Honda Jazz Hybrid

It’s time to jazz it up a bit with the new Honda Jazz. The hybrid hatchback will make its first debut at the Paris Motor Show and will be going on sale in the UK in early 2011.

Under the hood there is the same powertrain as in the Insight hybrid; a 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine combined with a CVT gearbox, with an electric motor smack dab in the middle of the two to create a parallel hybrid system.

The hybrid version will be distinguished from the standard Jazz by 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. On the interior it will get a darker single color dashboard with blue lighting on the dials and dashboard instruments. Honda will also offer an optional leather trim.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

The introduction of Honda’s petrol-electric IMA system to the Jazz, makes the car the world’s first B-segment hybrid.

Featuring the practicality and flexibility of the current Jazz, but with reduced CO2 emissions and improvements to fuel economy, the hybrid version will go on sale in the UK in early 2011.

The car will feature the same engine as the Insight hybrid; a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine combined with a CVT gearbox, with an electric motor sandwiched between the two to create a parallel hybrid system. The hybrid Jazz – like the Insight and Civic Hybrid models – will be capable of running on the electric motor alone under some medium and low speed conditions.

Much of the Jazz’s practicality is derived from its height, but despite being taller than the current Honda Insight, the hybrid version of Jazz manages to maintain fuel consumption and CO2 emissions on comparable levels.