Honda Sneak Peek: The Fit?

Credit Honda with not giving up very easily in what will definitely turn into a large fight: the sub $15,000 price range category of new automobiles. At the moment, only a stripped down Civic competes in this location and I mean stripped: no a/c, fundamental tranny, no radio! With Toyota's Scion brand catching on Honda is looking to fight back. A tiny vehicle now on sale in Japan may possibly soon discover its way to a dealership in your neighborhood helping to turn the tide for the revered automaker.

So, why the massive push in this "cheap" category? Chiefly due to the fact automakers know that if young and initial time purchasers have a very very good encounter with their entry level vehicles then much more than most likely they will remain with the brand as their lives modify, i.e., get married, start off a family members, make much more money, and so on. This practice has been in spot for years, though not as widely emphasized by all manufacturers and to their detriment.

Honda's lengthy time low price tag leader has usually been diesel mileage the Civic. Introduced to the North American marketplace in 1971, the Civic was the original Honda for the western hemisphere and has been a value leader in its class for some time. Nonetheless, like the Toyota Corolla, the Civic has been gradually creeping up marketplace becoming far better equipped and much more pricey. At least Toyota slipped in a new entry level auto a handful of years back, the Echo, but Honda has been with out one. In addition, Toyota launched an all new brand, Scion, in 2003 to capture a bigger chunk of the youth marketplace. So far, Scion has been a runaway achievement story.

Enter the Fit. Say, what?! Yes, a tiny Scion-like auto sporting a 1.5L engine is already navigating Japanese streets. Sadly, the name isn't catchy and most likely will have to be changed when the automobile is imported to the US and Canada. Let's just say that some of the names that rhyme with Fit are not exactly favorable. At least it is not as obvious as Daewoo's Charade best small trucks a automobile that actually lived up to its name!

We do not know a lot but about the Fit other than to say that Honda knows that they need to respond to Toyota and soon. Honda does not seem prepared to generate a separate honda ridgeline gas mileage brand to take on Scion, but a automobile in the class of the Fit will support Honda capture a bigger chunk of the all critical youth market place. With styling cues reportedly comparable to the Scion xA, the "Fit" will probably be fitted into the bottom of the Honda line up. Paired with the Element, both vehicles will be perceived as true Scion fighters. At least Honda hopes that you do.