Jun 17 Autotalk talking up the new Honda Jazz

Automotive Industry Magazine Autotalk has had a bit to say about the soon to be released new generation honda Jazz.

Honda wants great things from new Jazz

2014-honda-jazz-autotalk
The 3rd Generation Honda Jazz RS in one of the vibrant new colours on offer - sunset orange - at a lower price than that model it replaces.

Honda has laid down the gauntlet to the light and small car market, it wants to double sales of its new Jazz.

Honda hopes that the value for money proposition offered by the new Jazz hatchback will see the car increase its market share from more than 900 sales last year to more than 1,800 this year.

The entry level 1.3-litre Jazz S offers a reversing camera, satellite navigation, bluetooth, touch screen, alloy wheels, hill start assist, emergency stop signal, magic seats, and a five year warranty from $23,700.

The 1.5-litre Jazz RS model adds city brake assist, daytime running lights, paddle shifters for the CVT auto, sports steering wheel and 16-inch alloys to the list of standard features on the S.

The step up to the 1.5-litre RS Sport sees the addition of a sports kit with aero bumpers, skirts and grille, while the 1.5-litre RS Mugen variant is distinguished by Mugen specific aero bumpers, skirts, sill garnish grille and 16-inch alloys.

Honda also claims the new Jazz has more interior space than a S-Class Mercedes-Benz.

The new car has more than 80mm more interior space than its predecessor and retains the loading flexibility of the magic seats, but Honda says it decided to focus on attracting a younger market with the addition of a manual transmission in the higher grade 1.5-litre models rather than the entry-level 1.3-litre car.

The car is all-new, with new engines, new body shell, new transmissions, and has a sportier suspension offered on the RS models rather than a comfort orientated suspension on the 1.3 S.

The car will be available for public sale from July 7th, and come with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and a five-year roadside assistance package. There are 3-year and 5-year service plans available from $950.

Honda says while it has changed the model line to encourage more youthful buyers to the brand, it also has more than 20,000 Jazz/Fit customers on its marketing database who it will invite to drive the new model.

Honda sales and marketing manager Nadine Bell says she doesn’t like to put definitions on age but she wanted to make sure that the new Jazz is attractive to younger buyers, and Honda will target both male and female demographics in its marketing and advertising campaigns.

She says that ultimately the customers will be the judge, of whether Honda has got the recipe right or not. Honda hopes the RS Sport and RS Mugen will break new ground with buyers who are early adopters.

Bell is adamant that Honda will not discount the car to attract typical fleet and rental business, she says that many business owners already lease Jazz vehicles through the Honda Lease Direct scheme and reckons this will continue in addition to the conquest business the company is seeking.

A hybrid model will follow in mid 2015 as all production of this model has been taken up by other markets.

Prices RRP plus ORC: