Honda recently caused a huge stir in the hatchback segment when they unveiled at their latest version of the Honda Fit or better known as the Honda Jazz in Asia.
This new compact hatchback was unveiled to the global media at the Tokyo Motor Show and with a number of variants to cater to a growing market segment.
Without compromising the spacious cabin and excellent usability that has been a hallmark of each successive generation of Fit, this 4th-generation all-new Fit was developed with the intention of becoming the globally-accepted standard for compact cars suited to this new era.
As a new concept in automobile development, the development team pursued an “emotional value” which cannot be expressed numerically and embodied four dimensions of comfort that enable this vehicle to be better able to support the daily lives of customers. Moreover, the all-new Fit will come in five different types so that customers can select the model that is right for them depending on their lifestyle and life stage.
The hybrid version of the all-new Fit will be the first Honda compact car equipped with the 2-motor hybrid system Honda developed to realize both excellent environmental performance and a comfortable driving experience at the same time, and will be introduced to the market as a part of Honda’s e:HEV* models.
- *e:HEV is a newly-established communication name for Honda’s 2-motor hybrid system, which is positioned as Honda’s core electrification technology and a hybrid system for this new era, for vehicles driven mostly with an electric motor.
Key features of the all-new Fit
“Four dimensions of comfort” that enable better support for people’s daily lives:
Comfortable view:
The all-new Fit features a front pillar with a cross-sectional structure that is different from previous generations of Fit and yet realizes a structure which enables impact energy to flow to the vehicle body in the event of a collision. While ensuring collision safety performance without compromise, this newly-designed front pillar realizes overwhelmingly wide and superior frontal visibility compared to that of previous Fit models.
Moreover, the instrument panel features a flat-topped design which emphasizes horizontal and straight lines, and windshield wipers are positioned to be barely visible from inside the cabin, which also enhances a comfortable view while driving.
Seating comfort:
As for the front seats, the all-new Fit will be the first Honda model to feature a new-generation body stabilizing seat that Honda developed while envisioning application for its high-class sedan models. The planar support structure of the seat stabilizes the body and makes long driving less tiring and enables the user to enjoy the soft feeling of the seat.
The rear seats of the all-new Fit continue to feature seat arrangements as versatile as that of the previous generation Fit and realize seat comfort equivalent to high-class sedan models by adopting a larger and thicker seat pad which offers stress-free seating even for adult passengers.
Ride comfort:
Equipped with Honda’s new, more compact 2-motor hybrid system, the all-new Fit will drive smoothly by an electric motor for virtually all situations of everyday driving and realize outstanding environmental performance as well as excellent ride comfort with powerful acceleration and comfortable driving.
Usability:
While maintaining the spacious cabin from previous generations of Fit, the all-new Fit features enhanced usability which supports people’s mobility, including a stress-free layout of storage areas that ensure comfort for all occupants during everyday driving as well as over long-distances.
Five types of the all-new Fit providing unique individual characteristics:
BASIC:
The basic type of the all-new Fit offers both high-quality design and occupant comfort. This type will feature a simple and endearing design including a front face design with a gentle look and seamless and flowing exterior form.
HOME:
This type strives to realize a relaxing and carefully-designed space with high visual and tactile quality by coordinating colors and materials, including natural-looking fabric seats made with high-quality materials, a genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and Prime Smooth™ soft padding.
NESS:
This type features exciting color coordination and adopts water-repellent materials for the seat surfaces and soft padding on the instrument panel. It is a sporty and fashionable type which will enable customers to enjoy driving just like they enjoy fitness and sports.
CROSSTAR:
This type features an exterior design developed exclusively for the CROSSTAR as well as 16-inch aluminum wheels, which look good both in city and outdoor environment. As for the interior, water-repellent materials are used for seat surfaces and soft padding on the instrument panel. This type projects an enhanced image of compact and yet tough vehicle.
LUXE:
Striving to create a space where people can spend elegant and comfortable time, standard genuine leather seats were designed as an exclusive feature for this type while pursuing excellence in visual and tactile quality. For the exterior, platinum-style chrome plating and 16-inch aluminum wheels were adopted to increase the high quality feel.
Further advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies:
A front wide view camera which covers a wide area in front of the vehicle will be newly added to the Honda SENSING® advanced safety and driver-assistive system*1 installed to the all-new Fit. By combining the front wide view camera and eight sonar sensors mounted in the front and back of the vehicle, the all-new Fit features further enhanced existing Honda SENSING functions as well as the new short-distance collision mitigation braking system*2. The Honda SENSING is available as standard equipment on all types of the all-new Fit*3.
Connected services that enhance customers’ comfort and peace of mind in their daily lives with Fit:
The all-new Fit will be the first model equipped with the Honda CONNECT on-board communication module developed exclusively for Honda vehicles. Starting with the all-new Fit, Honda will begin evolving Honda Total Care Premium*4 which consists of three services; 1) remote control of some vehicle functions via smartphone*5; 2) emergency support service which connects the vehicle directly to a support center in case of an emergency such as a traffic accident and enables prompt and proper responses*6; and 3) security “rush over” service which dispatches a security guard when an abnormal situation occurring to the vehicle is detected*7.
- *1There is a limit to the capabilities (e.g. recognition capability and control capability) of individual functions of Honda SENSING. Please do not overestimate the capabilities of each Honda SENSING function and drive safety while paying constant attention to your surroundings.
For more details about Honda SENSING, please access:
https://global.honda/innovation/technology/automobile/Honda-Sensing.html
- *2When the driver overlooks obstacles and the system detects the risk of a collision, the system will assist the driver to avoid a collision or mitigate damage in a collision.
- *3Vehicle specification without Honda SENSING also is available for the Basic type.
- *4An optional fee-based service offered exclusively for owners of Honda vehicles equipped with the Honda CONNECT communication module. Customers can choose a “basic pack” or “additional option service.”
- *5Through a dedicated smartphone app, the user can 1) turn on the air-conditioning unit remotely, 2) receive notification when vehicle doors are not locked and lock the doors remotely and 3) check the location of the parked car.
- *6Prompt and proper emergency response will become possible by sending essential information such as vehicle information and location information from the operator directly to emergency responders (police and fire stations) and other relevant parties such as an insurance company at once.
- *7When the vehicle’s security alarm goes off, notification will be sent to the user’s smartphone and the collaborating security service company, ALSOK (Sohgo Security Services, Co., Ltd.), will immediately dispatch a security guard to the location of the vehicle, depending on the situation.
