Hello Fit Freaks,<o></o>

FitFreak.net staff members will attend the November 1-4, 2005 SEMA show in <st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Las Vegas</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">NV</st1:state></st1lace>.
What is the SEMA Show? <o></o>

<o> </o>

<o></o>The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association) Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world and attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from over 100 countries to see the hottest automotive products in one place.

<o> </o>

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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:399.75pt;height:266.25pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///COCUME~1512536LOCALS~1Tempmsohtml1\01clip_image0 13.jpg" o:title="Skyline SEM2004111643159_pv"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The Honda Motor Company is the sponsor of this years show and will debut the 200hp 2006 Civic Si Coupe at SEMA.

We will also take this opportunity to talk with Honda representatives to learn more about the Fit’s release and with venders about Fit/Jazz products they will offer for the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">US</st1lace></st1:country-region> and Canadian markets.

 

So what is that car with the gray & orange paint? I thought at first it was a customized Fit.

 

Thats the Polk audio/Momo Honda Civic Si hatchback from the 2004 SEMA show.

 

...Is that Honda makes some official announcements in regards to the US/Canadian market Honda Fit at SEMA.

It's very likely we'll be getting the mid-model change (MMC) Fit that went on sale at the end of 2004 in Japan; the biggest unknown now is what kind of engine will we get. From a recent USA Today article, it appears Honda might not be using the L13A or L15A engines now used on the Fit/Jazz models; that could open the door for a variant of 1.3-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine from the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid.

 

MtViewGuy188,

I don't know if Honda will announce the Specs for the North American version of the Fit but it would make perfect sense to use the 1.3L from the new Civic Hybrid, 110hp, 123 ft/lbs of torque all in less space than engine shared by the 1.3L Fit/Jazz and previous generation Civic Hybrid.

Lets wait and see what Honda decides. If Honda does use the new engine it would provide better economy than the present 1.3L Fit and the perfomance of the 1.5L with more torque around town. Might also explain why the NA cars will come from Japan. As far as I know that is where the hybrid engine is produced?

 

I hope you will take the digital camera with you. Maybe they will have a Fit on display there too!! Drill them for all the Fit info you can. Good work!

 

I'd ask this:

What engine(s)?
What transmissions?
When will it be here?
Will it have ABS standard?
How many trim levels?
How much for a base model?
Will it have a trip meter?
Will it have the mileage meter?
What color?
Is you daughter hot?


Standars like that.

 

Actually, I personally think the US-market Fit may be using the gasoline engine from the 2006 Civic Hybrid (minus the IMA hardware, of course!) but with an SOHC i-VTEC valvetrain almost identical in design to that used on the R18 engine found on the regular 2006 Civics. I can see two engine sizes, 1.3 liter rated at 93 bhp (SAE 08/04 net) aimed for high fuel economy and 1.5 liter rated at 110-115 bhp (SAE 08/04 net) aimed for sporting performance (but still with good fuel economy).

The likely transmission choices will probably be five-speed manual (maybe Honda could put in a six-speed manual?) and CVT-7 automatic.

 

Any new info from Sema? Any Fit news to report?

 

Well as far as Honda's Safety for Everyone campaign they will no longer produce any cars for the us market without ABS, front, side, and side curtain airbags, side impact beems etc. etc. Honda should also give a spring launch right around the same time as the Ridgeline release last year. One of our regional managers is already reserving a local race track parking lot for the training events in Houston so that we can test the car against the Scion xA and some other cars in the same segment. All the other questions i cant really say as they weren't addressed to me

 

I like the idea that you'll test the Fit aganist the Scion Xa, as those 2 will be at the top of the list in this catagory of car. I kinda think it will be Fit Vs Scion and all the other makes will be going for last place. heh

 

So, ABS will come standard it seems. That will add to the cost. ABS annoying when you drive on ice and snow 5 months of the year like me. Every time you stop, ABS kicks in. The new Yaris base does not have ABS. I could always just pull the ABS fuse like on my current car and look at the idiot light all the time. I'm all for safety, it's just ABS I can't stand.

Having a day at the track with the Fit and those Toyotas (we don't have those in Canada.) would be a blast. Can't wait till you report back.

 

Yup... when I bought my element I opted for the LX, because I saw no need to spend the extra few grand for ABS, side airbags, upgraded radio(that I'd remove any how) and alloy wheels.

I think my money was better spent on a real good set of studded snow tires

 

Well as far as the costs involved in the Abs you don't have much to worry about. the whole reason behind putting all that stuff standard in Hondas was that we as a company have the largest indoor crash test facility on the planet, build all our cars to take impacts with vehicles of different sizes and frankly dont feel that the average driver should have to put their own safety at risk because they cant or dont want to buy the EX model etc. So regardless of budget Honda wants you to be safe and it feels pretty good to get something standard that others have to pay hundreds or thousands more for on a competitive brand. I know I'm a little biased because I work for Honda but the cost of the cars tend to go up maybe 1 percent year after year but the content they add is ussually worth thousands more retail. So long story short when Honda adds something to a car we like to lose a little profit and have a customer live long enough to buy another honda.