Honda Fit Shuttle Launch Delayed

After devastating the northeastern coast of Japan and nearly bringing the local automotive industry to its knees, the earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11 are now beginning to affect the long-term plans the Japanese auto makers had for the future months.

Honda, one of the car makers that have escaped the natural disasters a bit better than its competitors Nissan and Toyota, is now said to have delayed the launch of the Fit Shuttle wagon because of the effects of the calamities.

The initial launch date for the model was March. The new release date, according to Carscoop has not yet been decided, but its now clear that the model will not meet its customers this month.

The Shuttle version of the Fit, 51 cm longer than the hatchback, promises to bring a bit more space for both the passengers and the luggage they might carry than the regular model. The model can carry five passengers and is aimed at buyers aged in between 20 and 40 years of age.

At the core of the new model lies a gasoline-electric hybrid, made up of a 1.3l engine coupled to a 10 KW electric motor, the same used on the Fit hybrid, with the engine lineup being completed by a 1.5l four-cylinder.

According to the available information, the Fit Shuttle will sell in Japan starting from 1.61 million Yen ($13,900) for the gasoline version and 1.81 million Yen ($15,800) for the hybrid one. Updates on the new launch date for the Fit Shuttle will be brought to your attention as they become available.