Confirmed: U.S. market Honda Fit to be dropped after current model year

Well, we just got the official word from Honda: the Fit will be dropped from the U.S. lineup after the current generation.

The Next Honda Fit Debuts in Tokyo

Honda has unveiled its redesigned 2020 Fit at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019. According to Honda, without compromising its spacious cabin and excellent visibility, the fourth-gen Fit was developed with the intention of becoming the globally accepted standard for compact cars suited to this new era.

Quick Drive: 2018 Honda Fit Sport

Ever since its debut in 2007, Honda's Fit has always been fun to drive and super practical. It showcases many of the attributes Honda has become known for—reliability, precision, versatility, engineering know-how, smart packaging—in hatchback form. For me, the last Fit I reviewed back in 2015 wasn't as fun as earlier iterations; I sort of wrote it off. Then I drove one with a six-speed manual ...

Yes, the Fit is still as practical as ever with its multi-folding Magic Seats, it still gets decent gas mileage, and still will likely have rock-solid reliability and high build quality. But the Fit Sport I drove recently came equipped with a six-speed manual instead of the CVT. Frankly, that CVT saps the fun out of this little runabout. But with the 6MT, the Fit goes from being a good little subcompact to an entertaining driver's car.

Much like nearly every single Honda I've driven with a manual transmission, this shifter is fantastic and completely transforms the car's driving experience. I found myself scouting for fun roads; looking for tight off-ramps. The manual transmission makes this cars orders of magnitude more fun. Paired with the free-revving 130 hp 1.5-liter engine, the Fit Sport with that 6MT is a hoot.

Truly, this car made me feel like a 20-something kid again (I'm double that figure nowadays), like when I had a quick-shifting 1998 Honda Civic. It revs quickly, corners sharply, and has great steering. You know that old adage about how driving a "slow car fast" is lots of fun? That's the Fit Sport.

When dressed up in Sport trim, buyers get front, side, and rear underbody spoilers; blacked-out 16" alloy wheels; a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system; fog lights; and a host of other goodies. I'm still not a fan of the Fit's touchscreen, however. Regardless, this car is a fantastic mix of great driving dynamics, small size, and expertly engineered versatility and practicality. 

In case you weren't familiar, all Fits come with a 1.5-liter 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC engine with direct injection making 130 hp and 114 lb/ft of torque with the manual transmission, and 128 hp and 113 lb/ft of torque with the CVT. The suspension is composed of MacPhearson strut front suspension and a torsion-beam rear. Side note: I love the rear bumper's diffuser.

While I'll take the manual transmission option every time its offered in a car, the Fit Sport is one of those instances where the transmission totally changes the driving experience. While CVT-equipped Fits are still very good cars, Fits with the manual are very good, very entertaining cars. I would totally rock one of these. Our tester stickered at $18,390, which included the $890 destination/handling charge.

FYI, I am a fan of the Toyota Yaris SE, too. However, the Fit has more than 20 more horsepower, it's more practical (thanks to those aforementioned Magic Seats), and I can actually buy one with a manual. (The Yaris SE, at least in the Pacific Northwest cannot be ordered with a manual. Plus, the Yaris' manual is a 5MT.) Did I mention the Fit Sport comes in orange? 

While the subcompact hatchback market has cooled down over the years, Honda's Fit Sport is still a great choice for people who want practicality but aren't willing to sacrifice fun. Really, go drive one. It's great. 

What's Up With the Slow Honda Fit Sales?

If you pay attention to our monthly subcompact sales posts, you may have noticed that the Honda Fit seems to have taken a nosedive off the sales cliff the last couple of months. Sales were down more than 80% in October and September, and down more than 50% in August when compared to last year's sales at this time. So what's the deal? People opting for other subcompacts? Is the bottom falling out?

Rather than simply speculating, we went right to the source: Honda. We asked the company's Automotive Public Relations person, Chris Martin, what was going on, and he said this:

The same new factory that was building the Fit for the last two years in Celaya, Mexico earlier this year began producing the all-new HR-V as well. As we worked to build up HR-V inventory for the U.S., Fit production suffered a bit. To add complication, the HR-V then went on sale in Canada and Europe shortly after the U.S. on sale, and those markets are also supplied from Celaya. Typically at introduction, we try to build up a significant amount of inventory in each market to help get the model off the ground. In this case, that meant reducing Fit production for an extended period of time. Since HR-V has been a run away hit, we are now taking steps to build additional Fit units in Japan, and the first of those units from Japan are beginning to arrive now. It may take a few months for things to settle back into a "normal" pattern, but we expect both Fit and HR-V to continue to grow sales over the next year.

So there you have it. It's been a supply issue, and Honda is tapping its Japanese factories to remedy it. For what it's worth, I've heard from a few Subcompact Culture readers that when the Fit first came out, dealers had scads of them on lots. However, now you're hard-pressed to find one on any of the lots, and now you know why. The good news is that if you want a Fit, the cars should become more readily available soon.

Review: 2015 Honda Fit EX-L Navi

Words by Andy Lilienthal, photos by Mercedes Lilienthal


“So what color do you think it’ll be?” I asked Mercedes as we headed to pick up the car from SeaTac Airport in Washington. “I hope it’s the yellow color.”
“I think it’ll be red or silver,” she said.

Upon arriving at the Park ‘N Fly at SeaTac International Airport (Seattle), we pulled up to an extremely bright Mystic Yellow Pearl Honda Fit. You couldn't miss it.

Usually when we get a car to review, it is dropped off at our house or work. This time, we were flying back from Minnesota and were picking the car up at the airport, then would drive it 170 miles south to Portland. Plus, this would give us a good first impression of Honda’s recently redesigned subcompact hatchback. And although Mercedes had been to the car’s launch last April, I hadn’t had a chance to drive one yet.

Driven: The All-New 2015 Honda Fit

Honda manufactures automobiles that are smartly designed, thoughtfully executed and built, and are solid as a rock. Between my husband Andy and me, we have owned seven of them. Honda has been in our families for a long time. I first learned about Honda when I was a child, as my father had a Honda lawn mower that ran for eternity, partly due to its quality but also due to him taking care of it like it was his baby, even waxing it each year. So, it is only natural we were excited to take part in the redesigned 2015 Honda Fit launch in San Diego, CA.

The 2015 Fit is the third generation of Honda’s five-door B-segment subcompact. Introduced in the U.S. in 2007, Honda brought the Fit over from Japan to compete in the newly exploding North American subcompact market. Well known for its versatility, fuel economy, driving dynamics, and small exterior but living-large interior, the Fit would become a front-runner in its class.

2015 Honda Fit Launch

We're in San Diego for the 2015 Honda Fit launch. We can't really talk about it much yet, but we can show you pics. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for pics from the launch event. More on the '15 Fit in several days. Stay tuned.

Latest IIHS Small Car Crash Tests: Not So Good

Maybe you've already heard, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed its latest round of crash tests, this time on mini cars. The results were not so good. The organization crashed the Chevrolet Spark, Mazda2, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa sedan, Toyota Prius c, Hyundai Accent, Fiat 500, and Honda Fit. The cars are ranted either Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. The only car to get an Acceptable rating? The Chevrolet Spark. Both the Fiat 500 and Honda Fit got Poor ratings. Shortly after these tests results were announced, Consumer Reports magazine, the bastion for all things rated, dropped the Honda Fit's "Recommended" rating.

"Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage," says Joe Nolan, IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research. And in other news, fire declared hot; water determined wet. Sky also blue. More at 11:00.

Don't get me wrong: I am all for increasing safety in cars. I think we need to keep pushing the limits because, frankly, I don't think the automakers would do it on their own. But the problem I see with this is it basically says you need to own a big, heavy automobile to be safe. Quick—everyone run to your huge cars, SUVs, and trucks! Your small cars are death traps! But then again, maybe those big "cars" aren't safe enough. Maybe a Peterbilt or Freightliner semi tractor would be better. I mean, they're the biggest thing on the road. And if it's bigger, it's got to be better. Then again, maybe we can all find used armored cars to be really safe. Can we make a tank road legal?

I'm willing to be that today's crop of small cars is orders of magnitude safer than small cars from 10 years ago. And those small cars were likely much safer than cars from 10 years before that. Again, I'm all for increasing safety in vehicles. But Joe Q. Public sees these results and thinks small cars = suicide machines.

Will the IIHS's results have an effect on subcompact sales? I don't think it'll have a negative effect. It might help continue the Chevrolet Spark's unexpected sale success, though. To be honest, I don't think we'll see a blip in sales. Why? I drive a small cars because I want to. But many (most?) people buy them because they're generally less expensive than larger cars, so therefore, those sales will continue as they always have. Some people truly don't have the cash for anything else.

We've made so much progress in terms of safety in the last 20 years, especially when it comes to small cars. It's obvious that smaller cars are at a disadvantage in crashes; it's a liability most of us understand, and many of us live with. Hey, motorcycles are inherently "dangerous" too, right? But that's a risk people are willing to take as well. I'd hate to see small cars decline in sales due to these tests. Hopefully the public will apply some common sense to these tests and realize that even the worst of the ratings these days are still much better than older cars. I'll tell you what: I'm not going to stop buying small cars because of these tests. Sure, I'll take a look at the ratings, but these ratings will not scare me away from driving small. Here's the full ratings chart.

Unobtanium: Seven Hot Hatchbacks that Should Exist

I love the fact that there are some sporty, scrappy subcompacts on the North American market these days. The Fiat 500 Abarth, the Ford Fiesta ST, Nissan Juke Nismo and the MINI Cooper S are all examples. However, here are a few that I wish existed. Most should be pretty feasible to offer by swapping an engine, stiffening up the suspension, offering a limited-slip diff, and adding some aero parts. Or we could just put it this way:

Dear automakers, please build these.

Love,

Andy

Mitsubishi Mirage EVO (pictured above)
Ok, I know the likelihood of this is nearly zero, but I had to throw it in. Take the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage and throw in a tiny turbocharged engine, or perhaps the 2.0-liter engine from the Outlander Sport. You could go with the trademark EVO front end, offer it in AWD, and have a truly interesting Mitsubishi, just like in the days of yore (aka the 1980s and early 1990s). OK, so an EVO version of the newest Mirage is truly just a dream, maybe a Ralliart version with a few more ponies and some suspension goodies could actually happen.

Of course someone has already thought about a customized Mirage, and even rendered it. I found the image from a Thai site at AutoCarNano.com.

MAZDAZPEED2
We've seen the MAZDASPEED3, so a MAZADSPEED2 should fit right in. If this vehicle existed, it could be powered by a small turbocharged powerplant, or perhaps by the existing 2.0-liter SKYACTIVE engine found in other Mazda vehicles. It'd have a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip diff. Knowing how Mazda likes to formulate its lineup, I could see this making anywhere between 130 and 170 hp. This car would be a blast, thanks to its already very good chassis and driving dynamics. Mazda: Make it happen for 2015!

FYI, the car above was a SEMA vehicle from a few years ago that was showcased in the Mazda booth.

Chevrolet Spark RS
Take the tiny Chevrolet Spark and throw in the 1.4-turbo engine out of the Sonic. Boom: instant A-sement hot hatch. While the Sonic with the 1.4-liter turbo already makes 138 hp and 148 lbs/ft of torque and is fun to drive, a Spark with the same engine would be a damn riot. Add a stiff rear sway bar, lower it a few millimeters, liven up the steering ratio, and you've got a super-fun A-segment brawler. Chevy—are you listening?

The car above has been customized by German tuner, KBR Motorsports.

Mugen Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a world-class subcompact that can be a really fun vehicle to drive thanks to a great chassis, a outstanding five-speed manual transmission, and quick reflexes. So how about a little more power? I know what you're thinking: K24 swap, right? That would be awesome, but highly unlikely from the factory. However, maybe the 143 hp 1.8-liter out of the Civic would be OKed by Honda top brass to create a Mugen Fit for North America? Or perhaps a Fit Si? That 1.8 liter engine likely weighs less (correct me if I'm wrong Hondaphiles of the world). Of course, you'd lower it, put stickier tires on it, and have some great-looking bodywork. People have been asking for this one since the Fit appeared in the U.S. I'd love to see it.

The vehicle pictured above is actually 2014 Mugen Fit for the JDM market. No word as to what's under the hood, but it does feature the body work, LEDs, projector headlamps, and cool wheels that could really up the fun factor on the Fit.

Toyota Yaris XRS
Toyota does offer a sporty trim level for the Yaris, which is the SE package. While it offers bigger wheels, quicker steering, a more tuned suspension, and some different bumpers, it still has the 106 hp 1NZ-FE engine. The easiest fix to this would to put the 128 hp 1.8-liter engine from the Scion xD under the hood (this was the Yaris T-Sport in the last body style). Alternatively, perhaps the new Corolla's 132 hp 1.8-liter powerplant could be shoehorned in. Let's face it: The xD isn't getting any younger, but the Yaris was redesigned not too long ago. Let's add some more juice to the already lightweight Yaris, Toyota!

Above is the Toyota Vitz RS "G's" model. This does exist in Japan, but is powered by the same 1.5-liter the U.S. gets.

Fiat 500L Abarth

Here's another no-brainer for me. Take Fiat's 500L and tune the 1.4-liter turbo to Abarth specs to make one fast four-door Italian. 

I found this image via Google Images, but the watermark goes to AutosBlog.com.ar. Gotta give credit where it's due. Regardless, this little car needs to happen.

Nissan Versa Note NISMO
The latest subcompact from Nissan, the Versa Note, is very practical and offers a good value. And while most NISMO-equipped Nissans get small bumps in power along with other goodies, I'd love to see a Note powered by the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine from the Juke. Plus, it wouldn't look as polarizing as the strangely shaped crossover. Oh yes. This would be awesome.

The car pictured above is actually from Japanese tuner IMPUL, and gives you an idea of the Versa Note's potential. Now with 180 hp, this thing would really scoot.

2015 Honda Fit

Some "big" small car news coming out of the Honda camp today. These are official pictures of the 2015 Honda Fit (Japanese versions). But let's just put this out there now: Automotive News is saying the U.S. isn't expected to get a five-door version of the Fit Hybrid, rather a sedan and possibly an SUV based on the Fit. Hopefully, we'll at least get the five-door RS-style Fit (e.g. Fit Sport?). Now that I got that out of the way ...

Above is the Fit RS. I really like the looks of this model; more so than the last generation. It's got an aggressive front fascia, tasteful side skirts, and a sporty overall look. The Fit RS will be powered by a  high-revving 1.5-liter engine, although there aren't any horsepower figures yet. It will be hooked up to a six-speed manual gearbox. According to Motor Trend:

The 1.5-liter RS sports version mated to a six-speed manual gearbox delivers on Honda's S2000 and NSX heritage. Perfectly matched to the 1.5-liter's high-revving engine, the manual's short throws and tight gate with a pleasing mechanical precision allow for quick, sure gear changes at all speeds. \

The Fit Hybrid does have some more specs available. It will be powered by a 1.5-liter engine and an electric motor using Honda's IMA (integrated motor assist) technology, and is good for 135 hp and 125 ft./lbs. of torque. It will be hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. According to Motor Trend, it'll be getting 85 MPG on the Japanese driving cycle; MT suggests about 55 MPG for the U.S. cycle. Additionally, the Fit Hybrid can be operated in EV mode at speeds up to 25 MPH.

Lastly there will be a 1.3-liter Fit making 98 hp and 88 ft./lbs. of torque and mated to a CVT. I'm betting that version will not be headed to North America.

The interior is also, of course, all new. Upon first glance, I'd say things look pretty nice. Honda is known for having great ergonomics, and I'm willing to bet this Fit will continue that tradition.

I haven't been a fan of most of Honda's latest vehicle designs. However, the Fit thankfully breaks that mold. Granted, I have not seen it in person, but assuming they don't change anything drastically for the North American market, I think Honda might have a winner on its hands. Just please, please, please give us the five-door gas version, preferably with the RS engine!

Review: 2012 Honda Fit Sport with Navi: Is it still 'fit' for first?

The Honda Fit Sport has been available in its current form (with a few very minor changes) since the 2009 model year. That’s four years for those of you counting. However, it’s still heralded by many as a subcompact class leader (if not the leader). Magazines, such as Car and Driver and Motorweek, have ranked it the No. 1 contender among the latest crop of 2012s in recent comparison tests. Honestly, when I read these articles, I found it odd that a four-year-old design is still besting the newest subcompacts. Was the Fit Sport that appeared in 2008 as a 2009 model still that good? We decided to see for ourselves.

In the driveway: 2012 Honda Fit Sport with Navi

About a year ago we reviewed the 2011 Honda Fit and found it to be a very good subcompact vehicle with excellent versatility and quick reflexes. Earlier in the week, we got asked if I'd like the 2012 Honda Fit Sport with Navigation for review. Hmm ... didn't we just review this? It's likely little has changed since the '11 model. But, we thought this might be a good time to see how the Fit compares to the latest crop of subcompacts, now that we've driven most of them.

What's interesting to me is that despite the vehicle now being in production for four model years in this body style, it bested the latest subcompacts in comparison tests by Car and Driver, and Motorweek. Is the the Fit still that good? Have the other subcompact models still not raised the bar enough to dethrone a four year old design?

Over the next week we can see for ourselves if Honda's five-door hatchback is truly still as good as some of the bigger publications say it still is.

Stay tuned.

Time magazine: Why small cars are big business

Time magazine's May 7, 2012 article, "The Faster Lane: Why small cars are suddenly big business," (subscription required for online version) is all about increasing fuel economy standards, and how smaller cars have become more popular. In this article they call out seven models—Subaru BRZ, Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Scion iQ, Ford C-Max, Toyota Prius C, and lastly, the Honda Fit EV.

The article calls out the city fuel economy ratings of all the models listed. This is, of course, only half of the story, and arguably, makes the cars' fuel economy ratings look, well, not so impressive. Twenty-six MPG on the Sonic? So what. That's for the 1.8-liter, too. Why not use the EPA fuel economy of the 1.4-liter turbo, which gets 29 city and 40 highway? Or perhaps list the 1.4-liter's combined 33 MPG rating rather than just the city rating of the not-as-frugal 1.8-liter mill.

There was one big typo: The article calls out the"Toyota Scion iQ" as an EV, which it is not. It's a gasoline-drinking 1.3-liter four banger, Time.

Finally, the article goes on to tout the upcoming Honda Fit EV's 123 MPG. What it doesn't go on to say is that its range is 73 miles (city/highway combined). Range is probably the most important point regarding an electric vehicle, and when you're talking about MPG (or at least the equivalent, since it, you know, doesn't use gas), you might want to mention that.

While it's great to get more ink about small cars out there, it doesn't help when the entire story isn't told, or when there are typos. But hey, wee all make typoes ...

Honda Jazz G2 rally car is "Fit" for racing

The Honda Jazz is what they call a Honda Fit in Europe. So, take one Honda Jazz, add some parts by Mugen, Honda's well-known partner in tuning, some other go-fast parts, and throw in some dirt. What do you get? A rad front-drive subcompact rally car. Here is a video of the Honda Racing Australia Rally Team testing the car in Italy. Love those flared fenders.

Where are the AWD subcompacts?

Did you know that the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Nissan Versa are all available with all-wheel drive? No, not anywhere in this part of the world. However, in Japan, all three models are offered with AWD.

So where is the AWD love for the U.S.? Well, there isn't much: You've got the Suzuki SX4, the Nissan Juke, and the MINI Countryman. Want a manual transmission? Nix the Juke.

SubCompactCarParts.com specializes in outfitting small cars

With the popularity of subcompact cars on the rise, more and more parts are becoming available to make your small car the way you want it. The latest outlet to set up shop is SubCompactCarParts.com.

From Chevrolet to Toyota, SubCompactCarParts.com offers a host of items for your subcompact car. The store is the lateset venture from Rob Tallini, owner of Road Race Motorsports. Rob firmly believes the future of automotive tuning lies in part with the small car segment, and this online store is proof of that belief.

Whether its a front lip for a Fiat 500, lowering springs for a Honda Fit, a cold air intake for a Kia Soul, or a swaybar for your Suzuki, SubcompactCarParts.com has a host of parts and accessories for most subcompact cars. Check them out at SubCompactCarParts.com.

Car and Driver compares the latest subcompacts with somewhat surprising results.

The folks over at Car and Driver has posted their six-car comparison that includes the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa, Kia Rio, and Chevrolet Sonic. All but the Fit are 2012 models. The results of the comparison are a bit surprising, too.

Review: 2011 Honda Fit Sport with Navigation

Great handling, exacting build quality, and an interior that multitasks extremely well has made the Honda Fit Sport a darling of the automotive media since it debuted in North America in 2007. The car got a complete redesign in 2009, and for 2011, the Fit gets standard stability control, keyless entry, cruise control, and iPod integration, but it maintains the core attributes the automotive press (and buyers) love. Before this review, I’d spent little time with the small Honda hatchback. But after a full week with the Fit, I can see why the car earns so much praise. It’s an impressive overall package, but does come at a slightly steeper price compared to some of its competitors.

The Fit Sport’s exterior is indeed sporting thanks to its aero kit, 16” alloy wheels, and steeply raked windshield. It creates a distinctive look allowing it to stand out in the growing small car class. The Sport package also includes exterior amenities such as fog lamps and a rear spoiler. I thought the Alabaster Silver Metallic paint was a great color for the car.

While the Fit Sport’s exterior is great, the interior is the big story. The Fit is arguably one of the most versatile cars on the U.S. market, thanks in part to its “Magic Seats.” Like many other rear seats, they’ll fold 60/40 and can fold flat. But the Magic Seats allow the seatbacks remain upright while the bottoms will fold upward, allowing a large area on the floor behind the front seats. The seat bottoms also have storage inside of them. Fold the seats flat, and the cargo area is cavernous, since the floor is low and the ceiling is high—lots of room to pack vertically. Even with the seats in the upright and locked position, there’s ample space behind the rear seats.

Up front, there are two comfortable, well-bolstered sport seats. The dashboard features and array of organically styled shapes and plenty of places to put stuff, such as in the upper and lower passenger’s gloveboxes, and good-sized pockets in the doors. Very practical.

This Fit Sport with Navigation has the off-the-shelf Honda stereo/Navigation unit. I find the system clunky to use and the display looks like it’s out of a 16-bit video game. If you want to insert a CD, press a button, and a motorized screen folds open. I can’t help but wonder if that mechanized stereo/navigation unit will still work after 10 or 15 years. The good news is the six-speaker, 160 watt stereo is on par with other cars in its class, and it has controls on the wheel. The navigation has voice recognition as well, but no Bluetooth connectivity. The climate control system is operated using easy-to-use knobs—something I prefer over complicated push-button systems.

Driving this Fit is a joy. Although I prefer a manual transmission, the Fit’s five-speed automatic shifts quickly and smoothly. The wheel-mounted paddles let you change gears yourself, and they’re some of the best I’ve used in any car: There’s virtually no lag between the time you press the shift paddle and the time the transmission does the work.

All Fits come with a 117 horsepower 1.6-liter SOHC engine with i-VTEC, Honda’s famous variable valve timing (and lift) feature. Power is ample, and throttle response is exceptional—even sports car like. The engine is nosier than I thought it’d be, but not intrusive. Fuel economy is rated at 27 city, 33 highway with either the five-speed automatic or manual transmission, which puts the Fit in the bottom half of the subcompact segment.

The Fit Sport, which gets a rear stabilizer bar and bigger standard wheels and tires, is one of the best-handling subcompacts out there. Steering is quick, handling is precise with excellent weight, and grip is impressive, even with the fairly narrow 185/55/16 Bridgestone tires. The Fit is truly fun to drive, especially in the corners; handling precision is exemplary. Whether cruising or cornering, there were no rattles, squeaks, or vibrations to speak of. It feels rock solid—a typical Honda trait even in the company’s smallest cars.

This Fit Sport with Navigation was priced at $19,990. That includes the $750 destination charge. This is on the higher end of the scale for the class. However, buyers opting for the Fit will be rewarded with outstanding build quality, excellent handling, and an extremely versatile interior. The Fit shouldn’t be overlooked if shopping for a subcompact. It definitely “fits” at the top of the subcompact list. And you thought you’d make it through this review without a Fit pun ...

In the driveway: 2011 Honda Fit Sport with Navigation

In the driveway this week: The 2011 Honda Fit Sport with Navigation. Amazingly, I have not done a review on this vehicle. I've driven them only a couple times, too so this will be a good chance to get to know Honda's hatchback.

Initial impressions are good. Although it's equipped with the automatic, it's a very quick-shifting auto, and the paddle shifters are very good. Throttle response is second to none, too. And I've already showed off the "magic seats" a couple of times. Good stuff.

More later!

Will there be a Mugen Honda Fit?

So, according to Autocar, in-house Honda tuner, Mugen, wants to build a hot version of the Honda Fit. And no, I'm not talking about the semi tarted-up Mugen version Honda displayed at the 2009 SEMA show (see above). This would reportedly be as much as 197 hp using a supercharged version the Honda CR-Z's hybrid powerplant. Not only would this likey make the Honda Fit a quick hot hatch, it'd likely make it the world's most expensive Honda Fit, especially if it's wearing a Mugen badge (example: The Mugen Civic Si was $30,000 here in the U.S.). It should be noted it was Mugen Euro that wants to build this, you can all just calm down. I'm sure we'll never see it in the U.S. How's that for the power of positive thinking?

SOURCE
Autocar