Photo: SB-Medien
After the European-specification Honda HR-V small crossover's first sighting, yet another new Honda model is getting ready to launch on the old continent. This is the new Jazz, the smallest car Honda sells to its European customers.
The Jazz is sold overseas as the Fit and while it competes with European superminis, it's much larger than most, especially the Peugeot 208, measuring about 4.1 meters. Thanks to this and a well engineered platform, the all-new Jazz will have the biggest interior and boot in its class.
This particular model has been on sale in Japan since late 2013 and has proven extremely successful in its domestic environment. Thanks to a new hybrid drive, it's the most efficient car in the country and the best selling one as well, outpacing even the Prius with about 20,000 deliveries per month. That's about double the amount of Civics Honda sells in Europe.
As of this summer, the new Jazz is also on sale in America as a 2015 model year, admittedly with a different powertrain. Since basically the whole world has already seen this car, Honda's UK test engineers didn't feel there was a need to camouflage their prototype. Only the front grille is covered up. There is one other difference from the Japanese-spec car and that's the added LED daytime running lights to the sides of the bumper.
Under the bonnet, the new Jazz will be offered with a choice of 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter i-VTEC engines. Both are fitted as standard with a 5-speed manual, but a CVT automatic will be available on the more powerful of the two. Honda is also working on its own 1-liter turbo engine, like the one offered by so many of the Jazz's competitors. But, but there's no telling when development will be completed.
The Jazz Hybrid could be offered as well, but has not yet been spotted testing. The Japanese model is propelled by a very efficient 1.5-liter i-VTEC combined with an electric motor and Honda's first twin-clutch gearbox. In the JC08 combined cycle, it's supposed consume just 3 liters per 1000 kilometers. However, the gearbox isn't working as expected and as a result, Honda is facing a recall of 175,356 units.
Europe has not exactly been kind to Honda in recent years. The all-new Civic hatchback, which is specifically engineered to appeal to European buyers, has underperformed in terms of sales. The company has thus been forced to cut jobs and reduce the number of shifts at its Swindon factory in Britain.
Being smaller and cheaper, we can hope the Jazz will do a little better, especially if they decide to offer the neon yellow and blue from the Japanese-spec car. Look for an official debut early next year, potentially at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015.
This particular model has been on sale in Japan since late 2013 and has proven extremely successful in its domestic environment. Thanks to a new hybrid drive, it's the most efficient car in the country and the best selling one as well, outpacing even the Prius with about 20,000 deliveries per month. That's about double the amount of Civics Honda sells in Europe.
As of this summer, the new Jazz is also on sale in America as a 2015 model year, admittedly with a different powertrain. Since basically the whole world has already seen this car, Honda's UK test engineers didn't feel there was a need to camouflage their prototype. Only the front grille is covered up. There is one other difference from the Japanese-spec car and that's the added LED daytime running lights to the sides of the bumper.
Under the bonnet, the new Jazz will be offered with a choice of 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter i-VTEC engines. Both are fitted as standard with a 5-speed manual, but a CVT automatic will be available on the more powerful of the two. Honda is also working on its own 1-liter turbo engine, like the one offered by so many of the Jazz's competitors. But, but there's no telling when development will be completed.
The Jazz Hybrid could be offered as well, but has not yet been spotted testing. The Japanese model is propelled by a very efficient 1.5-liter i-VTEC combined with an electric motor and Honda's first twin-clutch gearbox. In the JC08 combined cycle, it's supposed consume just 3 liters per 1000 kilometers. However, the gearbox isn't working as expected and as a result, Honda is facing a recall of 175,356 units.
Europe has not exactly been kind to Honda in recent years. The all-new Civic hatchback, which is specifically engineered to appeal to European buyers, has underperformed in terms of sales. The company has thus been forced to cut jobs and reduce the number of shifts at its Swindon factory in Britain.
Being smaller and cheaper, we can hope the Jazz will do a little better, especially if they decide to offer the neon yellow and blue from the Japanese-spec car. Look for an official debut early next year, potentially at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2015.
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