious direction the company is taking. Fortunately, for those considering the purchase of a new hybrid car in the future, it was not just the paint-job that was stunning.

While all the final details for the Jazz are still not all available, it has been confirmed that the car will come with a 1.3-litre hybrid engine, which will be managed by the reliable Honda IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system that is already installed on the Insight. It is the responsibility of the IMA to ensure that the car drives as efficiently as possible, switching between the petrol and electric motor drives on the vehicle to ensure economic, and thus greener, driving.

Just how efficient the vehicle is can be revealed by the results of tests on the new Jazz Hybrid. The car emitted just 104 g/km of CO2 during testing, second only to the Insight, and achieved a fuel economy of an outstanding 64.2mpg, according to the provisional figures released by Honda. The level of emissions, compared to engine size and vehicle size, will mean that the new Jazz Hybrid will probably only qualify for the £20 band of UK road tax under current legislation, meaning a huge saving each year for those currently paying considerably more for their petrol-burning vehicle.

Despite all this green technology and the installation of a second drive train, the Honda Jazz still boasts the major selling points that made the original petrol engine vehicle so popular. The interior is still spacious, with a high roof a real boon for taller drivers. The 'magic seats' system is retained in the hybrid vehicle and the boot remains a spacious 300 litres in volume, expandable to 831 litres when the 'magic seats' are stowed.

Furthermore, the bumpers, grille and badge have been redesigned to give a sleeker feel; the headlights and dials are blue-lit and the Jazz Hybrid will be the first Honda vehicle in Europe to have the option of being upholstered throughout in leather.

The new Honda Jazz Hybrid is due for release in the UK next year and seems certain to be a welcome addition to the Honda range of hybrid cars.