2012 Honda Jazz Hybrid Spied Testing

NEW SPY PHOTOS obtained today reveal that development of the upcoming 2012 Honda Jazz Hybrid continues apace. 

Joining the new CR-Z and Insight hybrids, the Jazz Hybrid - to be sold overseas as the Fit Hybrid - is expected to use a powertrain based on the Insight's 1.3 litre petrol engine and 10kW electric motor.

With the Jazz already a frugal car, achieving 6.4 l/100km, success will perhaps lie in the lower development and production cost of Honda’s hybrid systems compared to other manufacturers.

If these new spy photos are anything to go by, the styling of the Jazz Hybrid is unlikely to differ greatly from the regular petrol-powered model, the most likely changes to be to the grille and bumpers.

Honda Spokesperson Akemi Ando told Japan's Nikkei last year that the manufacturer does not yet have a specific launch date or price for the Jazz hybrid, but the newspaper estimates Honda’s diminutive hybrid will sell for around AU$20,000 in Japan.

Speaking with TMR today, Honda Australia's Mark Higgins said that while the Jazz Hybrid is on the company's radar for a local launch, the CR-Z and Insight are the top priority.

"The Jazz Hybrid is certainly one of the three major hybrids that Honda will release, but for us at this stage, the priority is Insight and CR-Z - that's our focus over the next couple of years as far as expanding the local hybrid range goes," Mr Higgins said.

Click here to read TMR's review of the 2009 Honda Jazz VTi-S