IN 2011, Honda will release the newest vehicle in its hybrid range to an expectant and demanding British public: the Honda Jazz Hybrid.
Just like the other three cars in its hybrid range, the Insight, the Civic and the CR-Z, the new Jazz offers British motorists the chance to achieve cleaner, greener and more efficient motoring.
The new Jazz Hybrid previewed in October 2010 at the prestigious Paris Motor Show. For once, the main draw for car fans and critics was not on the assembled throng of supercars, but on a small family car that is promising to take the country by storm upon its release during 2011.
Indeed, the thousands of customers in the UK who are likely to buy the new Jazz Hybrid may well be set for many years of cheap and clean driving pleasure.
The reason for the universal appeal is simple. At first glance, there is the cosmetic appeal. The Jazz Hybrid is actually the first Honda car to be wholly designed as a hybrid; the other three currently available are merely modifications of a petrol engine counterpart. The car comes available in a range of colours, including a striking metallic lime green that was such a bright addition to the Paris event. The aerodynamics on the Jazz Hybrid have been improved; the headlights and taillights have also been redesigned and given a stylish blue tint. Eco-friendly tyres and revised front brakes mean that not only is the Jazz is more environmentally-friendly than its petrol counterpart is, but also that it is also a second quicker in the zero to 60 mph tests.
So, any new owner is not only going to be impressed with how the new Jazz Hybrid looks but as soon as they get inside the vehicle, they are going to be equally as impressed.
Although bracketed as one of the small hybrid cars, the new Jazz still has the trademark headroom that marked the petrol version ahead of its competitors and the interior makes it feel like it is anything but small. The spacious interior is further enhanced by comfortable seating that now has the option of being upholstered in leather for the first time, and a driving position that is perfect even for the taller driver.
Switching the engine on reveals blue tinted dials that give the cockpit a stylish and fashionable feel. The back seats also retain the renowned 'magic seats' option, which allows the seats to be moved from their usual position to laying flat to increase boot space, and back again, all at the click of a button.
Not that a new owner will need to use the button too often, with a boot space of 300 litres being more than adequate for most luggage, though this is expandable to 831-litres with a simple press of the 'magic seats' button.
Driving the new Honda Jazz Hybrid is also a joy. The special damping of the bodywork has resulted in an exceptionally quiet ride. Part of that is due to the 1.3-litre petrol hybrid engine that is managed superbly by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system, referred to in literature as the IMA system. This means that the drive on the car is not only quiet and smooth, but also as economic as possible.
As you use the vehicle throughout its lifespan, economy is the one aspect that new Honda Jazz drivers will really notice. There is no filling the car up every few days. There is no need when you are achieving an average of 64.2 miles per gallon. This marks another advantage that Honda drivers will notice in that their bank accounts will not be emptying at such a rapid rate.
Especially, when you add onto much cheaper running costs the fact that the new Jazz Hybrid will, according to British government legislation, only cost £20 a year in road tax. However, new owners will be exempt from paying any road tax in their first year of ownership as the new Jazz only produces 104g/km of CO2 emissions, 21 per cent less than the lowest-rated petrol-engine Jazz equivalent.
Furthermore, the on board Eco Assist driving aid will permit you to drive even more efficiently, by providing clear feedback on your driving performance every time you take the wheel.
Of course, being a Honda vehicle, the new Jazz will have that same level of comfort, technology and the famous Honda reliability that comes as standard, which will provide you with many years enjoyable, economic and environmentally-friendly driving, as well the peace of mind that comes with owning one of the most reliable vehicles available on the market.
So what happens in the future? When after many years' faithful service, the time has come to wave goodbye to your beloved Jazz Hybrid. What will that future be like for the environmentally-aware motorist? Will it truly be greener? Will there be more hybrid cars to choose from at that time? How will the motoring world have changed?
Motorists need not worry, by this time the World's first hydrogen fuel cell-powered car, the Honda Clarity, which emits nothing more potent than steam through its exhausts, may well have completed testing and be ready to take the next step towards cleaner, cheaper and greener motoring. That truly is the power of dreams and hopefully the start of an even greener future for motoring. That is a future upon which you can ponder, with Honda!
The first step towards achieving that greener future for all and in particular, a cleaner and more efficient destiny for motoring is to encourage drivers to ditch their traditional petrol-engine vehicles and move onto hybrid cars; vehicles that offer comparative performance levels but are more efficient to run and far less detrimental to the environment. The current Honda range of hybrid cars is as good a place as any to make that transition and the release of the new Honda Jazz Hybrid in 2011 will be another positive step towards a greener future for motoring and for us all.
