Honda made a big splash at the 2017 New York International Auto Show by debuting two of the vehicles in its new Clarity series. The counterparts to the Clarity Fuel Cell, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid and the Clarity Electric, were rolled out at the major auto event.
The Clarity series is a part of Honda’s goal to increase the number of eco-friendly vehicles on the market. Honda aims to be on the cutting edge of electrified and alternative fuel vehicles. "Electrification is the future of mobility and the future of Honda, and it all starts now with this new Clarity series," said Steve Center, a vice president at American Honda.
Each Clarity has an environmentally-friendly production, with sustainably-sourced, high-quality materials. These materials come together to create a lineup of vehicles with aerodynamic, sporty styling and a spacious and comfortable interior. It will include many of the latest technologies as standard features including smartphone integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the HONDA SENSING active safety suite and driver-assistance tech.
Every engine variation will offer a quiet ride with faultless acceleration and an excellent driving experience with smooth handling. The Clarity follows the Honda tradition of being “fun-to-drive.” With a wide variety of trims and powertrains, there is a Clarity for every driver and lifestyle.
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The 2018 Clarity Electric, like the Fuel Cell, will have a small release for its debut year, with a lease program in California and Oregon, to prepare for a future wide release.
In this version of the Clarity, there is a 161 hp electric motor that draws from a 25.5-kWh battery pack. This battery also has an impressive charging time. At 240 volts, the Clarity Electric can reach full charge in around three hours, and when using DC fast charging and the SAE Combined Charging System, the Clarity can get to 80 percent charge in a half an hour.
Plug-in Hybrid
The Clarity Plug-in will have a nationwide release for the 2018 model year. It will be available in two trims, the standard and the Touring. Impressively, this Clarity will have the longest all-electric driving range of any mid-size plug-in hybrid, 42 miles. Its 181 hp electric motor will be assisted by a 1.5-L. four-cylinder engine. It is at the top of its class in range and fuel economy.
There will also be four driving modes for the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid. Normal, Econ and Sport allow drivers to favor either efficiency or performance while driving. The fourth driving option is the HV mode, which tries to preserve the charge of the battery.
These two additions to the Clarity lineup will be arriving on showroom floors later this year. Look out for the debut of the wide-release plug-in hybrid version of the Clarity at our dealership in Phoenix. Until then, check out the current Honda models, including other hybrids, currently available at Bell Honda.
