HONDA JAZZ HYBRID - LOW EMISSIONS AND PRACTICALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Not for North America....
The Jazz Hybrid made its world motor show debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, further demon-strating Honda's continuing commitment to petrol-electric hybrid technology.

The new version will be sold alongside a revised version of the petrol Jazz and marks the first time a parallel hybrid vehicle has been available to B-segment consumers. Importantly the Jazz Hybrid will not lose any of the practicality of the conventional car, with the compact nature of the Honda IMA system allowing the B-segment car to retain its ultra-flexible "Magic Seats" and 300 litres of boot space.

The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, retaining the normal boot area and allowing the "Magic Seats" to fold in the same manner as non-hybrid versions. This means that the seats still fold entirely flat to provide a surprising (1320 litres measured to the roof) of space or the seat bases can be folded up vertically, so as to accommodate tall items within the car. New to the petrol-electric and conventionally powered versions of the Jazz is the reclining rear seat, which can now be tilted back, increasing rear passenger flexibility.

The IMA hybrid system is shared with the Insight and CR-Z hybrids, taking advantage of the proven reliability of this important technology. With almost two decades of development and 10 years of sales, the Honda IMA system has proven itself to be a flexible and dependable system, with over half a million vehicles on the road benefitting from its combination of low emissions and fuel economy.

The new model features the same powertrain as in the Insight hybrid, using the same 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine and electric motor as its dedicated hybrid model sibling. The system is combined with a CVT gearbox in the Jazz and with emissions of just 104 g/km of CO2 it has the lowest CO2 output of any automatic car in the B-segment. Fuel consumption is just 4.5 l/100km under the combined EU drive cycle. As a petrol-electric hybrid, the new derivative has ultra-low levels of other exhaust emissions, not just taxable elements.

Visually the Jazz Hybrid is distinguished from the rest of the Jazz range with revised headlights, which have a chrome blue surround, clear rear lights, new chrome blue front grille, restyled bumpers and a chrome tailgate garnish. The new hybrid will also be available in a range of existing colours plus a bespoke Lime Green metallic.

Inside the cabin is given a fresh look with a darker single colour dashboard, which contrasts strongly with the blue lighting of the dials and centre console. The new hybrid is also available with leather trim, the first time this has been available on a Jazz model in Europe.

The dashboard integrates a version of the Eco Assist function, which uses the ambient lighting of the speedometer to advise the driver on how their driving style is impacting on their fuel economy.

The Eco Assist function aides drivers in getting the maximum economy from their car in everyday situations and gives users real-time feedback on how their use of the brakes and throttle effects their fuel bills and environmental impact.

While respecting the unique features of the car, a range of Genuine Accessories will accentuate its hybrid character even further. Decoration items, such as doorstep garnishes, a variety of exterior and interior stickers, B-pillar garnishes and alternative alloy wheels can be fitted according to the driver's personal taste. A Solid State Drive navigation, hands-free Bluetooth® and rear entertainment system are set to provide extra technological comfort. A complete range of Genuine Accessories is available for those customers that want to add in even more functionality and style.

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