Twin Electric Motors and Lithium-ion Battery Pack
Canadian Auto Press

So why do Toyota, with its Camry Hybrid, Nissan, with its Altima Hybrid, Chevrolet, with its Malibu Hybrid, and Ford, with its Fusion Hybrid, offer midsize HEVs and Honda, the one that started it all with the initial Insight (the first production hybrid sold into North America), not have anything to offer hybrid buyers in the mid- to full-size segment?

2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

To be fair, the Japanese automaker tried with its Honda Accord Hybrid, but like every HEV but its Civic Hybrid, got it completely wrong for any significant market success. Rather than focus on fuel economy, that car proved electric assist can be utilized to enhance performance. It’s a formula that could have been successful if applied to its Acura TL, which rides on the Accord architecture and competes with the Lexus GS 450h, a car that enjoys some success despite the same performance-first principles, but with the more frugal Honda brand name, ultimately proved disastrous, leaving the midsize hybrid market open to all of its competitors.

Rather than bow out for good, Honda appears ready to retackle the midsize hybrid segment, according to Japan’s Nikkei daily newspaper. That publication is saying that Honda is developing its Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system to work with its midsize architecture, so it only makes sense that an Accord HEV is on the way.

The report adds that the new Honda drivetrain will use two pancake electric motors, the like the one used in the new Insight and Civic Hybrid, but more powerful, and electricity will be stored in a new Lithium-ion battery pack.

Honda may also want to reconsider its HEV naming strategy too, as Integrated Motor Assist doesn’t reflect the new hybrid system’s capability of running solely on electric power.

The Japanese newspaper targets 2011 as the start date with an HEV minivan as part of its midsize hybrid strategy. Before then we can expect the production version of the sporty new CR-Z Hybrid.