Honda Releases the Fit Aria - A New Type of Small Sedan
November 29, 2002, Japan
November 29, 2002-Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced the release of the new Fit Aria, an advanced small sedan. With its voluminous interior -including a roomy 500L*1cargo space-and a selection of seating arrangements, it exceeds expectations for spaciousness in a sedan. Equipped with a 1.3L or 1.5L i-DSI engine that delivers nimble performance and high fuel economy of 20.5km/L*2, the Fit Aria goes on sale December 20th at Honda automobile dealers nationwide.
The Fit Aria is the fourth in the Honda SMALL MAX series, following in the footsteps of the popular Fit, Mobilio, and Mobilio Spike. Developed with the concept of creating an "advanced small sedan", it breaks through common thinking on small sedans to take a giant leap ahead in practical functionality for a variety of lifestyle scenes.
Fit Area
| Number of units for sale (domestic, monthly): | 2,000 units |
◆Fit Aria development concepts
Design: A sharp, advanced exterior, and a high-quality interior that goes beyond the expected for a small sedan.
Space and utility: A relaxed cabin space, coupled with a level of utility that goes well beyond the standard for a sedan.
Dynamics: High fuel economy combined with limber, stable driving performance.
In order to make these concepts a reality, Honda's Global Small Platform with center-tank layout*3 was employed to create an advanced small sedan with a spacious, low-floor cabin, and to offer outstanding utility in a compact body with short-nosed, forward-cabin design wrapped in advanced styling.
A choice of either a 1.3L or a 1.5L i-DSI engine combined with the Honda Multimatic S transmission with 7-speed mode*4 delivers smooth, nimble performance along with a fuel economy of 20.5km/L*5 for the 1.3A and 20.0km/L*5 for the 1.5W, which places the Fit Aria among the top in its class*6. The Fit Aria also offers superb environmental performance: all model types are recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as Excellent Low Emissions Vehicles, and meet fuel efficiency requirements for 2010. Moreover, Honda's original G-Force Control Technology ensures outstanding collision safety as well.
- *1Honda in-house measurement according to VDA formula
- *2Fuel consumption for 1.3L front-wheel drive vehicle driven in 10-15 mode (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport figures)
- *3Layout with fuel tank located under front-row seats
- *47-speed mode available with 1.5L engine
- *5Fuel consumption for front-wheel drive vehicle driven in 10-15 mode (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport figures)
- *61.3L, 1.5L 4-door sedan class (gasoline-powered vehicles)
●Projected retail price at dealers nationwide(sales tax not included; units: ¥1,000)
| Type | Engine | Transmission | Drive wheels | Price | |
| 1.5W | 1.5L i-DSI | Honda Multimatic S with 7-speed mode |
FWD | 1,398 | ◎ |
| 4WD | 1,593 | ||||
| 1.3A | 1.3L i-DSI | Honda Multimatic S | FWD | 1,198 | |
| 4WD | 1,393 |
◎ indicates vehicle shown in photograph.
Main manufacturer options:
- L Package: HID (High Energy Discharge) headlights (high/low beam); body-colored, electronic, remote-controlled,
fold-away side mirrors; roof center antenna; green privacy glass (rear doors, rear window) (available on the 1.3A)
+¥80,000
Body colors (five colors, including one new):
Gracious Beige Metallic (new color); Satin Silver Metallic; Ice Blue Metallic; Taffeta White; Eternal Blue Pearl
Main Features
<Exterior>
- The theme for the exterior was to pursue a "forward big cabin" design. The Global Small Platform's merits of a short nose and spacious cabin were put to work to create a small sedan with an advanced look. The result was a stylish form that is an exquisite blend of innovation and power.
- Five body colors are available, including one new one: Gracious Beige Metallic.
<Interior>
- The interior design theme was "modern comfort". An independent 3-gauge instrument cluster with aluminum gauge rings, metallic-finish center panel with built-in audio, and other elements create an advanced feel, while the two-tone beige color scheme lends a bright, luxurious air to the vehicle's interior.
- The 1.3A features metallic-finish panels, for a modern image, while the 1.5W employs wood-grain panels, for a luxurious air, allowing each type to assert its personality.
<Packaging>
- The center-tank layout with the fuel tank located under the front seat results in improved ease of use from the rear seats to the trunk. Ample legroom and plenty of height in the cabin further enhance passenger comfort.
- The rear seat is equipped with dive-down and tip-up mechanisms that permit a wider range of seating arrangements than previously thought possible in a sedan, for an ULTR ("ultra") Room that easily accommodates even large cargo.
The ULTR Room features four seating arrangement modes:
| Utility Mode : |
The 6:4 split rear seats with dive-down mode stow to create a wide, flat space and further expand the trunk area. |
| Long Mode : |
In addition to Utility Mode, the front passenger seat fully reclines to create enough space for items as long as 2,710mm*7. |
| Tall Mode : |
The rear seat cushion tips up to create another cargo space 1,245mm*7 high (effective cabin height), for transporting houseplants and other tall items. |
| Roomy cargo space : |
The center-tank layout permits a generous cargo space with a 500L*8 capacity. |
- *7Honda in-house measurement
- *8Honda in-house measurement according to VDA formula
<Driving performance>
- The 1.3L and 1.5L i-DSI engines deliver the smooth, light driving feel and excellent fuel economy that are the calling cards of a small sedan. Powerful torque characteristics in the low- to mid-speed range ensure smooth, stress-free driving. In combination with the Honda Multimatic S CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission) the Fit Aria's engines attain superb fuel economy of 20.5km/L*9 for the 1.3A and 20.0km/L*9 for the 1.5W. Both types also offer superb environmental performance and are certified as Excellent Low Emissions Vehicles.
- Both types come fitted with Honda's new-generation CVT, the Honda Multimatic S, which delivers excellent fuel economy and smooth performance designed to provide the driver with a natural driving feel. To further enhance the driving experience, the transmission on the 1.5W is also equipped with 7-speed mode, so the driver can choose between CVT, 7-speed auto shift, and 7-speed manual shift modes.
- The suspension shares the same basic components as the Fit, with custom-tuned spring rates and shock absorber damping rates for optimum performance. The result is a supple ride combined with stable handling.
- The EPS (electric power steering) has been specially tuned to ensure a natural, solid handling feel at all speeds, from low to high.
- Engine noise and vibration have been reduced, the body panels made more rigid, and the latest lightweight, high-efficiency sound insulation material employed to achieve a high level of quietness.
- Both types are also available with lightweight, compact, full-time 4WD.
- *9Fuel consumption for front-wheel drive vehicle driven in 10-15 mode (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport figures)
<Safety>
- Honda's original G-CON (G-force Control) technology is incorporated to create a new body with a crash safety design. It can protect vehicle occupants in a 55km/h full-frontal collision, a 64km/h front offset collision, a 55km/h side collision, and a 50km/h rear collision.
- To further improve safety in real-world collisions, Honda has implemented its own vehicle-to-vehicle collision testing program*10 with its own independently-established research standards. This collision testing is much more demanding than conventional tests in which the car is crashed into a fixed barrier. The Fit Aria's safety design meets even these stringent testing requirements.
- The number of body sections designed to reduce pedestrian injury has been increased to protect pedestrians' lower limbs as well as their heads.
- The interior is designed to protect occupants' heads in a collision, and front-row seats are also designed to alleviate shock to the neck. These features help to lessen the severity of head and neck injuries to occupants in the event of a collision.
- An SRS dual front airbag system for the driver and front passenger is standard equipment on both types.
- ISO FIX-compatible child seat anchoring bars (left and right rear seats) are also standard on both types.
- *10Testing involves a 50% front offset collision with a 2-ton class passenger car, both vehicles traveling at 50km/h.
<Environmental performance>
- Atmospheric pollutants (HC, NOx) in the exhaust gas have been greatly reduced. In fact, the Fit Aria runs so clean that both types are recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as Excellent Low Emissions Vehicles, with emissions of less than 50% of those allowed under year 2000 emissions regulations.
- High-efficiency combustion technology helps the Fit Aria attain superb fuel economy of 20.5km/L*11 for the 1.3A and 20.0km/L*11 for the 1.5W. Both types meet fuel efficiency requirements for 2010.
- Most interior and exterior trim components are made of olefin resin for superior recyclability. This and other measures result in an overall vehicle recyclability that exceeds 90%*12.
- Use of lead has been reduced to less than 1/3 of 1996 levels.
- *11Fuel consumption for front-wheel drive vehicle driven in 10-15 mode (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport figures)
- *12According to independent Honda measurement standards