25 June 2001: Honda has revived a mid-eighties name for the European version of a new B-segment car about to be launched on the Japansese market.

The Jazz is a supermini size car with big car room, according to the company, and will provide comfortable accommodation for up to five occupants; it will also offer flexibility thanks to a new rear seat arrangement.

The 5-door hatchback will be powered by new 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre 4-cylinder petrol engines, both featuring i-DSI - Honda’s Dual & Sequential Ignition System comprising two spark plugs per cylinder in a compact combustion chamber where sequential ignition results in low emissions and high fuel economy.

The car is aimed directly at Toyota's Yaris, and according to Honda's figures it will be more fuel efficient by around 28% than the Toyota. The car will sell in Japan for EUR 8,400 and Honda plans to eventually introduce derivative models.

The Jazz will be on sale first in Japan later this month where it will be named Honda Fit. It will debut in Europe at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and European sales will start early in 2002. The projected annual sales volume will be around 15,000 units.

The dimensions of the new Jazz are: Length 3830mm, Width 1675mm, Height 1525mm, Wheelbase 2450mm. BB