Washington, D.C. — Honda will roll out a more affordable hybrid-electric car in 2009, a timetable which perhaps not coincidentally matches the forecast arrival of the new Fit subcompact. A smaller car than today's Civic and hybrids not only presents the potential for greater fuel efficiency, but also for a lower price tag because of the more spartan content that is acceptable in the subcompact segment.'We believe hybridization is optimally applied to smaller vehicles,' explained Ben Knight, vice president, Honda R&D Americas, Inc. 'We are developing an all-new, purpose-built hybrid vehicle, scheduled for introduction later this decade that will meet the needs of a family at a price beneath the Civic Hybrid,' he added.Asked whether some of the cost savings could come from reduced content in addition to improving the cost-efficiency of electric drive components, Knight would say only that the new car will be competitively equipped for its class.Also targeted for 2009 is a U.S. version of the clean diesel technology Honda offers in Europe. In an approach reminiscent of the compound vortex controlled combustion (CVCC) chamber technology that let Honda meet gasoline emissions standards in the '70s without a catalytic converter, the new diesel engine will employ an unspecified new combustion chamber design. It will also employ an improved lean NOx catalyst to help meet stringent emissions requirements, even those in California, without an expensive and complex urea injection system.'We are confident that we have struck on an elegant technology approach that can meet these emissions standards without a tank of urea,' Knight said.What this means to you: More affordable fuel-saving options from Honda are just over the horizon.