NYIAS '08: 2009 Honda Fit

[siegen]

All-new 2009 Honda Fit Introduces New Realm of Refinement to Subcompact Class
New Fit further refines interior functionality, enhances sporty feel, and adds safety features
Press Release - Photo Gallery

03/19/2008 - NEW YORK -

The all-new 2009 Honda Fit, set to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, is making its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Fit promises to further its leadership in the subcompact segment with top-of-class feature content, including an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™; improved interior functionality, including one-motion dive-down rear seats; enhanced sporty demeanor through improved suspension, steering and body rigidity; and high levels of standard safety equipment, including Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

"Critics and customers alike have voted the Fit among the best small vehicles on the road," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "This new Fit raises the bar even further, taking what was already great about the Fit, making it even better and throwing in a healthy dose of refinement."

Enhanced Comfort and Convenience

Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior provides surprisingly large passenger and class-leading cargo space to maximize comfort and utility. At the foundation is an improved rear Magic Seat®, now featuring one-motion dive-down functionality, which allows the rear seat to fold flat with the front seats in the rearmost slide position and without removing the rear head restraints. The seats offer multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations (tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition to the standard five-passenger mode. Additionally, a new hidden storage bin under the driver's side rear seat provides a place to store small items.

Adding further refinement, Fit Sport offers an available factory-installed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. All Fit Sport models feature a USB audio interface1 compatible with current generation iPods® and many USB storage devices.

"The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that's a class above," said Colliver. "Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise."

Fun to Drive

The Fit features a new 1.5-literi-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic transmission, which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Fit Sport. The new engine is designed to offer the best balance of fuel economy and power. Larger 15-inch and 16-inch (Fit Sport) wheels hint at enhancements to the Fit's suspension, steering and body rigidity, which are intended to produce sportier handling without sacrificing comfort.

Top-of-Class Standard Safety Equipment

The 2009 Fit adds Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology, available Vehicle Stability Assist ™ (VSA®) and active head restraints, to a top-of-class list of standard safety features. With Fit's adoption of ACE, more than 94 percent of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. will include the innovative body structure. When introduced to the 2009 Fit, VSA will be available in the lineup of every model Honda sells in the United States. Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all Fit models. All seating positions have three-point seat belts. Additionally, front and rear visibility is improved.

Standard active safety equipment includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with ventilated discs in the front and drums in the back, and electronic brake distribution (EBD).

More detailed information about the 2009 Honda Fit will be released closer to the vehicle launch in the fall.

Additional media information and high-resolution photography is available at www.hondanews.com.

1USB audio interface is used for direct connection to, and control of a variety of digital audio players such as iPods(1) and other USB devices(2) that contain MP3, WMA, or AAC music files(3). (1) Fifth generation or later iPod, nano, iPod Classic, iTouch, or iPhone. (2) Some USB devices such as those with security software may not work. (3) Except for Digital Rights-protected files.

[Robert Hall]

New Fit is Go! I've been seeing a lot of Fits lately, incl. a bright orange one w/ tinted windows yesterday.

Edited March 19, 2008 by moltar

[Z-06]

I guess Mercedes Benz may be ruing for not bringing the A class soon.

[pow]

Very nice. Looks like an excellent commuter car - maybe even preferable to the Civic because of the miniminivan utility, smaller footprint, and better fuel economy.

[siegen]

Very nice. Looks like an excellent commuter car - maybe even preferable to the Civic because of the miniminivan utility, smaller footprint, and better fuel economy.

Or if you don't want the batman style steering wheel. :AH-HA_wink:

I am quite impressed with the new Fit's interior. The steering wheel and instrument cluster are very nice, almost too nice. The rest of the dash is very simple and functional. Lots of cubby-holes and cup holders.

[balthazar]

That blatant assymetry in the interior would drive me nuts.

[Camino LS6]

Can't someone make a little car like this with at least some style?

Not singling-out the Fit, all of the cars in this class are just so unattractive.

Someone has to have a design that has some appeal beyond the utilitarian.

Anyone?

[siegen]

Can't someone make a little car like this with at least some style?

Not singling-out the Fit, all of the cars in this class are just so unattractive.

Someone has to have a design that has some appeal beyond the utilitarian.

Anyone?

About the only thing you can do is change the headlights/grille and rear end, without impacting the functionality. Even the window and hood rake are there for a reason. I think the styling is right on for the market it is designed for. They didn't design this to appeal to car enthusiasts, because most of them won't buy this kind of car to begin with.

This vehicle is about as far opposite as it gets from the Solstice Coupe. har har. :AH-HA_wink:

[ocnblu]

Worthwhile improvements structurally and mechanically, but Good Lord, that new dash looks like someone took a hefty bag full of dash parts and just dumped it out in there... not as nice as the current dash, imo. My Sierra dash has a tiny sprinkling of silver painted plastic trim, but that huge area on this Fit, the center bezel/upper glovebox door looks bad. It does promise to be more fun-to-drive than the current car, with all that new hardware.

[Camino LS6]

About the only thing you can do is change the headlights/grille and rear end, without impacting the functionality. Even the window and hood rake are there for a reason. I think the styling is right on for the market it is designed for. They didn't design this to appeal to car enthusiasts, because most of them won't buy this kind of car to begin with.

This vehicle is about as far opposite as it gets from the Solstice Coupe. har har. :AH-HA_wink:

I understand, I really do, but couldn't someone give at least a nod to the styling of one of these?

The whole segment is made up of eyesores.

Something... anything... would be nice to see.

[bowtie_dude]

That blatant asymetry in the interior would drive me nuts.

This.

[siegen]

Worthwhile improvements structurally and mechanically, but Good Lord, that new dash looks like someone took a hefty bag full of dash parts and just dumped it out in there... not as nice as the current dash, imo. My Sierra dash has a tiny sprinkling of silver painted plastic trim, but that huge area on this Fit, the center bezel/upper glovebox door looks bad. It does promise to be more fun-to-drive than the current car, with all that new hardware.

It could use a silver accent or something, to tie it in with the steering wheel better. I like the placement of the knobs, it's like they are swooping down. It looks randomly placed, and I think that's the look they were going for.

[Cory Wolfe]

The exterior is decent for what it is, can't really complain except for how odd the front fender/A-pillar area looks. The interior.. well.. besides the attractive gauges, surround and steering wheel, its quite horrid. Sure... its functional and has a NAV system, but it looks like ass.

[loki]

not to divert the subject but... is there a difference between the fit and the jazz? there is a Jazz up the street.

this car--- easy segment leader until GM gets the 1.4L turbo here / 5+ speed in the Aveo

[regfootball]

yeah, camino is right. can we get something with styling?

yet, the car itself is high functioning. I'll assume it drives good. It would be nice to see an optional high perf engine.

the point to make here is GM sorely needs a car like this. Chevette, anyone?

Edited March 20, 2008 by regfootball

[Robert Hall]

not to divert the subject but... is there a difference between the fit and the jazz? there is a Jazz up the street.

this car--- easy segment leader until GM gets the 1.4L turbo here / 5+ speed in the Aveo

The Fit is the Jazz...Jazz is the name for it in Europe and some other markets, I think..