Fit and Finish of New B-Segment Competitor is Class-Leading Traditional subcompact carmakers must be having a collective fit since Honda showed off its all-new upcoming B-segment hatchback
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| Have a Fit, Get a Fit; Honda's going to have some fun with this name. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sunday, January 7, 2006, or at least they're bound to buy a Fit to dissect it in an effort to find out its secrets and make their entry-level offerings as competitive.
OK, forgive the play on words, but Honda spent the full half-hour allotted to them during the two and a half daylong media preview scrum held in Detroit's Cobo Hall telling reporters that their new five-door would be a perfect Fit for the North American market, an ideal Fit into active youth-oriented lifestyles, and overall a large enough car to Fit four bodies inside in comfort as well as cargo galore. And just when this journalist was Fit to be tied, he fell head over heals in a Fit of subcompact adoration.
Yes, the sassy little liftback, six of which burst through a paperbacked stage, zoomed around in a multicolour
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| Six of the sassy little liftbacks burst through a paperbacked stage and zoomed around in a multicolour choreographed dance of maneuverability. (Photo: Honda Canada) |
choreographed dance of maneuverability, and finally stopped in preset positions for optimal photo opportunities, were made even more exciting after the well-written albeit rather blandly executed introduction by the also rather subcompact Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., who couldn't help himself (or at least his speech writers couldn't) by stating that the car is "a new model that 'fits' with Honda's clean, safe and fun brand values." However fitting, the new Fit is a friendly new face in a rather nastily competitive small car segment.
But as just mentioned, even its perky smile and seemingly caffeinated personality won't
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| The Fit's perky smile and seemingly caffeinated personality won't be enough to make Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia and General Motors too happy when it arrives in Honda showrooms later this year. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press) |
make Toyota, Suzuki, Hyundai, Kia and General Motors too happy when it arrives in Honda showrooms later this year. The two Japanese, two South Korean and lone domestic (although GM's two subcompacts are made in South Korea just like Suzuki's Swift+) automakers have enjoyed a veritable "quintopoly" in the B-segment in recent years, now to be stirred up by the carmaker that brought us the best selling Civic, as well as a formidable entry from Nissan in the new Versa.
And they should be scared, especially regarding the Fit. Not only is Honda one of the most respected names in the auto business, thanks to award-winning cars like the C-segment Civic and D-segment Accord, but it has a history of making cars that are a little more fun to drive than its competitors, offer higher
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| The cute little Honda immediately endeared itself to all those witnessing its introduction. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
quality interiors, are often sportier in design, and are frequently miles more reliable.
And in one dash onto main stage, the Fit is just these things. While reliability will have to remain speculative for now, the cute little Honda immediately endeared itself to those witnessing its introduction. The general mood of media mayhem relaxed a little, the pushing and shoving for the perfect camera angle and jostling amid lineups to take a turn inside seeming to take on a more jovial air, with journalists openly sharing their enthusiasm for what many considered to be the "big news" of the day.
