Honda Reveals New Hybrid Sedan PrototypeHonda (Honda)Honda, who famously killed off its Honda 0 Series of all-electric vehicles on the eve of their launch, today has announced a hard pivot into hybrids, showing off what it called the Honda Hybrid Sedan Prototype, a car that looks suspiciously like a new Honda Accord.During a global business event today, May 14, in Japan, Honda’s global CEO Toshihiro Mibe made the announcement and outlined the plan to accelerate the rollout of 18 new or revised hybrid-powered models by 2030, with many of them expected to make their way to the U.S. market.The powertrain leading the way will be an updated version of Honda’s well-regarded two-motor hybrid system, which we have praised in the Honda Civic Hybrid. The hybrid will reportedly be 10 percent more efficient than before, all while reducing the overall cost of producing it by some 30 percent. Along with the massaged hybrid, Honda says it will also be accelerating the development of a new platform and rolling out a new all-wheel-drive system as well, and that the first models will appear sometime in 2027.AdvertisementAdvertisementAs for the prototype sedan on the stand, it’s almost certainly the next Honda Accord and looks a lot like the present model, with a new front end featuring a more blocky look. The Accord is due for an update and would benefit from a new platform and hybrid system. It stands to reason that Honda would pursue a strategy similar to Toyota and make the next Accord hybrid only.Honda is also making moves on the advanced driver assist system (ADAS) front, and says it will be rolling out a suite of self-driving enhancements by 2028, including the ability to drive the car from point-to-point and handling the steering and acceleration duties all along a prescribed route.All of this has to be nothing but good news for Honda North America, where the majority of the new hybrids will be built. Its Marysville and East Liberty plants in Ohio will likely build the lion’s share of them, but all will be able to do so. Honda also plans to launch a suite of large hybrid models in 2029, presumably vehicles as large as the present Honda Pilot SUV.The move to hybrids only makes sense for Honda, which took its EV plans on the chin in the form of billions lost. Given that its Civic and CR-V hybrids are doing well, it only makes sense in the short run to make a push in that direction.