Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Paris Preview: Honda readies refreshed Civic Hybrid and i-DTEC gearbox]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/paris-preview-honda-readies-refreshed-civic-hybrid-and-i-dtec-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/paris-preview-honda-readies-refreshed-civic-hybrid-and-i-dtec-g/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/10/paris-preview-honda-readies-refreshed-civic-hybrid-and-i-dtec-g/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


click above for more shots of the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

It's the impending debut of the all-new Prius-assaulting Insight hybrid that's got our hearts all aflutter over Honda's booth at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, but that's not all the automaker will be bringing with it to the City of Lights. Along with the new dedicated hybrid we'll see the latest version of its older and somewhat less interesting brother, the Civic Hybrid, that along with the rest of the Civic line for '09, gets a small bit of freshening for the new model year. We do like the looks of the new front-end, but besides that, there's not much to see here... and so we move along to the CR-Z hybrid coupe that Honda's been showing off since Tokyo. Big H's other stab at saving the world runs on hydrogen, the FCX Clarity. Despite the fact that nobody in Europe will be able to buy it, it'll be there with bells on.

Honda will also use the Paris Motor Show to introduce the Continent to its new-for-'09 Jazz, known to us Yanks as the Fit. Something else that should be of interest to the Europeans is Honda's first automatic gearbox for its ubiquitous 2.2-liter diesel engine, dubbed the i-DTEC, which rounds out the new stuff that Honda has to show in Paris.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Paris Preview: Honda readies refreshed Civic Hybrid and i-DTEC gearbox

Paris Preview: Honda readies refreshed Civic Hybrid and i-DTEC gearbox originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hondahonda civic hybridhonda i-dtechonda insighthonda jazzHondaCivicHybridHondaI-dtecHondaInsightHondaJazzparis 2008paris motor showParis2008ParisMotorShowWed, 10 Sep 2008 17:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda Fit named Japanese Car of the Year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/honda-fit-named-japanese-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/honda-fit-named-japanese-car-of-the-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/21/honda-fit-named-japanese-car-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above image for high-res gallery of the 2008 Honda Fit

The second-generation Honda Fit (a.k.a. Jazz in some markets outside the U.S.) has been named Japan's Car of the Year. Reuters reports that the little Honda hatchback beat out such heavyweights as the new Nissan Skyline (a.k.a. Infiniti G37 in the U.S.) and the new Subaru Impreza. Chosen by a 60-member panel comprised mainly of automotive journalists, the Car of the Year award in Japan has gone to Honda five times in the last 10 years. Last year's winner was the new Lexus LS sedan. You can check out the entire list of past winners here on Wikipedia. While we in the U.S. aren't able to purchase the new Fit yet, it's on sale in Japan and flying off the lot. Expected to sell around 12,000 units per month initially, Honda sold more than 20,000 in the car's first two weeks of availability. The new Fit's larger size and smoother looks should help it find a few more buyers in the U.S. as well when it goes on sale sometime next year.

[Source: Reuters]

Gallery: 2008 Honda Fit (JDM)

Honda Fit named Japanese Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fit car of the yarfit car of the yearFitCarOfTheYarFitCarOfTheYearhonda fithonda fit car of the yaerhonda jazzHondaFitHondaFitCarOfTheYaerHondaJazzjapan car of the yaerjapan car of the yearJapan COTYJapanCarOfTheYaerJapanCarOfTheYearJapanCotyjazz car of the yaerjazz car of the yearJazzCarOfTheYaerJazzCarOfTheYearWed, 21 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Honda Fit growing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/spy-shots-honda-fit-growing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/spy-shots-honda-fit-growing/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/10/spy-shots-honda-fit-growing/#commentsFiled under: ,

Beneath those ridiculously large tacked-on fender flares lies the next Jazz (Fit in the States). Thanks to Auto Express and an alert reader, we have a glimpse at what the future may hold for Honda's most recent hit. They believe this is a mule being used to test Honda's next supermini. Apparently the UK developed Civic did so well for Honda that Britain is again being tabbed to help with the replacement for the Jazz.

Built on basically the same chassis as the current model, the new Jazz should keep its innovative central fuel tank, fold-flat rear bench, five-seat configuration, and 1.2 and 1.4 liter gas engines. Although the spyshot seems to show the five-door will be growing a bit in every direction, the big news is the diesel that might find its way underhood. A new dash and upgraded interior materials round out the changes. This new for '08 Jazz should have its coming out party at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. Click the image or the read link for a pair of full-size shots.

[Source: Auto Express]

Spy Shots: Honda Fit growing originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jan 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Honda FitHonda JazzHondaFitHondaJazzWed, 10 Jan 2007 10:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Honda UK Sales Going Strong]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/honda-uk-sales-going-strong/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/honda-uk-sales-going-strong/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/20/honda-uk-sales-going-strong/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Honda Civic 5 Door

While the total market for UK car sales is down over 4% compared to last year, Honda is bucking that trend and showing 2% growth, thanks in large part to the strength the new 5-door Civic and the continued success of the Jazz (that's what the Fit is called in Europe) and CR-V.

The British-built Civic 5-Door is the UK division's top mover, tallying over 16,000 sales so far. It has outperformed what the entire Civic range did up to this point in time last year, and it has yet to be joined in the marketplace by the Civic 3-door (to be unveiled next month) and the new Civic Type R (coming next year).

The Honda Jazz is next with 14,000+ sales to date. Both Civic and Jazz are retaining value, too. Over the first six to ten months of ownership, Civic keeps 97% of its retail value, while Jazz is only slightly behind at 95%.

As successful as they are, however, the two big volume sellers for Honda UK are still runners-up in their respective classes. At this time, Civic is #2 behind the Ford Focus and Jazz plays second fiddle to the Ford Fiesta.

Next year could be a different story, as Civic, with a 3-car lineup in its corner, goes toe-to-toe with Focus for the top spot. There's a lot to like about both cars, so it'll be interesting to follow from afar.

Sadly, that's all North American fans will be able to do, as the UK-spec Civic and Focus are forbidden fruit this side of the pond.

(Press release with YTD sales numbers after the jump)

[Source: Honda UK]

Continue reading Honda UK Sales Going Strong

Honda UK Sales Going Strong originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>civic 5-doorCivic5-doorhonda jazzhonda ukhonda uk markethonda uk saleshonda uk sales 2006HondaJazzHondaUkHondaUkMarketHondaUkSalesHondaUkSales2006Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:04:00 EST