Honda has announced its next hybrid, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, will be built at its Marysville, Ohio plant in the U.S.
The Japanese carmaker is investing $23 million at the plant and hiring 50 new employees, ready for production of the two-motor hybrid before it goes on sale this fall.
It makes the Accord Hybrid the third Honda hybrid to be produced in the U.S, following the Civic Hybrid and Acura ILX mild hybrids.
Previously, all the company's hybrids were imported from Japan--while the Insight and CR-Z still are.
The Accord Hybrid sedan will join the Accord Plug-In Hybrid in Honda's improved lineup, using the same 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, under Honda's 'Earth Dreams Technology' tag.
That engine joins a two-motor hybrid system. A 124-kilowatt (166-horsepower) traction motor provides motive force, while a smaller 105-kW motor generates power. The traction motor acts as an electronic continuously-variable transmission.
Combined output is 196-horsepower, with 226 pounds-feet of torque.
Economy from each model will be impressive. A 13-mile electric range in the plug-in goes towards an EPA rating of 115 MPGe in electric mode, while combined mileage will be 46 mpg.
In the Accord Hybrid, drivers can expect highway mileage of 45 mpg, 49 mpg city, and 47 combined.
Honda's investment in its four Ohio plants over the last three years now exceeds $800 million. Combined, they have the capacity to manufacture over 700,000 vehicles per year.
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