New Honda Fit

[2o6]

When did car companies forget how to style cars such that the rear wheels don't look disproportionately tiny?  That mid 90s Civic probably had 14" wheels (or possibly 13s), yet they don't look nearly as small or awkward as the 15"s on the Fit.

High belt lines make it so there's a lotttt of sheet metal between the wheel arch and the window. The super vast expanses make the wheels look stupidly small. And other reasons, I suppose, such as ride height and such.  And it also looks like they made the wheelbase as long as they could, shoving the rear wheels pretty far back.

The blame is not merely tall beltlines. (which aren't even that damn tall, honestly. That fad is IMO from the mid 2000's with the Chrysler 300) The average consumer wants a higher Hip point which usually leads to a an easier ingress/egress for more people. (especially old people). Little cars also generally are more flexible than they used to be with all sorts of body types and heights. Because of this, new cars (especially subcompacts) are very tall, and usually pretty roomy.


Also, beltlines that ascend too fast towards the rear really go a long way to making the rear wheels look like casters (see Fiesta). If the beltline didn't ascend so fast it wouldn't be so bad.

Old cars with their ass-on-the-ground seating positions and low physical height just don't work in this day and age. They're uncomfortable.


As a consequence, wheels tend to look tiny; some styling languages and companies do a better job making them look less tiny, but some can't.

Honda already has a dull, generic small sedan.  It's called the Civic.  The Fit hatchback a brilliant car.  Why ruin it with this thing? 

Because they need to widen the fucking market; the small sedan is still a staple of this country.


And the Fit hatch is not "brilliant"; it's really noisy, expensive, and has poor fuel economy for being a small slow cheap thing.

[Madman]

I didn't mean it was brilliant to drive (because it isn't).  But it is an enormously clever hold-all with plenty of space and an ingenious back seat that makes carrying large items a breeze.

Turning this car into yet another boring sedan destroys everything that is "brilliant" about the Fit.

[2o6]

I didn't mean it was brilliant to drive (because it isn't).  But it is an enormously clever hold-all with plenty of space and an ingenious back seat that makes carrying large items a breeze.

Turning this car into yet another boring sedan destroys everything that is "brilliant" about the Fit.

- The new model loses the magic seats

- The old Fit Sedan still had the magic seats

- sedans don't ruin practicality

- STFU about that euro-centric sedans suck (they don't even feel that strongly about it)

[Northlands]

I wonder what they'll charge for the sedan? The Fit hatch is already closely priced to the Civic in Canada. It'll be amusing to watch people stare at two size classes of car that are within $800 of each other in price at certain times of the year. If it is priced out the same way, I see no reason to look at a Fit sedan when you can get a Civic.

[MrH]

Hopefully Fit price stays level as everything else rises, giving it some breathing room. They were all being made in Japan, which was killing Honda at times due to currency fluctuation.

They're opening a plant in mexico and making these there. It should bring their costs down considerably and protect them from currency fluctuations a bit.

[GoCougs]

I didn't mean it was brilliant to drive (because it isn't).  But it is an enormously clever hold-all with plenty of space and an ingenious back seat that makes carrying large items a breeze.

Turning this car into yet another boring sedan destroys everything that is "brilliant" about the Fit.

Nothing is brilliant about the Fit. Save for cargo space (which most buyers will never use anyway) the Civic is a much better car - better performance, better refinement, better people space, better MPG - for not much more $$$.

[2o6]

Nothing is brilliant about the Fit. Save for cargo space (which most buyers will never use anyway) the Civic is a much better car - better performance, better refinement, better people space, better MPG - for not much more $$$.

This new Fit should hopefully cut down the cost and increase the MPG. Hopefully refinement will be up, too - the Chevy Sonic matches some cars from a class up in regards to refinement.

[sparkplug]

if you don't like it I like it.. If you like it I don't like it..

[2o6]

US Spec.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/01/13/2015-honda-fit-detroit-2014/



- Made in Mexico

- 1.5L "Earth Dreams" with 130HP

- 41MPG highway

[Colin]

The Euro version is still apparently 18 months away.

What I've read about the Japanese market car says that if you liked the old model, you will like this one (though the styling appears rather gawky)......... very spacious, and easy to own, but not much in the way of excitement.

[2o6]

The Euro version is still apparently 18 months away.

What I've read about the Japanese market car says that if you liked the old model, you will like this one (though the styling appears rather gawky)......... very spacious, and easy to own, but not much in the way of excitement.

I think that's interesting that Europe seems to be cold on the driving dynamics of the Fit/Jazz, but in the USA they can't stop raving about the damn thing. Granted, I am cold about the driving dynamics about the old model, but the 1st gen Fit is a pretty nifty driving car.


With that said, I don't like the way this thing looks inside and out, but the numbers seem competitive, and the 15K base price = it'll probably have decent options at that price. Most subcompacts that start under 15K come with very few options, like crank windows or even manual locks (Fiesta, Sonic, Accent/Rio, Yaris).

[Atomic]

Yeah, I'm a fan.

I like it. It looks especially nice in the yellow shown in Detroit.

[Atomic]

Official 2015-MY Honda Fit Release Statement from Honda of America
With Initial '15 Fit Five Door Hatchback Statistical Figures
January 16, 2014

The 2015 Fit has been completely reimagined, and we're excited to share even more details with you. The new Fit features a sleek modern exterior, sporty, fun-to-drive handling and plenty of forward-thinking technology. Additionally, we're proud to announce that it will be produced at an all-new North American facility.

Here's what you can expect from our most stunning hatchback yet.

Aggressive new styling
Aerodynamic body constructed from high-tensile steel
Striking new grille and headlights
Available 16-inch, alloy wheels
Interior evolution
52.7 cubic feet of cargo space[1] with the Honda-exclusive Magic Seat®
Increased passenger volume and rear legroom
Available leather-trimmed seats
Performance machine
i-VTEC® engine with Earth Dreams Technology generates 130-horsepower (SAE net) at 6600 rpm and 114 lb.-ft of torque at 4600 rpm
6-speed manual or available Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Revised, sport-tuned suspension
Packed with technology
Standard Bluetooth® connectivity[2], rearview camera and Expanded View Driver's Mirror
Available Smart Entry with push button start, Honda LaneWatch™[3] and 7-inch Display Audio touch-screen
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) II Body Structure

When you join First Look* [Free Official Honda of America Newsletter], you'll get the details before the general public. You'll also receive exclusive updates, and an authorized retailer may contact you before its release.

*Link Forthcoming

[93JC]

Granted, I am cold about the driving dynamics about the old model, but the 1st gen Fit is a pretty nifty driving car.

The 1st gen. was relatively nimble and fun. The 2nd was like driving a van.

[2o6]

The 1st gen. was relatively nimble and fun. The 2nd was like driving a van.

A loud, noisy van.

[3.0L V6]

The 1st gen. was relatively nimble and fun. The 2nd was like driving a van.

I've driven a second gen and it's pretty nimble and that's in comparison to a Mazda Protege. The shifter and clutch are great too. Haven't driven a first generation, as there are so few of them around.

As for the folding seats, they do come in handy - we put a large living room chair in the back without much effort. Bikes fit in nicely too.

My main complaint is the lack of a sixth gear. Driving down the road at 60 km/h (~40mph) and the thing's already in top gear - on the highway, the engine is running 3500 RPM. It's smooth, but loud.

[Northlands]

Official 2015-MY Honda Fit Release Statement from Honda of America
With Initial '15 Fit Five Door Hatchback Statistical Figures
January 16, 2014

The 2015 Fit has been completely reimagined, and we're excited to share even more details with you. The new Fit features a sleek modern exterior, sporty, fun-to-drive handling and plenty of forward-thinking technology. Additionally, we're proud to announce that it will be produced at an all-new North American facility.

Here's what you can expect from our most stunning hatchback yet.

Aggressive new styling
Aerodynamic body constructed from high-tensile steel
Striking new grille and headlights
Available 16-inch, alloy wheels
Interior evolution
52.7 cubic feet of cargo space[1] with the Honda-exclusive Magic Seat®
Increased passenger volume and rear legroom
Available leather-trimmed seats
Performance machine
i-VTEC® engine with Earth Dreams Technology generates 130-horsepower (SAE net) at 6600 rpm and 114 lb.-ft of torque at 4600 rpm
6-speed manual or available Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Revised, sport-tuned suspension
Packed with technology
Standard Bluetooth® connectivity[2], rearview camera and Expanded View Driver's Mirror
Available Smart Entry with push button start, Honda LaneWatch™[3] and 7-inch Display Audio touch-screen
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) II Body Structure

When you join First Look* [Free Official Honda of America Newsletter], you'll get the details before the general public. You'll also receive exclusive updates, and an authorized retailer may contact you before its release.

*Link Forthcoming

From our most stunning hatchback yet?

I know the marketing dept. has to be positive, but fuck no it isn't.