Honda Jazz | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express




When an Auto Express reader spotted this Honda in a motorway ser­vice station, it stood out because of its scrappy taped-up wheelarches.
On closer inspection, it was clear this was no ordinary Jazz, but a mule being used to test parts for the firm's next-generation supermini. After the success of the new UK designed and developed Civic, Honda's British arm is now playing a major role in the Jazz project. But the big news is that the car will be offered with a diesel engine for the first time.

This spyshot shows how the five-door will be bigger all-round than at present. Sources in Japan have revealed that the fresh model will use the same basic chassis as its predecessor, retaining the groundbreaking central fuel tank.

The current car's clever five-seat lay­out, which sees the folding rear bench hinge down into the floor, is already class-leading, and it's set to be carried over with only a few minor tweaks. Other upgrades will include a fresh dashboard des­ign and better materials throughout. The existing model's 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines are likely to be retained, but these will be joined by an efficient small-capacity oil-burner.

The new Jazz is expected to make its debut at the Tokyo Motor Show in Oct­ober, before going on sale in 2008.

 

I saw that earlier and it doesnt look very different than the car in my garage. Everything else looks prett similar, more like a mid year model change than a copmplete redesign.

 

Supposedly its bigger all the way around. agree it looks like the current model... We shall see when it comes out if its substantially different...

 

Could it be just a body kit some modder slapped on?

 

Thats more along the lines of what I am thinking.

 

????? i see no difference and it being bigger???? yeah...........no i dont see it.

 

Hey, That looks like the same Fit I own Now. Look at the windows, Yes the nose looks a little different.
Thans,
CS

 

Those are just fender flares. =p How the hell would that be a new model? Everything's the same

 

lol thats not new

 

.....its not meant to look differnet like the article says its a Mule to test NEW parts for the new fit. thats why it looks like the current overseas models (stubby nose).

 

the Fit on steelies looks ghetto

 

Looks the same with some styling like the fender flares?!

 

i dunno, it still looks like a current generation euro-spec fit with some flares glued on. besides, honda just introduced a fit concept at the tokyo auto show... though the styling on that one isn't much different than the current fit.

Inside Line: Honda Bringing Three New Concepts to Tokyo Salon -

 

The Fit concept at Salon was just a modded version of the current fit, not a concept for a new model.

I think the theory behind these pics is that there is a new chassis that they are testing, but they put the body panels from the old fit on it for testing. However, the new car is longer and wider, which is why it has the odd fender flares and that thing on the bumper, to make room for a longer/wider frame.

 

Right er, hate to say this but that has not been redesigned.

Thats just the way the UK Honda Jazz's look like. The bumpers is what I have on my Jazz now. The only thing I see different are the fender flares.

 

Does anyone have pictures from the Tokye Salon 2007 where the new Fit/Jazz was to be revealed as mentioned in many magazines?

 

??? it looks like it just is a fit with half(butt) fender flares....the only thing that looks different is how far the front wheels are out.

 

lol @ rumor of Fit being redesigned after one year release in US.

Its un-Hondalike.

 

Wow, so many people who refuse to read the story attached and then jump to conclusions.

As one person pointed out above, the car is a TEST MULE, meaning that it's either an old Honda Fit/Jazz being used to test out new parts, or it's a new Fit with the OLD Fit/Jazz body put on it so that the vehicle dynamics can be road tested.

This is a common practice throughout the automotive world

So, i'm just hoping this doesn't mean the Fit is being increased in size too much for 2009...maybe increase the exterior to Versa dimensions, but anything more will likely cause a sacrifice in handling

 

Today the Honda rep wouldn't tell me a thing about the next Fit, only reminding me that it's barely through its first yeah of sales here in the US.