Honda Fit to be positioned below new Civic

[BMWDave]

Honda pegs U.S. sales goal for Scion fighter at 60,000; Fit to be positioned below new Civic
YUZO YAMAGUCHI | Automotive News
Posted Date: 8/15/05
TOKYO -- Honda Motor Co. wants to sell about 60,000 Fit economy cars a year in the United States.

"We've got to sell about that number," says Koichi Kondo, CEO of American Honda Motor Co. Inc., who revealed the unofficial sales goal. The Fit is scheduled to go on sale in the United States next spring or summer.

Kondo expects the Fit to appeal to a broad group of customers, including young people and families "who couldn't afford the Civic."

When it goes on sale this fall, the redesigned 2006 Honda Civic will be sportier and more powerful, leaving room for the Fit below it.

Honda has not released prices for the redesigned Civic. The 2005 model starts at $13,810, including shipping.

The Fit will compete with Toyota Motor Corp.'s successful Scion youth brand. At 60,000 a year, Fit sales would be on par with U.S. sales of Scion's two best sellers, the tC and xB. Through seven months of this year, Scion sold 31,964 xBs and 42,767 tCs.

The xB starts at $14,195, including shipping.

Honda's plant in Suzuka, Japan, assembled 249,818 Fits in 2004 for sale in Japan, Europe and Asia. The car is called the Jazz in Europe. The Fit would help Honda achieve its ambitious goal: 4.0 million sales worldwide in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2008. That's up from 3.4 million planned for this fiscal year.

[giant_mtb]

What does it look like?

[BMWDave]

What does it look like?

I just added a picture. :)

[giant_mtb]

Looks like...a mini van.  But without the sliding doors.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

[BMWDave]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

:D  

[giant_mtb]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

[bobwill]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

don't forget with their double-infinity-google shot of NOS.

[BMWDave]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

don't forget with their double-infinity-google shot of NOS.

:D  

[ifcar]

They may want to add a sedan version for the US.  

[FlatBlackCaddy]

or just a better looking version in general.

[Raghavan]

i like it. i'd take it over the xB

[Raza]

Looks like...a mini van.  But without the sliding doors.

Honda PT Cruiser?  It should be cheaper, though, right?  Along the lines of the Aveo and Aerio?

[TBR]

It is a Honda, there is no way it will be much cheaper than the PT Cruiser (I believe you can get one for 11k!).

[ifcar]

They're going to undercut the Civic price, so it will be pretty inexpensive. Don't expect any standard features though.  

[Raghavan]

will they make a panel wagon?

[ifcar]

Everyone would want that.  

[Tom]

Come on, it's not bad looking.  What do you expect for a cheap car that's so small?

[ifcar]

The Aveo looks pretty nice IMO, if bland.  

[Fire It Up]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

Then itll look so badass this thread will have to be move to the Fast Lane.  

[Raza]

They're going to undercut the Civic price, so it will be pretty inexpensive. Don't expect any standard features though.

Good.  I hate value for money.

[Raza]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

Then itll look so badass this thread will have to be move to the Fast Lane.

We ought to move it now!  I just put my order in, and I already bought side skirts, nos stickers, and a wing.

[giant_mtb]

It looks awesome.

Wow, can you imagine in 2 years we'll be seeing these things battling vettes and GTO's at stoplights.

Riced out, of course.

Then itll look so badass this thread will have to be move to the Fast Lane.

lol

[Spooble]

They're going to undercut the Civic price, so it will be pretty inexpensive. Don't expect any standard features though.

The interiors are actually really nicely done, and remarkably spacious considering the exterior dimensions.  If I were in the market for such a car, I'd take a Fit over a 7G Civic LX--it would be somewhat slower, but otherwise a nicer, more practical car for less money.

[BMWDave]

They're going to undercut the Civic price, so it will be pretty inexpensive. Don't expect any standard features though.

The interiors are actually really nicely done, and remarkably spacious considering the interior dimensions.  If I were in the market for such a car, I'd take a Fit over a 7G Civic LX--it would be somewhat slower, but otherwise a nicer, more practical car for less money.

This is the interior, I believe...



Overall, pretty nice looking.  

[ifcar]

It could be worse, anyway. I do like the gauges.  

[TBR]

They're going to undercut the Civic price, so it will be pretty inexpensive. Don't expect any standard features though.

There is no way it will be less than 11k.

[bobwill]

The new Honda Fit.  For everyone who wants to relive taking the short bus to school. :D

[Laconian]

Saw a bunch in China, both the hatch and the "saloon" versions. Very sharp car from all angles! Much better than the current gen Civic IMO. It's popular in China too, which means it can't be too expensive.

If they could cram the Civic Si engine in that with some sticky rubber for less than the tC it would be a great Scion fighter.

[TBR]

I am sure they could get the Si engine in there but they won't, it is Honda after all.