Honda Fit Hybrid coming in 2015

Honda’s fuel-sipping Fit will turn an even deeper shade of green with new plans to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the popular subcompact in the early 2010s.

The hybrid Fit, announced here early today, will be the fourth hybrid from Honda Motor Co. by 2015, as the Japanese automaker chases rival Toyota Motor Corp. in the low-emission car race.

Honda already was planning to roll out an all new dedicated hybrid vehicle early next year, to challenged Toyota’s Prius, followed by a sporty hybrid and a redesigned Civic hybrid.

The greener Fit’s arrival dispels Honda’s earlier skepticism about the viability of mounting pricey hybrid systems on small, low-priced cars that already get great mileage.

President Takeo Fukui has changed his tune — in time with changing market realities.

"The Fit has great fuel efficiency to begin with, and if you put in a hybrid, it’s going to get even better," Fukui said while announcing the car at a mid-year news conference. "So with crude oil prices going up this much, I think a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense."