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.

2008 Honda Accord Coupe

The 2008 Honda Accord Coupe isn't immune to road rage. Driving back to Brooklyn on the LIE, scrunched forward on the steering wheel with a back seat full of reasonably-priced, but well-designed Ikea flat pack behind, I'm minding my own business in the middle lane, overtaking the law-abiders on the right but not the flouters on the left when suddenly the Accord's rear view mirror is filled with a chrome Isuzu badge. Not content with making the same progress as everyone else, the Forward Cab driver has settled on intimidating those before him in order to ensure he arrives back at whichever depressing industrial estate he's destined for at least 30 seconds earlier than he would have otherwise.

Sebastian, the semi-pro mixed martial artist rolling gently for and aft next to me, holding a stack of galvanized steel planters in his lap as his seat's latches fail to find purchase on the rails, looks on bemused as Mr. Angry charges past in a suddenly open gap on the right. Gesticulating wildly, the Isuzu driver swerves violently at us forcing me swing the Accord quickly into the fast lane; braking hard to avoid hitting the huge SUV that has no idea any of this is happening.

All of this hardly troubled the Accord. In V6 coupe form, the eighth and latest iteration of Honda's mid-size sedan is amazingly capable. Both fast and frugal, the 3.5-liter V6 is the largest and most powerful engine ever to find itself in a Honda passenger vehicle. In the coupe, Honda's ditched cylinder deactivation in favor of out-and-out performance. The 268 bhp is bolstered at the low end by both variable timing for its inlet valves and variable lengths for its magnesium intake manifold. Yes, this middle-of-the-road car now comes with magnesium engine parts.

Of course, Sebastian and I wouldn't have been out on Long Island shopping for fiber board storage solutions if we hadn't had a car we could have fit it all in. The Accord coupe's trunk is amazingly capacious for a two-door and while the rear seats don't fold down flat and the hole in the rear bulkhead is small and impractically shaped it does manage to swallow a surprisingly large amount of furniture named for obscure people, places and fjords in Sweden.

After the Isuzu moves on to torment the next car in a line of traffic stretching all the way back to Brooklyn, Sebastian observes that the driver, someone similar to us in age if not cleanliness, probably wouldn't have acted in such an aggressive manner if he'd encountered us on the sidewalk instead of the street. Bear with me; this car thing is all new to Sebastian, a recent émigré from Berlin, if not to you and I. More used to motorcycles and sports cars — vehicles intimately involved in their surroundings — it's something that I've always heard, but never understood. Until now.

Trapped in the midst of nothing but competence, a vast array of technology working to isolate me from its engineering to the greatest possible degree, I can suddenly understand where road rage originates. Driving down the highway, there's no grand visceral experience to separate me from the realities of moving through traffic. No engine that might not be fueling correctly or a potential stiff spot in my drive chain, there's nothing but the tedious journey ahead of me and those outside my cocoon making it longer. I feel empowered by the Accord's performance but separated from the experience of driving it. Suddenly, I'm not here for driving's sake, but for a destination that's increasingly taking longer to reach.

I could put my foot down — the V6 Accord is faster than anything this side of a Boxster — charging up behind those keeping me from home, safe in the knowledge that they see only its red paint and not my scrawny arms, safely removed from the experience. But something in the back of my mind restrains me. Maybe it's the leaf of the potted plant behind, gently tapping the back of my head, that reminds me that this isolation is only temporary and that soon I'll be back home, once again involved in the world outside.

Exterior Design:**
In places the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe is woefully bland, in others awkwardly edgy. And what's with the rubber strip running across the hood? Having said that, it packs space for five and their luggage into a reasonably svelte shape, we suppose that's something.

Interior Design:**
As seen here in EX-L trim it's possitvly posh. The problem is, the grayish plastic and cornicopia of buttions clash with the nice leather. Too much that you touch is cheap plastic, while what you look at is awkwardly unintuitive. The Sat/Nav screen resides several inches behind a piece of prehensile plastic and can't be viewed anytime the sun is above the horizon. The high waist-line makes for huge blind spots.

Acceleration:****
The 268bhp V6 does 0-60 in 5.7 seconds. That's ridiculously fast for a practical, mid-size car. 15 years ago this would have outrun most Porsches. We just wish it didn't try and light up the front wheels with such ferocity every time your right foot starts feeling heavy.

Braking:***
Everything you'll ever need, provided you don't need an ideal brake/throttle relationship for heel and toeing.

Ride:****
Unremarkable in that you don't notice it as it competently goes about it's job, absorbing all but the worst New York's roads could throw at it.

Handling:**
The biggest problem. Floaty and imprecise at speed, the experience is dominated by understeer if you slow down. Still, it'll get you where you're going safely and quickly, just don't expect to enjoy the experience.

Gearbox:***
As unremarkable as a six-speed manual could be. But, it's not an automatic, and that's something. First gear is ridiculously short, most of the time, second is fine for pulling away.

Audio:****
EX-L trim brings with it every audio function you could want, in an unremarkable and very buttony way that is.

Toys:***
If we could award stars for the number of buttons on the dash, the Accord's would stretch across the page. When you can see it, the Sat/Nav works well, the center mounted dial spinning through menus with ease.

Value:*
Ours was specced up to $31,145 with delivery. We'll take our $30k-ish V6 coupes in 350Z form please.

Overall: ***
You can't question the Accord's competence at everything it sets out to achieve, but you can question its motivations.

All the V6's silly speed does is make us long for a simple, no frills, practical sedan or coupe with solid engineering, good handling, a reasonably sized interior and good build quality.