|
The
all-new 2007 Honda Fit, a subcompact 5-door
hatchback set to go on-sale in the U.S. in April,
will make its U.S. debut at the North American
International Auto Show in Detroit, American Honda
Motor Co., Inc., announced today. Already one of
Honda's hottest selling models in Asia and Europe,
the Fit is designed to enter the U.S. market as
leader in the subcompact segment with top-of-class
feature content, refinement, interior functionality,
sporty driving demeanor and high levels of standard
safety equipment.
Built
on Honda's legendary foundation for dependability,
quality and reliability, the Fit is a premium
entry-level vehicle that emphasizes style,
technology and value. The Fit features a 109
horsepower 1.5-liter 4-cylinder VTEC engine, a
5-speed manual transmission or an available, first
in segment, 5-speed automatic transmission, and over
90 cubic feet of passenger volume with multiple
seating and cargo configurations. A Fit Sport model
offers wheel-mounted paddle shifters (with automatic
transmission) and a 160-watt, six-speaker audio
system. Fit will be supported by a wide variety of
Honda Genuine Accessories, including Honda Apple(R)
iPod(R) Music Link(R), allowing owners to
personalize their Fits inside and out.
"The
2007 Fit provides a new entry point into Honda for
consumers considering an attractive and efficient
small car," said John Mendel, senior vice president
of American Honda. "The large interior adapts to
people or cargo like no other car in its class. It
comes standard-equipped with advanced safety
technology, and follows in the tradition of Honda's
fun-to-drive performance."
Unprecedented Subcompact Seating and Cargo
Flexibility
Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior
provides a surprisingly large passenger and cargo
space for both maximum comfort and utility. At the
foundation is the Fit's Magic Seat(TM), an
innovative 60/40 split rear seat that allows the
seatbacks to fold down or the seat bottoms to flip
up, providing four distinct seating and cargo
carrying configurations (refresh mode, tall object
mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition
to the standard five passenger mode. With all seats
in the upright position, passenger volume measures
90.1 cubic feet (slightly less than an Accord's
passenger volume) with 21.3 cubic feet of cargo
capacity behind the second row (slightly less than
an Element's cargo volume behind the second row). In
order to help maximize Fit's useable interior space,
Honda located the fuel tank in a central location
towards the middle of the vehicle. This allows the
cargo floor in the rear of Fit to be relatively low,
thus increasing the interior volume.
Fun to Drive...Past the Pump
The
1.5-liter, SOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder VTEC engine
generates 109 horsepower @ 5800 rpm and 105
foot-pounds of torque @ 4800 rpm. The compact and
efficient powerplant features Honda's innovative
Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC(TM)).The
VTEC system's ability to provide highly efficient
operation at low engine speeds and extended
performance at high engine speeds benefits fuel
economy, power and low emissions.
Refinement is further enhanced with electronic
Drive-by-Wire throttle control, which provides quick
throttle response, smooth automatic transmission
shifts (on automatic transmission models) and
precise fuel delivery to the engine. Friction
reducing technologies include roller bearing tipped
rocker arms, a low friction timing chain tensioner,
molydebenum coated piston skirts and an offset
crankshaft/connecting rod design.
The
suspension set up for the Fit is a combination of a
front MacPherson strut/rear torsion beam with
trailing arm.
The
compact front suspension and rear torsion beam were
both designed to allow for a large passenger cabin
with a low floor to maximize the cargo carrying
capacity.
Fit
employs a compact, efficient and highly responsive
Electric Power Steering (EPS) system that also
contributes to higher fuel economy since engine
power is not needed to operate a hydraulic system.
The wheel size measures 14-inches with P175/65R14
tires, and 16-inch wheels with P205/45R16 are
available as a dealer-installed option.
Estimated city/highway fuel economy ratings of 33/38
miles per gallon is expected to be among the highest
ratings in the subcompact 5-door hatchback class.
Emissions levels are rated as Low Emissions Vehicle
2 (LEV-2) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB)
and Tier 2 / Bin 5 by the Federal government.
Top-of-Class Standard Safety Equipment
Already a leader in vehicle safety as demonstrated
by Honda's "Safety for Everyone" initiative, Honda
continues to implement leading airbag technology in
all vehicles regardless of size or price. The Fit
has the most standard safety features in its class
with no other subcompact offering as much standard
advanced safety technology. Dual-stage,
dual-threshold front airbags, dual front side
airbags and side-curtain airbags are standard
equipment on all Fit models. All seating positions
have three-point seat belts, while front occupants
are further protected by pre-tensioning seat belts.
An enhanced knee bolster provides additional
protection for passengers.
Standard active safety equipment includes anti-lock
braking system (ABS) with ventilated discs in the
front and drums in the back, and electronic brake
distribution (EBD).
Paddle Shifters, Audio Options Define High
Content Sport Model
The
Fit Sport model is the only subcompact to offer
steering wheel-mounted paddle shifter controls (with
automatic transmission). The Sport package includes
underbody kit, rear roofline spoiler, fog lights,
security system with keyless remote entry, cruise
control, and 15-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with
P195/55R15 tires.
The
Fit Sport also features a premium 160-watt, AM/FM/CD
audio system with six speakers, MP3/WMA playback
capability, a five-mode equalizer, and an auxiliary
audio jack for input from a portable music player.
Standard Features and Accessories
Fit
comes with standard amenities such as air
conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system with four
speakers, power windows, power mirrors, power door
locks, and a two-tone interior.
The
2007 Fit promises to be one of the most customizable
vehicles from Honda with approximately 30
accessories available at the dealer. Fit will offer
the Honda Apple(R) iPod(R) Music Link(R) as a
dealer-installed accessory. The Honda iPod Music
Link allows the user's iPod (sold separately) to
interact with the audio system and charge the iPOD's
battery.
Other
interior accessories include an ambient lighting,
trim panel accents (silver, red and blue), steering
wheel covers and shift knobs. Outside, the Fit can
be customized with Honda Factory Performance
equipment including 16-inch alloy wheels, Sport
package underbody kit, sport exhaust, chrome exhaust
tip finisher, rear bumper accents and a sport mesh
grille.
A
consumer preview Web site for the Fit is available
at fit.honda.com. Official pricing for the 2007
Honda Fit has not yet been determined.
Additional media information and high-resolution
photography is available at www.hondanews.com.
Consumer information is available at fit.honda.com.
|