Whyyyyy?? An acura TL is ULEV. A honda nonhybrid sedan is ULEV2. Why is Fit just LEV2? Why does a smaller engine pollute more? Did they get rid of a unit that ensures clean burning so the price stays low or something?

 

The designations of LEV, ULEV, ZEV, LEV2 etc have changed in Japan like other standards around the world. California also uses similar designations which have different meaning to those in Japan though the same names. All in all its very confusing like emissions standards in general across duristictions.

End of the day there is less crap coming out the Fit pipe than a 10 year old "fuel efficent" Civic or larger cars.

 

Well, if I go to the Civic Sedan (US) site, it says ULEV2 on the EPA estimate spec page. The sedan isn't that old, so i assume its standard is the same set.

This, and the low mileage are the two reasons why I'm disapopinted in the Fit. I hope the 33/38 is 'real' numbers, just like the honda hybrid, where they underestimate the EPA so drivers are less disappointed w/ the actual numbers. I'd be happy w/ a real 33/38 mileage. My bro's CRX gets 32 combined real, and civic coupe 98 gets 25-27 (I calculate every now and then). I hope the fit at least beats my honda civic.

 

The L-series in the Fit is older than the R-series in the new civic. Thats why the motor isn't as clean or efficient.

 

Do u know why they did that? Is there an advantage choosing the L over the R? Cheaper?

 

L series is a far more compact design for a much smaller engine bay. Essential part of Hondas MinMax (Minimum machine Maximum human) design philosophy. However the engine bay of the US Fit is bigger than the rest of the world becuase of the redesigned bumper.

 

You know, that really makes me wonder has anyone contemplated putting in the new R18 engine from the 2006 Civic in the Fit, especially since the R18 engine is physically smaller than the D17 engine on the 2001-2005 Civics. 31 more bhp out of the Fit would make the car go quite a bit faster, that's to be sure.

 

getting better MPG too

 

and cleaner, since it's ULEV2


i still can't understand why. isn't the US version, the engine space bigger, so why can't they put the more cleaner,faster,efficient civic engine in there?

 

and this info comes from???? When I looked under the US spec car at detroit the entire front bumber area had nothing to do with the interal sheet metal area back starting at the front fenders / facia cross brace . The Honda rep at the show said the sheet metal portion of the body was the same world round and that the bumper sub assembly for US was an add on to exsisting content....

 

I agree. The elongated bumper should not change the size of the engine bay.

 

Even if the engine bay was bigger, Honda wouldn't spend the money to shoehorn a bigger engine and reengineer the Fit specifically for the US market. If you really desire a better engine, I advise that you wait for the next gen Fit. Hopefully, they will put in a smaller R-series engine, and we can all embrace the benefits that engine has over the current L-series.

 

That's one of the things I'm worried about with there being no details on the timing or features/improvements planned for next gen Fit. I'd hate to buy the current Fit this spring and then next year have them release one that is significantly better in every way. On the other hand, I'd hate to not buy one in April that was made in Japan and then have them not release the next gen Fit here until several years after it's released in the other markets or is made in Mexico or something.

 

I'll simply get one this spring/summer if I like it. For all we know, could take 4 years before the new version of the Fit makes it to North America.

Even if the redesigned Fit arrives sooner, the older Fit will be unique, due to it's lower number of units sold.

 

Unless they relocated the radiator support, the dimensions under the hood will be the same. The extra room will be between the radiator support and the bumper.

 

If i wait for the next fit, i think i would have alreqdy decided to get the hybrid fit. I'm a green freak, but I just can't afford that now; pruis is high demand and the honda civic hybrid has disappointing mileages and emissions (ULEV than AT-PZEV of prius). But if the hybrid fit will as cheap as they say...