Honda Siel Cars India is getting ready to enter the new hatchback segment with its small car Jazz. Honda Jazz will be matted with a new 1.2-Litre engine developed exclusively for the Indian market, carrying highest fuel efficiency in its segment.

Honda Jazz is also termed as Fit in certain markets around the world and it is the only small car in Honda’s global portfolio.

Honda is likely to launch the Jazz by June in India and it will be the most expensive petrol hatchback in the market with an expected base price of Rs 5.5 Lakh. The car will be against Skoda Fabia, Tata Motors Indigo, Ford Fusion and Hyundai’s Accent besides Ritz, the upcoming product from Maruti Suzuki.

HSCI managing director & CEO Masahiro Takedagawa said, “Jazz will have all the features found in a premium large car. Our survey shows that 80% hatchback customers feel that these cars lack legroom and headroom space which we have addressed in Jazz.”

He added, “We have designed a special engine for India to optimise fuel efficiency and power, which delayed the launch by one year. Jazz also comes strapped with a toughened suspension to meet stiff roads conditions in India.”

Honda Jazz is purely based on the Honda’s City platform and will have a high 70% localisation. Honda will equip with its V-Tech technology for high fuel-efficiency, which is already used in the Honda City engine. Honda Jazz will also qualify for the concessional 8% excise duty under government’s small car definition.

“We will try to pass the benefit of lower excise duty on Jazz but 30% of its components are imported and the weak rupee may lead to a higher price,” Mr Takedagawa said. He however added that the company is not positioning Jazz as a volume generator and its best-selling Sedan City will remain the largest car for Honda in India.

Honda Jazz will also carry customisation option for navigation system, in-car entertainment, sporty tyres and other gizmos at the dealer level. Honda Jazz will be launched with manual transmission and will be added with an automatic transmission later.

According to sources in the automobile market, Honda could also launch a diesel variant of Jazz in the next few years. The company is targeting smaller cities and towns for the new car and plans to add 10 more dealerships in the next one year to the current tally of 106 across the country.

Honda Jazz Technical Features:

• 109-hp, 1.5-liter, 16-Valve SOHC VTEC® engine
• LEV-2 (Low-Emission Vehicle)
• Drive-By-Wire™ Throttle System
• Front-wheel drive
• MacPherson Strut Front Suspension
• Torsion-Beam Rear Suspension
• Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS)
• Power-Assisted Front Disc/Rear Drum Brakes
• 100K +/- Miles No Scheduled Tune-Ups

Honda Jazz Interior Features:

• 200-Watt AM/FM/CD Audio System with 6 Speakers 5-Mode Equalizer
• MP3/Windows Media™ Audio (WMA) Playback Capability
• Air Conditioning with Air-Filtration System
• Power Windows with Auto-Down Driver’s Window
• Cruise Control
• Adjustable Steering Column
• Beverage Holders, Front and Rear
• Headlights-On Reminder
• 60/40 Split 2nd-Row Magic Seat®
• Rear Window Defroster and Blue Backlit Gauges
• Tachometer and12-Volt Power Outlet

Honda Jazz Exterior Features:

• Security System with Remote Entry
• Rear Window Wiper/Washer
• Impact-Absorbing Body-Colored Bumpers
• Fog Lights
• Multi-Reflector Halogen Headlights with Body-Colored Bezel
• Tinted Glass

Honda Jazz Safety Features:

• 3-Point Seat Belts at All Seating Positions
• Front 3-Point Seat Belts with Pretensioners
• Dual-Stage, Dual-Threshold Front Airbags (SRS)
• Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupan Position Detection System (OPDS)
• Side Curtain Airbags
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
• Side-Impact Door Beams
• Outboard Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
• Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• 15? Alloy Wheels