There’s little argument that Honda is an innovative automaker. The Japanese company that makes the popular styles Accord, Odyssey, Civic and Element, will soon add to its not-so-successful hybrid line.

In early 2009, according to Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Company’s president, Honda will offer a new affordable gas-electric hybrid in the United States, Japan and Europe.

The announcement, made in Tokyo, was presented as the automaker’s “commitment to green technology.”

In addition to the new hybrid, Honda will introduce several other hybrids: a Civic, a new sporty model based on the CR-Z and a Fit subcompact, sold
as the Jazz in Europe.

Fukui refused to give the price for the “affordable” new hybrid.

The new hybrid's name was not yet disclosed. It will be a five-door sedan seating five passengers, and feature new technology that reduced the size and weight of the hybrid system to increase fuel efficiency.

Last year, Honda discontinued the gas-and-electric version of its Accord sedan — sold only in North American — that sold just 25,000 units since going on sale in 2004. In 2006, it discontinued the Insight hybrid, which also sold poorly.

Toyota has sold more than a million Prius gas-electric hybrids cars worldwide in the past decade, and it’s the overwhelming industry leader. When including other hybrid models, cumulative overall sales of gas-electric vehicles total 1.46 million, according to Toyota, which also makes the Camry sedan and Lexus luxury cars.

Honda debuted its hybrids in 1999 and has sold nearly 262,000 hybrid vehicles worldwide.