This post has been updated with official pictures here. With the advent of Honda Fit, came along the small compact global platform from Honda and with it, a slew of Fit inspired cars all shape and size. Now that the 2^nd generation Honda Fit is rolling out across the globe, Honda venerable Fit based entry size sedan, the City is also due for a redesign. Although the details are sketchy, a forum member of Team-BHP India has pictures of a camouflaged car that is claimed to be the 4^th generation Honda City in India. Witty comments and more information of when it will be released, after the click.

Well, the bird is out of its cage, the all new 2008 2nd generation Jazz (Fit) has arrived in Indonesia!!! Although I didn’t have any pictures, I do have information taken from the official brochure. Then, I will start a new section for my blog here called Paper Battle. The premise is simple, I will take a spec sheet of some cars which I’m going to compare, and compares it… It’s that simple, that’s why it’s called Paper Battle… Comparison based on the brochure… D’oh…

But anyway, here’s the information regarding the all new 2nd generation Honda Jazz.

There are only regular and RS model.

• The regular version comes with the RS engine 1.5L 120ps.
• Both version comes with 5MT or 5AT, no more CVT.
• No future plan to bring the 1.3L + CVT version.
• There are no moonroof for both models.
• ABS+EBD+BA standard on both models.
• The regular model uses 15” wheels, the RS uses 16” wheels.
• Footrests on both model for AT version (finally!)
• The RS model got dual SRS airbag, a bodykit, front armrest, keyless entry (akin to Accord’s), retractable door mirror, and paddle shift for the AT version.
• Multi Information Display to calculate fuel consumption standard on both model.
• Under seat box standard on both model.

The prices are:
Regular MT : Rp 160 million (US$16K)
Regular AT : Rp 170 million (US$17K)
RS MT : Rp 172 million (US$17,5K)
RS AT : Rp 183 million (US$18K)

Prices are expected to increase as demand increases, and demand will increase! It is priced competitively, still in range with other Japanese city cars (Toyota and Suzuki), and comes with a distinct most powerful engine in its class and the first to use 5AT on city cars.

I’m quite speechless indeed. I know for long that Honda Indonesia will probably follow Honda Thailand’s model portfolio, but I expect huge price jack. The MID, 5AT and 1.5L i-VTEC alone should warrant a premium price for the new Jazz, but it is quite affordable. The brochure even stated that the 2008 Jazz comes with tilt and telescoping steering wheel… I need to see this car in person, that’s just too awesome for its current price.

Damn! When I’m just about to buy 2008 Suzuki SX-4 (long story) and the new Jazz came out of nowhere… Oh well, three months of fasting and resolve to finally buy a non Honda obliterated to hell and back. I just need to test drive this baby and I will have another fasting time to consider the new Jazz or Suzuki SX-4… Damn….

Based on the spy pictures of Honda next generation NSX replacement supercar, AutoExpress came up with a beautiful render without the ugly camouflage. Although the proportion might be a little bit blown off, a real representation of the car is looking better than expected. Better pictures of the render and witty comments after the click.

Internet media have claim that they have pictures of a supposedly Honda/Acura burly supercar under testing in Germany, on the famous Nürburgring race track. One of the media, the famous Edmunds.com even claim from a reliable source that the CEO himself has tasked Honda R&D to make this car a Nissan GT-R and Lexus LF-A killer. But is this an Acura or Honda? Let’s compare this car to the Acura Advanced Sport Sedan Concept. As usual, more pictures and witty comments after the click.

With the ever rising global oil price, Honda finally unveils a minivan to answer the global demand for a people mover which adheres to current global energy crisis. Entering the compact minivan, on 29^th of May 2008, Honda of Japan unveils its latest addition to the compact minivan car category, the curiously named Freed. A review from information established on a website might be corny, but you will find a lot of enlightening facts, especially if you can’t read Japanese Kanji. So, a complete paper review based and witty comments from yours truly, after the click.

Leftlanenews.com has posted what seems to be an Acura test car that features a long bonnet signifying a longitudinal engine placement… Or in lament term, the engine is front to back, a typical engine placement for a rear wheel drive cars. This clear Acura Frankenstein car is predicted by Leftlanenews.com crew to be the 2010 Acura RL. More witty comments and link to pictures after the click.

With the advent of Tata Nano, the cheapest modern car available in the world today, the eyes of automotive lovers are on India currently. Tata Nano didn’t just bring changes on the availability of 4-wheel contraption to the market, it also brings about a revolution. Hot on the heels of Tata, Toyota, Ford, VW, and other automotive brands are going all in with their own cheap cars. But why Honda won’t follow suit? An article of Wall Street Journal will explain why, and my own witty comments after the click.

Hell yeah! My notebook is gone, but I replace that sucker with a desktop + eee PC combo. A blazingly fast desktop with Core 2 Duo E8400 and an Nvidia 9600GT, comboed with a peculiarly small and light eee PC 701, and I’m set… Still looking for that right chair + computer table… But oh well… A dining chair and a makeshift cosmetic table will do good for now.

The jump from notebook to desktop PC surely made a mark on my psyche. Everything I do now is way more faster than before… Graphics processing, spread sheeting, word editing… Wow… Just wow… But one thing that I hate about this new desktop unit is its fan sound. It’s just deafening. I guess you can’t win them all.

Anywho, let’s continue blogging!

Errmmm… The Honda Freed update will have to wait for now because I’m going to cover a more interesting story about Honda response to Tata Nano and its followers.