Honda Motor will launch a fully redesigned Fit in Japan on Friday 26 October but the revamped model won’t reach the UK and Europe – as the Jazz – until the end of 2008.
A Honda UK spokesman said the current Jazz is still selling extremely well at about 30,000 units a year and there are still waiting lists at some dealers, exceptional for a model first launched in 2002 and only slightly updated since. Residual values are also high.
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“We’re in no hurry,” he told just-auto. The current car is still selling “like hot cakes” so there is no need to “fix something that isn’t broken”.
He revealed that 90% of UK supply now comes from the Guangzhou Honda JV set up in China primarily to export cars – the country’s first such export-centred JV. European shipments began initially last year to left-hand drive markets but RHD cars for the UK were phased in last May.
“We simply couldn’t get enough supply from Japan,” the Honda UK spokesman said. He added that dealers had been delighted with the quality of the cars which were indistinguishable from those made in Japan.
Earlier, Honda president Takeo Fukui told Kyodo News at the car’s launch event in Tokyo that the automaker had no plans to produce the Fit in India or introduce a diesel version for Europe to raise global sales. The Japanese monthly sales target is 12,000 units and more foreign-made parts have helped keep prices comparable to the outgoing model, he added, according to the report. Other export markets such as China and the US should see the new car within a year.
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By GlobalDataThe first-generation Fit was launched in Japan in June 2001, replacing a nondescript hatchback line called the Logo that wasn’t widely exported though a few three-door models made it to the UK and Europe. Exported mostly as the Jazz, the Fit is now being produced in six factories in five countries and sold in approximately 115 countries around the world, including the US, with cumulative sales of more than 2m.
Specifications vary a little by market – some get 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines, Europe gets a 1.2 and a 1.4, transmissions are five-speed manual, five-speed full automatic or CVT, and there are also sedan versions for markets that prefer this body style.
Honda said the second-generation model was developed in the tradition of its ‘man maximum, machine minimum’ concept “with the goal of creating the ideal small car for a new age” and to set a new benchmark in the highly competitive small car segment.
Packaging is still based on the original Fit’s innovative centre fuel tank layout but, in contrast to Mazda’s new Demio/2 which is smaller (and lighter) than its predecessor, the redesigned Fit’s overall length is up 55mm to 3,900mm and width 20mm to 1,695 mm. Height is unchanged at 1,525 mm, allowing for use of tower parking – critical in Japan. Wheelbase is up 50mm to 2,500mm and the front pillar has been moved forward to create a more spacious interior.
The current car’s clever multiple seat folding and load-carrying facilities have been improved, including a new storage compartment under the left rear seat.
The Japanese market cars have a new 70kW 1.3-liter i-VTEC engine combined with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and new torque converter while a new sportier Road Sailing (RS) version gets a new 88kW 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine, manual transmission, stability control and stiffer suspension.
All models have anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist and side curtain airbags have been added.
An emergency tyre repair kit is now provided instead of a spare wheel, freeing up 64 litres of storage space beneath the floor.
Front quarter windows are three times the size of those in the previous model, and the width of the front pillar has been reduced by 20mm to improve visibility. A new panoramic glass ‘Sky Roof’ is now available and comes with an electric sliding sun shield.
New equipment includes a navigation system with seven-inch display and 40GB hard disk (including rear view camera) and keyless start.
