30 October 2002: The Honda Civic hybrid has been awarded the title of ‘Best Environment Car’ at the British International Motor Show. The award was given by the Institute of Vehicle Engineers, and beat 20 other contenders.

The Civic hybrid uses a development of the IMA technology, comprising a petrol engine and electric motor, which was introduced in the Insight hybrid coupe.

“This new award marries innovation with practicality,” says Frank Kennedy, sales and marketing director of Universal Honda Ltd in Ireland. “It copper-fastens Honda’s leading position in environmental technology.”

Honda also recently unvelied the fuel-cell vehicle (prototype above) which will be the first of its kind to go on sale in Japan before the end of this year. The company will also be piloting sales of a sililar vehicle in California, and has signed an agreement that makes the city of Los Angeles its first retail customer for the FCX in the US.