This is the latest version (the fourth) of the Honda Jazz/Fit.
It looks to my eyes about one model older than the outgoing one, at least from outside. Step aboard and you have fancy new touchscreens and flashing lights and so on.
But never mind all that. Like the second and third generation, it’s available as a hybrid (and only as a hybrid when it arrives at a dealer near me). It’s the third hybrid then and Honda have seen, er, fit to make them all different. The first hybrid used the setup from the Insight of the same era so a CVT with a mild parallel hybrid add on. Next up was the same kind of idea that Hyundai and others use with a motor/generator sandwiched between the engine and a DCT gearbox making the car a full hybrid that could proceed solely, although not far, on a supply of electrons.
This time round we get a version of Honda’s dual motor system from the CRV so there are two motor/generator units. One attaches to the engine and acts as a starter and generator, the other is attached the wheels and handles traction and energy recuperation. Starting off uses battery power (charge level permitting) and then the engine starts up and uses its motor/generator to power the traction motor. Electric drive is fine so long as you’re recovering energy but at a steady speed it’s not so good so Honda clutch the engine directly to the wheels and as speed increases power is gradually transferred from electric to mechanical drive. Before mechanical drive is established you’ve therefore got no connection between engine and wheels. Therein lies an annoyance. Accelerate and the engine speed rises and just sits there droning away as the car catches up with it. Not so good.
But there’s a solution. Pretend Gears. Rather than just drone away at a steady speed the engine is programmed to produce gearchanging noises. It speeds up and slows down again repeatedly as the car gains speed, just as if it actually used gears.