Autos.ca: Preview: 2015 Honda Fit

review by Mark Stevenson; photography by Mark Stevenson and courtesy Honda North America.

EXCITING H DESIGN!!! EXCITING H DESIGN!!!

If you were part of the Japanese media when the new Fit was first shown in September, this is the mantra given as Honda’s new design philosophy. EXCITING H DESIGN must mean squishing a Honda Civic, making it taller, and giving it a different grille, because it doesn’t look particularly exciting.

If there is one car in Honda’s lineup that the automotive press falls in love with time and time again, it’s the Fit. It’s aerodynamic nose, triangular headlamps, and clever packaging always made it a favourite in our hearts and minds. It also came from a time when Honda was a bit more enthusiast-oriented but delivered practicality by the tonne at the same time. The Honda of today is more focused on rehashing its failed Earth Dreams motto from Formula 1.

One glance at this new hatchback will tell you which direction it’s heading. The 2015 Fit is almost identical in proportion to Nissan’s newest B-segment hatchback, the Versa Note. Both cars were designed in Japan mainly for the Japanese market. In fact, both were on sale in Japan long before we could get our hands on them in North America.

Gone are the signature triangular lights for those resembling those of its big brother Civic, albeit with a slight change of shape to match the narrower body. And while some may call this new design “bolder” than the outgoing shape, it’s definitely derivative of everything else in Honda’s lineup (though not nearly as bad as Acura’s design laziness). While the current Fit is a unique gem at the bottom of the range, this newest iteration plans to join the pack through mimicry.

Fit still features a tall greenhouse but its silhouette has changed to be more aero friendly. Instead of being a sharp-angled arrow through the air, Honda has given the subcompact a more rounded shape.

Also gone are the relatively flat sides of the Fit in favour of deeply cut body creases swooshing through the metal. The top crease connects both door handles to the redesigned taillights at back while the bottom line attempts to give the Fit a sporty stance.

Around back, the Fit’s rear window has shrunk due to “beltline creep” with the rest being good news for the most part. A restyled rear bumper gives Fit an athletic appearance and new taillights have a shape than can only be described as Japanese calligraphy. Rear hatch doors also feature a bright chrome bar across the middle, splitting the rear glass and metal bodywork.

The interior has been significantly improved over the current Fit, which was more old than bad. All trims will get Bluetooth and back-up camera (in anticipation of new NHTSA rules requiring such devices). Upper trims will also receive “smart entry” with push-button start, heated mirrors, moonroof, Honda LaneWatch, and seven-inch display audio. For the first time, Fit will also be available with leather seating surfaces.

Under the hood, Fit receives a brand new 1.5-litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder engine producing 130 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque (13 hp and 8 lb-ft more than the outgoing model). Along with this new engine is a pair of new transmission options. Thankfully, Honda will retain a manual option in their subcompact, providing a new six-speed manual (the current Fit can be had with a five-speed). However, just like many other cars, the Fit loses its traditional autobox for a new continuously variable transmission such as the one in the Nissan Versa Note. The CVT’s only saving grace is it will get paddle shifters, hinting at a stepped CVT setup much like the new Corolla.

Honda anticipates the new Fit won’t just be frugal, but safe as well. With the new ACE body structure engineered for the subcompact, Honda expects to hit a home run on all IIHS tests and receive a five-Star NCAP score.

Fit will be produced for the first time in Honda’s Celaya, Mexico plant and should be available mid-2014. No pricing information has been announced but expect it to get a slight price drop, closer to the Nissan Versa Note’s MSRP of around $13,500.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/honda/preview-2015-honda-fit/

2015 Honda FIT Touring (?) Dash

Wow, very nice.  Notable features/changes;
-1.5Litre 130HP in all models
-Bluetooth and Backup Camera is standard in all models
-Options of a CVT (Automatic Transmission) or a 6 Speed Manual Transmission
-There will be a Leather Optioned FIT (Touring model?)
-Moonroof is a now actually available (first time in North America!)
-Lanewatch Blindspot Camera is available

Source;
Honda

Honda Reveals All-new 2015 Fit at 2014 NAIAS in Detroit (VIDEO)

Honda Introduces All-New 2015 Fit at North American International Auto Show

01/13/2014 - DETROIT

• More powerful, refined and fuel-efficient Fit set to launch this spring
• All-new U.S. model showcases dynamic styling and upgraded interior packed with class-leading features and technology
• Earth Dreams™ Technology engine and transmissions deliver heightened fun-to-drive performance and class-leading fuel efficiency

Honda unveiled the all-new 2015 Fit at the North American International Auto Show today. Set to go on sale in the U.S. this spring, the new Fit is completely redesigned from the ground up to deliver an unparalleled combination of style, interior space, fun-to-drive performance and fuel efficiency plus leading-edge safety and vehicle connectivity.

"The Honda Fit is a small car with big aspirations. Faster, more fuel-efficient and more fun, it's a subcompact with larger-than-life-capabilities," said John Mendel, executive vice president of automobile sales for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "It's simply the best Fit to date and, we believe, a new benchmark in the small-car category."

Modern Styling with Class-Leading Packaging
The 2015 Fit debuts with a sleek, modern and sporty exterior style. A more aggressive front fascia showcases a new grille and headlight design. A strong character line runs along the side of the Fit, emphasizing the vehicle's aerodynamic profile. Larger 16-inch tires outfitted with a new 5-spoke wheel design give the Fit a planted and sporty stance. In the back, rear reflectors and LED taillights run along the hatch with a chrome tailgate garnish and rear diffuser, all contributing to the Fit's more substantial and dynamic appearance.

Retaining a similar exterior footprint to the current model, the new Fit is slightly shorter (-1.6 in.) and wider (+0.3 in.) with a longer wheelbase (+1.2 in.), resulting in improved handling and maneuverability. Inside, the Fit builds on its already class-leading interior space, airy cabin and large greenhouse thanks to an all-new efficient platform that incorporates a unique center-mounted fuel-tank layout. The new Fit also delivers a significant increase in passenger volume (+4.9 cu ft) and rear legroom (+4.8 in.) compared to the previous model. With the Honda-exclusive Magic Seat® offering multiple configurable seating positions, the Fit provides an unrivaled 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space when the second row seats are folded flat. With an overall height of 60 inches, the Fit allows for easy loading of items into the rear cargo and ingress/egress for passengers.

Enhanced Interior and Technology Features
The 2015 Fit will deliver above-class interior refinement and features while offering value at every trim level. All 2015 Fit models will be equipped with class-leading standard features including Bluetooth® connectivity, a multi-angle rearview camera, and Expanded View Driver's Mirror. For customers looking for premium features in the subcompact segment, Fit will be available with smart entry with push-button start, heated side mirrors, a moonroof, heated front seats, Honda's exclusive LaneWatch™ display and a 7-inch Display Audio¹ touchscreen interface with HondaLink™ smartphone connectivity. Soft touch and premium materials are used throughout and, for the first time, the Fit will be offered with available leather-trimmed seating.

Improved Performance, Efficiency and Safety
The 2015 Fit marks the U.S. debut of an all-new direct-injected 1.5-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine. Generating 130 horsepower² at 6500 rpm and 114 lb.-ft. of torque² at 4600 rpm, engine output is increased by 13 horsepower and 8 lb.-ft. compared to the outgoing engine, while reducing weight and improving efficiency. Paired to two new transmissions, a slick-shifting 6-speed manual or a sporty and fuel-efficient Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with available paddle shifters, the Fit powertrain offers superior acceleration and passing performance and is anticipated to have class-leading³ EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 33 city/41 highway/36 combined⁴ (CVT-equipped models).

Complementing the new powertrain is a revised chassis that provides for improved handling, ride comfort and NVH. A more rigid body, new rear dampers and revised suspension geometry notably enhance the 2015 Fit's ride quality and fun-to-drive handling characteristics.

The 2015 Fit benefits from the most extensive use of ultra-high strength steel in the model's history, providing increased body stiffness while reducing platform (underbody and chassis) weight by 57 pounds versus the outgoing model. Equipped with the next generation of the Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the Fit is anticipated to earn top safety scores from NHTSA and IIHS, including a NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score and a TOP SAFETY PICK rating with a GOOD rating in all IIHS test modes, including the rigorous small overlap barrier test.

North America Production
The 2015 Fit will be manufactured for the first time in North America at the new Celaya, Mexico plant. With an annual capacity of 200,000 units, the facility will begin mass production of the 2015 Fit next month, adding production of an all-new small Honda SUV later in the year. With introduction of the new manufacturing facility in Mexico, Honda's North American automobile production facilities will have a total annual capacity of 1.92 million units, and will have the capability to manufacture vehicles in all product segments, from subcompacts to light truck models. With the added production, approximately 98 percent of all Honda-brand vehicles sold in the United States will be sourced from Honda plants in North America.

About Honda

Honda offers a complete lineup of cars and trucks through a network of more than 1,000 dealerships in the United States. Honda has more than 30 years of experience producing automobiles in the region, which began with the Accord in Marysville, Ohio, in November 1982. Having produced more than 25 million vehicles in North America through 2012 using domestic and globally sourced parts, Honda currently operates 14 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda automobiles, all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, engines and transmissions.

For high-resolution photography of the 2015 Fit, visit www.hondanews.com. For customers interested in receiving more information on the 2015 Fit, please visit www.automobiles.honda.com/2015-fit to sign up email updates.

¹The Display Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and streaming from some current [Apple/Android] smartphones. For safety reasons, always launch HondaLink applications or perform any other operation on your phone only when the vehicle is safely parked. State or local laws may limit use of texting feature, and Assist functions may be terminated without notice. Your wireless carrier's rate plans apply. Please see your Honda dealer and HondaLink terms and conditions for details.
² Preliminary estimate provided by Honda. Final specification is subject to change.
³ Among subcompact class vehicles equipped with standard engine and automatic transmission.
⁴ Preliminary mileage ratings determined by Honda. Final EPA mileage ratings not available at the time of printing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-introduces-all-new-2015-fit-at-north-american-international-auto-show

Green Car Reports: 2015 Honda Fit Hybrid: Forbidden Fruit Drive Report

New & previous generations of Honda Fit, Honda Proving Grounds, Tochigi, Japan, Nov 2013

We've always liked the Honda Fit; the current 2013 model remains one of the better, more capacious, and most flexible subcompacts on the market even though it's now the oldest vehicle in its class.

That'll change with next spring's launch of the 2015 Honda Fit, at least one version of which will be rated at 36 mpg combined, the company says.

Not for us
But 10 days ago, in Japan, we drove a version of the Fit that's already on sale in Japan that will likely be forbidden fruit for North America: the Honda Fit Hybrid.

We only spent a total of about 10 minutes in the Fit Hybrid, which is hardly enough for comprehensive impressions.

But the hybrid Fit has been a huge sales success in Japan, where vehicle-tax rules heavily favor hybrids.
The new Fit Hybrid is the first car to use Honda's new and more powerful i-DCD single-motor hybrid system.

Electric-only launch
And as we found on our drive of prototype systems last year, the new system is powerful enough to launch the car on electricity and take it to 40 mph or so before the gas engine switches on.

Honda Fit Hybrid (Japanese domestic model), Honda Proving Grounds, Tochigi, Japan, Nov 2013

That stands in contrast to the many generations of Honda's previous Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) mild-hybrid system. The IMA system provided additional torque to complement engine output, but it couldn't move the car alone for more than a few seconds at a time--and not at all from a standstill.

The new i-DCD system--it stands for Dual Clutch Drive--uses an electric motor with a peak output of 22 kilowatts (30 horsepower), against the IMA system's 15 kW (20 hp). Honda engineers told us it could provide sustained torque of 96 lb-ft (130 Newton-meters) and roughly 1 second of peak torque at 118 lb-ft (160 Nm).

The motor is, again, sandwiched between the engine and transmission, but now that unit is a  seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT)--hence the "Dual Clutch" in the name i-DCD--rather than the continuously variable transmission (CVT) that Honda previously used in its IMA hybrids.

Recaptured energy is stored in a 0.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack under the load bay just behind the rear seat. Unlike that of the Honda current Insight and CR-Z, however, the new Fit has a full-depth load bay.

Quiet operation
The first thing we noticed in the Fit Hybrid was its small shift wand on the console, which is remarkably (and deliberately?) reminiscent of the similar control in a Toyota Prius hybrid. Like the Prius, the "parking" mode is a button marked "P" rather than a position for the lever.

The gasoline Fits, on the other hand, have more conventional chrome shift levers.

On a Honda test course that includes stops and starts, a long, straight acceleration section, some sharp bends, and a coast-down section, the Fit Hybrid spent perhaps 20 percent of its time in electric-only mode.

We drove Japanese-market right-hand-drive production cars, some of which we later saw coming off the production line at Honda's Yorii assembly plant, part of the larger Saitama factory complex.

The new Fit is quieter inside than the old one, and while we heard some whining from the motor on deceleration when it acted as a generator, the engine switched off and on almost imperceptibly. Honda's done a very good job with noise suppression and vibration damping there.

DCT judder
The most noticeable reminder of the car's hybrid nature, in fact, was occasional mild juddering as the motor engaged and disengaged with the DCT just before or after it up- or downshifted.

It was no worse than motor engagement or disengagement in the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid--in fact probably better--

But it does point out that the DCT has discrete gear steps, rather than the infinite range of the CVT, without a torque converter to buffer the changes as in a conventional automatic.

In fact, for its larger and more luxurious (non-hybrid) cars, Honda will use an eight-speed DCT with a torque converter added on for precisely that reason.

On the smaller, less expensive Fit Hybrid, however, the electric motor is used to buffer the changes--but the drivetrain operation remains perceptible under certain circumstances.

30 percent gas-mileage gains?
We weren't able to ascertain anything useful about the fuel efficiency of the Honda Fit Hybrid from our short drive.

Honda has said its gas-mileage may be as much as 30 percent higher than that of the previous IMA hybrids, which might bring the Fit Hybrid close to the 50-mpg ratings of three different Toyota Prius models.
But we may never find out what ratings the Fit Hybrid would receive in U.S. test cycles.

Honda executives reiterated that they have no current plans to bring the car to the U.S. market.

Among other reasons, said Yusuke Hasegawa, general manager and senior chief engineer in Honda R&D's technology development group, the cost differential in Japan between the gasoline and hybrid Fits is roughly $3,000.

Japanese incentives on registration and road taxes, along with much more expensive gasoline, make that a reasonable premium for consumers to pay.

But in the U.S., gas prices run only $3 to $4 a gallon, no government incentives remain for consumers to purchase hybrids, and the Fit currently carries a base price of $15,425 before delivery. (With 2015 Fits coming from Mexico, Honda likely hopes to keep this price stable for the New Car.)

Long payback
If a gasoline Fit is rated at 36 mpg, even if the Fit Hybrid could reach 50 mpg, that would be a difference of only 117 gallons of gasoline each year at 15,000 miles a year.

Even at $4 a gallon, the payback would take more than six years--far longer than consumer will pay, Honda feels.

So unless something changes, we're not likely to see the Honda Fit Hybrid we drove in the States any time soon.

Over time, however, you might expect the new i-DCD hybrid system to show up in future Honda Civic Hybrid models--and perhaps the next Insight and CR-Z. IF those models are replaced, that is.

Until then, the neat little Honda Fit Hybrid and its new small hybrid system will remain forbidden fruit.

Honda provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable High Gear Media to bring you this first-person report.

Source;
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088604_2015-honda-fit-hybrid-forbidden-fruit-drive-report

2014 (2015 for us in North America) Honda Fit won't get 'stop-start' fuel-saving technology in North-America

For all the wrong reasons...

We've already written about the new 2015 Honda Fit hybrid, but the regular gasoline Fit is also interesting. It has an idle-stop, or stop-start system that turns off the engine when the car is stopped, and restarts it whenever the driver steps off the brakes. This technology has proven its worth for saving fuel in city driving over the years, yet Honda has decided not to bring it to North-America. That's right, the rest of the world gets the fuel saving technology, but not North-Americans.

Why? Well, that's the sad part. I don't believe that Honda has very good reasons for making Americans burn more fuel... They told Automotive News that the extra split second it takes for the engine to re-start (it's very quick, usually by the time you move your foot from the brake pedal to the gas pedal, it's done) is somehow too much for drivers to accept.

Nobuhiko Shishido, a lead powertrain engineer for the new Fit, said that in the United States, where speed and power rule, stop-start systems mean small cars will be left in the dust.
They "will lose at stoplights to V-6s," Shishido said at a recent Fit preview.

Really? I think if you're buying a Fit, you probably care more about fuel economy than about racing against Mustangs at red lights...

There also is a marketing problem because the EPA's fuel economy testing cycle doesn't give extra credit to stop-start systems. So even though their real-world performance is better than their official mpg rating, they are a hard sell.

That's just a marketing problem. It shouldn't matter more than giving a better, more economical and environmentally-friendly product to your customers! Honda could even make ads with this, saying: "It might not show up on the MPG sticker, but our new Fit saves you more gas than the equivalent car from the competition."

And stop-start has other idiosyncrasies. For example, the air conditioner compressor turns off during the stop phase. While the system continues to blow cool air, it's not quite as cool as full-blown air conditioning.

That could easily be solved by having a way to turn off the stop-start system on very, very hot days. The rest of the time, it shouldn't matter much if you have a few seconds of slightly warmer air...
Honda, we really like what you've done with the new Fit and Fit hybrid. It's an innovative, frugal car with a lot of interior space. But please, bring stop-start over to North-America and be a leader. Other carmakers will probably follow suit and also bring stop-start over, saving everybody a lot of gas.

Source;
http://www.treehugger.com/cars/2014-honda-fit-wont-get-stop-start-fuel-saving-technology-north-america.html

CEO calls redesigned Fit Honda's comeback car

Takanobu Ito at the Fit’s launch: “This is the most important model. I have high expectations for demand.”

TOKYO -- Launching the third-generation Fit last week, Honda Motor CEO Takanobu Ito made his lofty expectations clear, calling the redesigned subcompact a key player in the company's comeback plan.

"This is the most important model," he said, citing improved fuel economy, a longer body and more interior room. "I have high expectations for demand."

High, indeed: He predicted the Fit family eventually will supplant the Civic sedan as Honda's No. 1 nameplate. It's now No. 4, behind the Civic, CR-V and Accord. Globally, Ito predicted, sales of the Fit hatchback and its variants will reach 1.5 million by 2016.

He declined to give a sales target for North America. But he said the market holds the biggest growth potential for the Fit hatchback and its spinoffs, which are expected to include a crossover and sedan.

An assembly plant is being built in Mexico with annual capacity for 200,000 vehicles. It opens next spring, and the bulk of that output is expected to be Fit family vehicles for the United States. Honda sold 49,346 Fits in the United States in 2012.

Japan is the Fit's biggest market. Last year, Honda sold 209,000 in its home market.

Firsts for Honda

The redesigned Fit, which went on sale in Japan last week and should hit U.S. showrooms around mid-2014, is key to Ito's efforts to jolt the company back into growth mode on the strength of new technology, more efficient product planning and fresher design.

The redesigned Fit claims a number of Honda firsts:
•  It's the first vehicle showcasing what Honda calls Exciting H design, which is sleeker and has more creases.
• Its hybrid variant is the first using Honda's new one-motor, dual-clutch gasoline-electric drivetrain. That replaces an underpowered one-motor system that delivered what many critics called lackluster fuel economy in previous hybrids such as the Insight.
• The U.S. version will be the first Fit manufactured in North America.

Efficiency imperative

Fuel efficiency will be a big selling point.

The hybrid, which teams a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, delivers about 86 mpg under Japan's testing regime, which can't be translated directly to U.S. figures. That's a 35 percent improvement over the hybrid version of the current Fit sold in Japan.

The gasoline engines also achieve big gains thanks to Honda's new Earth Dreams engine lineup.

The 1.3-liter Atkinson cycle engine, teamed with either a continuously variable transmission or a five-speed manual, gets about 61 mpg -- roughly a 35 percent improvement. The 1.5-liter direct-injection engine, with either a CVT or six-speed stick shift, gets about 51 mpg, or an increase of about 16 percent.

The redesigned Fit is 2 inches longer than the current model, 155.7 inches, and the wheelbase was lengthened by 1.2 inches.

This allowed for an additional 3 inches between the front and rear seats and a wider cabin, with 1.4 inches of additional shoulder space in the front.


Source:
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130909/OEM03/309099972/ceo-calls-redesigned-fit-hondas-comeback-car#

2015 Honda Fit Hybrid: Don't expect it in the US

by James Tate of www.msn.com

Honda’s near-future plans include a redesign of its subcompact Fit hatchback. Slated to debut next summer as a 2015 model, the new Fit has a more aggressive design and will run a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine from Honda’s "Earth Dreams" powertrain.

But the intriguing question remains: Will Honda finally give us the Fit Hybrid?

On sale in Europe and Japan since 2010, the next-generation Fit Hybrid sports some interesting technologies. Instead of the Integrated Motor Assist system seen in other Honda hybrids, a cheaper hybrid solution that can't power the car on electricity alone, the 2015 Fit will use Honda’s new Sport Hybrid i-DCD system.

Sport Hybrid i-DCD installs a single electric motor inside a new 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which is paired with a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine. Lighter and more efficient lithium-ion batteries replace the nickel metal-hydride units, while the continuously variable transmission is also gone.

With a fully electric compressor and an electric servo brake system improving electric regenerative efficiency, Honda claims that the 2015 Fit Hybrid returns 35-percent higher fuel economy than that of the Integrated Motor Assist hybrids. Testing in Japan returned an impressive estimated 86 mpg.

Honda is also promising an upgraded interior experience for the Fit, which has been an area of complaints in the past. Honda hopes that its efforts in revamping the Fit is can boost sales: Despite critical acclaim, the Fit ranks fifth in subcompact sales so far in 2013, and the segment is becoming more crowded every year.

All of that having been said, the current Fit Hybrid isn’t offered in the United States, and we don’t expect this new one to be, either. Why, you ask? Well, the price of the hybrid powertrain pushes the economy-focused Fit into a range where everyone looking at a Fit will simply opt for the already-economical conventional-engine models. It seems much more logical for Honda to fit the new hybrid system in its CRZ, Insight and Civic Hybrid, the last of which is priced considerably closer to its gas-powered versions.

The Civic Hybrid, for example, costs $25,150, or more than $5,300 on top of a base Civic LX. While that price includes many features that are optional on lower-grade Civics, only 2 percent of Civic buyers take the hybrid. We can't imagine the Fit Hybrid selling for much less, and at that price, you're talking about a regular Civic for thousands less or the much larger Accord for the same price. For Honda, the cost of certifying the car -- even after it's assembled at Honda's new plant in Mexico, versus Japan -- may not be worth it.

America may yet see a version of the i-DCD system, though; current reports suggest a whole new subcompact sedan and crossover based on the Fit platform being offered to U.S. consumers. Both the new sedan and crossover would feature the new hybrid system, and they could arrive for sale in the United States as soon as early 2014.

Source;
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/post--2015-honda-fit-hybrid-dont-expect-it-in-the-us

AutoExpress: Honda Jazz/FIT Hybrid 2014 review

We try out a prototype of the new-look Honda Jazz Hybrid. Production Jazz release date spring 2014

Verdict

The Jazz’s new look won’t be to everyone’s taste, but few people will criticise it once behind the wheel. It steers, rides and handles better than ever, and the new dual-clutch box is a big step up from the noisy CVT. The superb claimed economy will make this Hybrid cheap to run, and the interior is bigger than before. Let’s just hope quality gets a boost.

 

Since its launch in 2001, the Honda Jazz hasn’t been changed drastically. But that’s about to change for 2014 with the third-generation Jazz, which benefits from a dramatic new look, an increase in dimensions and the addition to the range of a hybrid version.

We got an exclusive chance to try a prototype of the new Jazz (called the Fit in Japan) months ahead of its official debut. Honda is pinning its hopes largely on the car’s revamped styling, which could prove divisive. It looks better in the flesh than in photos, though, with a wide new front end taken from the FCX Clarity fuel cell car, as well as a set of tall tail-lights.

• Honda Jazz review (current model)

The challenge for the designers was to create styling that looked fresh and provided stronger road presence, but also maintained the previous model’s practicality. The wheelbase has in fact grown by around 50mm, but Honda has yet to reveal the exact figure.

On our drive, we did a few test track laps in the 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with a new dual-clutch box, plus the 1.3 petrol with a CVT. Both engines now come with twin cams for better throttle response, while the suspension has been drastically revised to improve cornering and high-speed stability.

The new Jazz was heavily benchmarked against the current Volkswagen Polo and tested extensively in Germany. On the road, these revisions are immediately obvious. You sit marginally lower than before, and you can feel the car’s improved stability from the off. The Jazz also feels bigger and sturdier than its predecessor, but turns in eagerly with virtually no understeer and plenty of feedback through the wheel.

There’s not much body roll for such a high-sided car, and the tyres grip well in tight corners.

A diesel will be offered in Europe, but as before the hybrid will be the flagship, combining a 1.5-litre petrol engine, electric motor and all-new intelligent dual-clutch box. This generates plenty of power – with 133bhp and 170Nm of torque – and has a claimed economy figure of approximately 85mpg, while sub-90g/km CO2 emissions make it a match for the diesel-powered Ford Fiesta ECOnetic.

The seven-speed box gives quick changes and allows more than adequate acceleration, and as you press on, a surprisingly sporty exhaust note fills the cabin. However, Honda appears to have thrown most of its budget at getting the handling and ride right. This means that, in the prototype at least, interior design and quality have suffered. So while the dash is simple and functional, it’s not in the same class as the Polo’s for materials, trim and build – although Honda claims that things will be much improved by the time the car arrives in the UK next spring.

Key specs

• Price: £18,500 (est)
• Engine: 1.5-litre 4cyl, electric motor
• Power/torque: 133bhp (combined)/170Nm
• Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel-drive

• 0-62mph/top speed: 10.2 seconds/120mph (est)
• Economy/CO2: 85mpg/85g/km (est)
• Equipment: 15-inch alloys, LEDs, dual-zone clim. control, Bluetooth
• On sale: Spring 2014

Source;

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/honda/jazz/65227/honda-jazz-hybrid-2014-review