Second, Honda only offered it as a 4-door sedan. People who want performance and are paying extra for it, most often want coupes, not sedans. This was a failure caused by marketing and perhaps engineering (e.g., for some reason the IMA/batts would not fit in the Coupe’s design).

Re. the Accord Hybrid being a failed “performance” hybrid: Of course you do not mention the serious mistakes Honda made in designing and marketing it. First, it cost $3,000 more than any other Accord. Compare that strategy to Toyota who subsidized the Prius for a decade to get it established. This was a failure of marketing.

Second, Honda only offered it as a 4-door sedan. People who want performance and are paying extra for it, most often want coupes, not sedans. This was a failure caused by marketing and perhaps engineering (e.g., for some reason the IMA/batts would not fit in the Coupe’s design).

Last, the worst thing you can do to a “performance” car is add weight. Weight decreases its acceleration, breaking and handling performance. The NiMH batteries in the hybrid Accord sedan did all of that. That is why that Toyota race car you linked to uses *capacitors*, not batteries.

IMO, the Accord hybrid could have survived one of those mistakes, but not two, and certainly not all three.

A hybrid Miata, using either Li ion, capacitors or Flybrid Systems, would be a hot seller too, probably getting nearly 50 mpg.

You are genius! If it wasn’t for Toyota and the Prius, the hybrid would have just been another niche vehicle. Honda and GM have to catch and play the game. Honestly, I bet Hyundai will bet them both to the punch!! Ford and Nissan already license Toyota technology. Love my ‘yota!!