Honda Concept B Hybrid production version coming to China in 2016

Mon, 21 Apr 2014

At the Beijing Motor Show this weekend, Honda took the wraps off of the Concept B Hybrid, a "new-value concept" that will apparently do its level best to get the Japanese automaker back into the entry-level gas-electric game. Powertrain details for the five-door concept hatch are noticeably absent, so we are assuming that what Honda wants with this concept is for us to focus on the looks. Honda says the car's exterior design is "advanced and cool-looking." We like the shape, but think a few changes will do wonders for the production model.

If the busy front end gets turned down a bit in production (it's especially glaring from the front), we can see this becoming a darn good replacement for the Insight at the lower end of the hybrid price spectrum. Sadly, for now, Honda is saying that the mass-production model that uses the Concept B as a foundation will be available "exclusively" on the Chinese market in two years.

Speaking at the Beijing show, Honda president and CEO Takanobu Ito continued to look for ways to green his company's line-up, and said Honda, "will strive to become number one in complying with Chinese CAFE regulations, which are the toughest in the world, and offer a new lifestyle for Chinese customers." Come 2016, that new lifestyle could look like the car you see in the gallery above. Think it's a good one?

Honda Concept B Hybrid

Honda Exhibits World Premiere of Concept B, a New-Value Concept Model, at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition (Auto China 2014)

BEIJING, China, April 20, 2014 - Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, today exhibited the world premiere of the Concept B at the 13th Beijing International Automobile Exhibition (Auto China 2014, press day: April 20, 2014, public days: April 21-29, 2014). Honda is planning to introduce a mass-production model based on the Concept B in two years.
•Unveiling Concept B, a new-value concept model (world premiere)

The Concept B is a concept model for a 5-door model developed exclusively for the Chinese market. An advanced and cool-looking exterior design and excellent practicality are realized in a compact hatchback style that is popular among young generations in China. The development of a mass-production model based on this concept model is in progress, which Honda plans to introduce to the market in two years.

•Unveiling a concept model for all-new Spirior (world premiere)

Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., Honda's automobile production and sales joint venture company in China, today unveiled a concept model for the all-new Spirior. Since it was first introduced in 2009, the Spirior has been providing the joy of driving with its advanced technologies and has been well received primarily by younger customers in urban areas who pursue individuality. The all-new Spirior achieved significant advancements in exterior design, dynamic performance and technologies as well as safety features. With this individualistic and fun-to-drive model, Honda will strive to set a new benchmark in the sporty sedan category. The market introduction of new Spirior is scheduled before the end of this year.

•Introducing all-new VEZEL

Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., an automobile production and sales joint venture company of Honda in China, today introduced the all-new VEZEL (Chinese name: ??) that will enter the middle-class SUV market which is growing continuously in China. Featuring both a coupe-like streamlined exterior design and the excellent practicality of an SUV, the VEZEL achieves class-topping* cabin space and fuel economy. Guangqi Honda is planning to introduce this model to the market later this year.

•Introducing the third-generation Fit

10 years after Fit was first introduced in China, Guangqi Honda today introduced the third-generation Fit featuring further refined exterior and interior design as well as advancements in all including dynamic performance, fuel economy, equipment, comfort and maneuverability. The all-new Fit will go on sale on May 29, 2014 targeting primarily younger customers purchasing their first cars.
•Comments by Takanobu Ito, president & CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

"We continue to promote our local product development and production in order to quickly deliver our latest technologies and new-value products that are most suitable for our customers in China. With our latest environmental technologies including hybrids, Honda will strive to become No.1 in complying with Chinese CAFE regulations, which are the toughest in the world, and offer a new lifestyle for Chinese customers."

By Sebastian Blanco