Newsflash: Freed Receives Very Minor Updates! Wha?
Posted by Michael Adhi | Posted in Freed, Honda, Honda and Automotive, announcement | Posted on 26-05-2009
Tags: best selling minivan in japan, freed, hand rails, Honda, honda freed, japan, michael adhi, minor updates, nissan serena, sliding seats, toyota innova, trim level
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News so flashy it blinds your eyes! Honda Freed has received the best selling minivan status in Japan for 5 straight months from November 2008 to March 2009. Thus, Freed insane popularity in Japan has warrant Honda engineers to mildly refresh the car in a very discreet fashion. Very discreet actually, you cannot see it and it might just count as an addition of a trim level.
First and foremost, the Freed does receives an extra trim level dubbed “just selection”… According to Google effort. However, Yahoo Babel Fish translate the trim level as “jiyasutoserekushiyon”, and if you add some cing-cong language there, then “jiyasuto” is pronounced as “jay-su” or sounds like just and “serekushiyon” is pronounced as “se-rection” or sounds like selection (Japanese words doesn’t have “L”). So, Google might have the edge here… Or Honda just have something about erection on Freed latest trim.
G Just Selection profile
Anyway, the “Just Selection” trims ads HID as a standard item for the G trim and the G Aero receives standard 15″ aluminum wheel and heated windshield wiper… Get it right folks, heated wiper, not heated windshield, although the heating element is on the windshield. The logic behind this is to make the wiper melts snow particles to reduce tearing effect of the blade on the long run.
You just don’t believe me do you…
As for the price, the standard G is priced at 1.699 Million Yen, while the “Just Selection” is priced at 1.794 Million Yen. A difference of 95K Yen or US$1K, and you get factory warranted HID lights, nice enough. The G Aero “Just Selection” have a different of 132K Yen or US$1.2K from the basic G Aero… Nice enough, but I don’t think the heated wiper will help non snowing countries.
So a trim level addition? Pfft… Not worth having “minor update” status. Wait! I forgot to mention that all Freed captain seat version now have their second row seat to slide an extra 40mm/4cm, and map lights and grab rails as standard.
Now I wonder if Honda Indonesia will incorporate the above additions for the Freed imminent release… At least the grab rails and extra sliding distance, because both really adds another value towards the car. Safety while entering the car, and extra leg room if needed .
Oh, and for you Indonesian readers, I have some bad news about Freed’s price. I heard news from the street that the price is hovering steady at Rp 270 Million when the Freed launches. Wowza… At that price point you can get a brand new (old gen) Nissan Serena or Toyota Innova for less. But it’s still up in the air as it’s just a word from the street, and who knew… Miracles do come true you know, at least I’ve witnessed a couple.
Source:
Honda of Japan Official Freed Update Page
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[...] 26th of May 2009, Whoops, Honda actually mildly refresh the Freed after just a couple of months. You guys can check out the entry here. It’s not much, hand rails and map lights as standards. Also the addition of sliding distance [...]
270 mil is pushing it..
but..
well..
in this age and current economy..
for those who want to buy car that has more than functionality 270 is..
–nothing–
Hi Deadeye,
The Freed was officially priced at 237 million and 257 million. Still expensive, but all those “cheap” cars are going to have a price hike anyway. So remember… Continue on! With all the tax hikes.