All:

I was surprised at some of the sideview pix of how long the USDM '09 Fit noses were. So, wanting to see what the rest of the non NHTSA developed world was getting, since I cannot read Japanese but I can read Dutch, I went to Honda's website in Holland, and looked at their slide show:

http://www.honda.nl/specials/car/jaz...site/index.php

Yup, looks like we get a dorked with car again.

I had assumed since this car was planned for the USDM market, that it would not have had the bumper mods required for the '07-08 cars?

I wonder what the real difference is, as many global compacts such as the Mini, Aveo and Yaris have the same front end (at least outward in appearance, there may be hidden differences) the world over.

 

I read that the front overhang was lengthened exclusively for North American models to accommodate crash standards and styling preferences of American consumers. I'm curious what % of the overhang is attributable to crash standards versus American tastes.

That said, I was initially a bit nervous about the new snout, however, when I saw the car in person I was totally relieved. The car's front end doesn't photograph well in side-profile shots becasue the camera doesn't capture the tapered bumber, so it looks like a big, long nose.

 

Agree 100%. The nose was lengthened for safety reasons. The nose appear really long on side profile shots because it is almost a 2-D shot. Your eyes are telling you the tip of the nose is flush with the rest of the car and we all know that is not the case. Don't believe everything you see.(Chris Angel)
That is my theory and i am sticking to it.

 

It's also an illusion based on 2 things:

1. The short length of the car makes the nose look disproportionately long.
2. That super-short rear overhang makes the nose look long.

Cover the rear end with your hand and imagine a longer car and you'll see that the front isn't as long as you would think.

That said, I think the US version looks more substantial than the Europe/Japan version. Ours isn't so cutesy and it looks more expensive.

 

I am betting more for style as the low speed impact standards can be compensated with things like foam et al that get shoved behind the bumpers.

Granted, actual "safety" standards do matter, but then everyone else seems to get it right without changing looks too much. For example, the revised Mini front end was part styling for the new generation of the car, and part meeting new EU crash standards for pedestrian impact.

So yes, the Fit's nose makes the car look bigger, I guess that is important in the land of Hummer et al....

Me? The short nose the rest of the world gets looks better. I hate the front end of my 2007 Fit, the bumper is damaged from hitting the ground numerous times from conventional driving, I would imagine it would be worse in a Sport with the front lip.

 

BTW....

Anyone else catch the large sunroof on the Fit (Jazz) on the Dutch site?

 

Wow! I like the Holland version much better. The Fit's cuteness factor really shines with a shorter front end. Do you suppose the longer nose for the US version has to do with American safety regulations?

 

I have seen both a black and a silver in person and I can safely say that the pictures of the straight on side view are not realistic. The front does not look nearly as long in person as it does in the photos I have seen. I even took my own pictures that way and it looks fine just standing next to it but looking at my pictures, the front does look longer, although not as long as some of the other photos I have seen.

So yes, it is longer than what the rest of the world gets and I do like the short nose better, but it is not as bad as it looks in some of the pictures and looks great in person, at least in my opinion.

 

The pics do make the front seem long, but in person it doesnt seem long at all! Quite a beautiful car if I do say so myself

 

I think for those who have yet to see the car in person, they'll be pleasantly surpriseed at how handsome and aggressive the car looks. IMHO Honda hit a home run with this car -- they took an already great little car (Car & Driver 10Best for 2 years) and improved it in just about every conceivable way.

 

I agree. I saw one for the first time today at a mall in Columbia, SC. I saw them park it way out in the parking lot, waited a few minutes and then went to check it out. The nose is not bad at all! It looks much smaller in person (as does the car itself).
There was a gd3 nearby in the lot, and after comparing the two, the ge8 wins for sure! It looks much less boxy and more refined. The jdm nose looks better but it not that big of a deal.

 

when can we get a skyroof?

 

I heard something about when... Hell froze over...? not too sure j/k .... I kid ...