2008 Honda Jazz specs confirmed for Singapore

Honda claims all-new Jazz to be sportier, trendy, more powerful, and more spacious than ever.

The 2nd generation Honda Jazz has finally arrived, and it has completely redesigned in the way of sportier aesthetics, better fuel economy, bigger cabin space, and ‘fun-to-drive’ appeal. Honda claims that the durability, quality and reliability factors have also been rated highly among growing customer groups who prefer the 5-door hatchback’s versatility and spacious interior.

It is available in 11 exterior colours (7 are brand new) and quirky interior styling that each owner can specify and choose according to his or her preferences.

“The all-new Jazz offers enhanced vehicle stability and field-of-view, and is more ‘fun-to-drive’ The all new and powerful i-VTEC engines will thrill fans even more. For customers looking for a car that is unique, stylish, versatile, spacious, and highly fuel efficient, the latest Jazz is an attractive choice,” said Mr. Vincent Ng, Product Manager of Kah Motor.


Available in both 1.3 and 1.5S variants, the 1.3 is equipped with a new fuel sipping, valve de-activating technology restricts additional combustion of petrol and lower rpms. The 1339cc i-VTEC engine develops a powerful 100ps, while the 1.5S’ 1496cc i-VTEC is rated at 120-ps.

Both engines are 92RON compatible, and features a 5-speed automatic transmissions with steering mounted paddle shifters. A close ratio 5-speed manual transmission is also available on both models. With no continuously variable transmissions available, this has been done in the way of appealing to the younger, sportier demographic of buyers who love driving and the driving sensation of a conventional 5-speed automatic, not to mention it’s clutched variant.

“It has been meticulously designed around the needs of the young and savvy new customers that Honda is attracting. We have included steering mounted paddle shifters on all models equipped with the new advanced 5-speed automatic transmission. Large diameter front disc brakes, rear disc brakes, a 3rd 3-pt rear seat belt, ISO child seat anchors, telescopic steering wheel adjustments and ratchet-style seat height adjusters are all standard equipment. The new Honda Jazz sets new safety standards in a compact car and families will appreciate the new user friendliness of the Jazz’s design – especially the one-motion seat dive mechanism built into the rear seats.”

Customers can expect delivery in November 2008, while the current version of Jazz will still be on sale, while stocks last. Prices start from $56,250 for the basic 1.3, to around $67,000 for the range topping 1.5S-automatic.

New Honda Freed to arrive in Singapore, 2009

Three variants, eight seats and economy and emissions standards that comply and exceed expectations of 2010

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. Announced today that it will begin sales of a new compact minivan named the Freed in Japan today. The new model will feature special mobility assistive versions with seats that lift up to accommodate people on a wheelchair (this will go on sale from 20th June 2008).

There are three different versions – a seven and eight seater that will be the first in the compact minivan class, and a five passenger model equipped with a large cargo hold with the exceptionally flat floor, all this in a compact 4,215mm (L) x 1,695mm (W) x 1,715mm (H) body.

The seven-passenger variant features captain’s seats in the second row to ensure that occupants are treated to the same level of comfort as if they were in front. The walk-through layout means anyone can get from front-to-back very easily.

An eight-passenger configuration adds 60:40-split and tumble (double-fold) seats in the second row, creating a bench seat that seats three. In fact, Honda claims to have enough space for a 27-inch wheeled bicycle to fit into the back without having to remove either the tyres, seats or handlebars.

It will come with a MacPherson strut suspension on the front end and a H-torsion beam in the back, while an electric power steering is available for assistance instead of the conventional hydraulic module.

Honda also claims that the Freed has 75% lower emission levels than that of the 2005 pollution standards in Japan, while front-wheel driven Freeds exceed Japanese fuel economy standards for 2010 by 25%.

Honda expects to sell 4,000 units in the local Japanese market, while local distributor Kah Motor informs us that they are currently working to launch the Honda Freed after June 2009 as a tentative date.

While the Freed developed for, and sold in the Japanese domestic market will be equipped with a continuously variable transmission, our Freeds will come equipped with a 5-speed automatic and the same 1.5L i-VTEC engine as announced in the 2009 Honda Jazz 1.5S. This, in order to suit the driving requirements of the local Honda demographic better.

Honda R&D has already concluded that just like the 2009 Honda Jazz, the 5-speed automatic is more suitable for use in Singapore. Honda claims that this 5-speeder will provide greater dynamicity and better overall fuel economy, especially cruising above 70km/h.

Auto France Singapore launches Peugeot 308!

As with most continental cars, the Peugeot 308 appears to look less “updated” from its 307 predecessor than you might think. While additional length and width have been added over the 307, Keith Ryder, designer of Peugeot cars, claims to have been able to hit the car’s proportions spot on.

This has happened by pushing the windscreen forward, just above the front axis of the front wheel, creating a squatted stance associated with recent Peugeot model releases.

The interior has been revised, with white accents on the leather seats, softer materials and white, backlit chronometer-style dials and chrome rings along with the redesigned air-conditioning vents.



Two engine variants will be offered, namely the PSA Peugeot-Citroen BMW group 1.6-litre VVT and 1.6-litre turbocharged engines from the 207, Citroen and MINI range of cars. In this application, the naturally aspirated sister produces 120hp and 160Nm of torque, while consumption is rated at 7.3 litres/100km on average.

The 1.6-litre twin-scroll turbo of the 308 comes with 140hp and 240Nm of torque from a low 1400rpm. While performance isn’t anything to scream about (0-100km/h in a claimed 9.3 seconds) it should appeal to the young family man who wants the convenience of an automatic and the space of a conventional European “warm” hatch.



Equipment such as ISOFIX mounts with three anchor points for child seats, ABS, electronic brake-force distribution, emergency brake assist and a host of airbags are of course, standard, while prices start at $82,900 and go up to $90,900 for the 308 Turbo.

Set in an elaborate French theme, local host Stephanie Carrington, numerous models and four dancers were invited to put on a good show for invited Peugeot customers and members of the media at the launch on Friday, the 30th of May.

Daihatsu Terios 7

Styling, features and equipment

Many fail to realize that the Terios is the actual successor to the bland but effective Perodua Kembara. It fits nicely into the gap where the 1.8-litre Toyota RAV4 left as soon as they were unequivocally upgraded to a 2.4-litre four-banger.

This seven-seater still is typical Terios, with obvious changes being the length of the vehicle. The wheelbase has grown to 2685mm – an 85mm increase over the standard model. This means that rear-most row passengers are seated right over the rear axle, and that the D-pillar windows have been lengthened.

Where the standard 5-seater, shorter wheelbase Terios claims to be a “bona-fide off-roader” with full time locking 4WD in its arsenal, the 7-seater, really, is just a rear driven, soft-core device with a whole lot of ground clearance in its class. If you need numbers, consider 200mm minimum road clearance and a 38.5-degree departure angle as figures.

That rather tall, square-ish, upright body in this case, translates into nearly a truckload’s worth of space. the To put things into perspective, the new Corolla Axio might be around 390mm longer than the Terios, but the Daihatsu’s cabin is actually longer and definitely more spacious. Middle row seats are split and can recline independently, and when both of them are, you get 600-litres of storage, or nearly 400 1.5-litre bottles of mineral water to be precise.

Local Terios-7s will receive dual compartment air-conditioning that ensures an ice-cold environment all the way to the back. Then, there’s colour-coded everything from bumpers to door handles, projector and fog lamps, immobilizer, mudguards, powered everything, rear spoiler, roof rails, a semi-hard type spare tyre cover, front stabilizer and 215/65 R16 Aluminium wheels.

While the black dashboard trimmings were a definite plus in the quality department, they were somewhat let down by pseudo-metallic plastic inserts here and there, especially where centre console and door handle trimmings were concerned. Other than that, we don’t have any complaints regarding poor build quality, and we must applaud Daihatsu for their stringent quality checks.


Driving it

When you do get behind the urethane-coated steering wheel, you’ll find that you’re seated high above the road. Maybe a little too high for a sports-car centric driver like me, however. While those who love being on top of the world would appreciate the tall driving position, I can’t say the same about the non-adjustable wheel. It forced us to sit up straight and high in order to get a proper grip, leaving little room for my legs to roam free.

The engine used is your typical 3SZ-VE from the Asian family of Toyota and Daihatsu vehicles. Somewhat related to the 1NZ-FE unit used in the Vios, this longitudinally mounted unit puts forth 103hp at 6000rpm and 140Nm at 4400rpm. Coupled with a workhorse 4-speed automatic gearbox, getting from point A to B becomes rather effective and painless when driven round our little island.

While you won’t reap the benefits of this particular car’s front-engined, rear-driven layout, it still gets to 100km/h in a tested 13.6 seconds with three-quarters worth of petrol, no passengers and with the air-conditioning turned on for your typical traffic light sprint.

Much of its power is developed closer to the top end of the rev-range, so you must floor the throttle in order to get it to downshift. This is where you’ll discover the Terios’ “vocal talents”, where after 4500rpm it sounds like a screaming child mimicking the sound of a constipated person more than anything else.

You might hear a distant rumble from beneath the car as the drive-axle gets to grips with the transmission and rear differential. Gearing tends to be well balanced, where an 80km/h cruise sees 2300rpm in fourth, and the Terios will go on to a claimed 155km/h top speed.

You won’t want to get up there with those heady numbers though, because the car tends to loose some stability above 140km/h in strong crosswinds, especially with its magnificent, slab-sided body.

It has to be said though, that the handling capabilities of the Terios is much better, and more positive than SUVs with separate ladder-frame chassis. Turn-ins are always sharp and precise for a car this tall, but of course, body-roll can be excessive when one is overzealous.

Is this for you?

Well, Toyota hasn’t yet answered to the Terios-7 with an extended Rush G, and we have to admit that for an Indonesian made car, it is well made, and a pretty effective tool transporting many “bodies” with a little more comfort on the side instead of your usual panel van.

You get a full 3-year factory warranty (or 100,000km) and comprehensive aftersales support from Sin Tien Seng themselves. From $66,300 (as of 23rd May 2008), we’ll see if this proves to be a seller.