Honda Motor Co Ltd has announced it has completely remodeled its "Fit" and will release it Oct 26, 2007. Adopting a newly designed platform, Honda strove to increase the small car's interior space and convenience while maintaining its handling.
Pricing ranges from ¥1.197 million (US$ 10,375) to ¥1.785 million (including consumption tax). A sales goal is set at 12,000 units per month.
Honda has moved the front pillar forward, expanded the surface area of the door mirrors by 30% and employed 15-inch aluminum wheels and large headlamps. The new Fit has achieved better visibility for drivers by making the front quarter windows three times larger than before, reducing the width of the front pillar by 20mm and so on. The newly incorporated large glass roof is provided with a motor-driven sunshade.
The body measures 3,900 (l) × 1,695 (w) × 1,525mm (h) with a wheelbase of 2,500mm. Compared with the predecessor model, the overall length and width are extended by 55mm and 20mm, respectively.
The height is unchanged. The wheelbase is 50mm longer than before, yet 1.3L models maintain the predecessor's minimum turning radius of 4.7m by increasing the tread size of front wheels. The interior width has been increased 30mm to 1,415mm.
Models for the Japanese market employ an emergency tire repair kit instead of a spare tire and secure 64L of storage space under the floor of the cargo room. Cargo capacity is 427L including the space under the floor. Models for overseas markets are provided with a spare tire.
Honda located the rear hatch opening 605mm from the ground and made the rear side doors open 80 degrees in a bid to allow easier loading and unloading. In addition, the new Fit provides three "Ultra Luggage" modes so users can change modes in accordance with purposes.
The modes are the "Regular" mode, in which the space under the floor and the cargo room are separated and used for different purposes, the "Upper/Lower" mode, in which the cargo space is divided into upper and lower partitions with the luggage board lifted from the floor, and the "Tall" mode, in which the cargo room is used for tall objects with the luggage board opened.
The power train can be chosen from 1.3L or 1.5L "i-VTEC" engines. The 1.3L engine is combined with a CVT (continuously variable transmission) with a torque converter in a front-engine, front-wheel drive (FF) model or a 5-speed automatic transmission (AT) in a four wheel drive (4WD) model.
A 1.5L engine FF model comes up with a paddle-shift CVT with a torque converter that supports 7-speed manual transmission mode, or a 5-speed manual transmission. A 1.5L 4WD model features a 5AT with a paddle shifter. The 1.3L class achieves a power rating of 73kW (100PS) and a 24km/L fuel economy, while the 1.5L class achieves 88kW (120PS) and 19.6km/L, respectively.
Nikkei Electronics Asia magazine is available each month free of charge to engineers, managers and other qualified readers.
Nikkei Electronics |
Nikkei Monozukuri |
Nikkei Automotive Technology |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
| The magazine for electronics designers and managers. | Design You Won't Regret - How to Reduce the Risk of Accidents | The comprehensive automotive technology magazine. |
Copyright © 1995-2010 Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
All editorial content and graphics on this Web site may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the copyright owner.
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009