NEW YORK, March 19, 2008 - The all-new 2009 Honda Fit, set to go on sale in the U.S. this fall, is making its U.S. debut at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The Fit promises to further its leadership in the subcompact segment with top-of-class feature content, including an available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(tm); improved interior functionality, including one-motion dive-down rear seats; enhanced sporty demeanor through improved suspension, steering and body rigidity; and high levels of standard safety equipment, including Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering(tm) (ACE(tm)) body structure.
"Critics and customers alike have voted the Fit among the best small vehicles on the road," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. "This new Fit raises the bar even further, taking what was already great about the Fit, making it even better and throwing in a healthy dose of refinement."
Enhanced Comfort and Convenience
Dimensionally compact on the outside, the interior provides surprisingly large passenger and class-leading cargo space to maximize comfort and utility. At the foundation is an improved rear Magic Seat(, now featuring one-motion dive-down functionality, which allows the rear seat to fold flat with the front seats in the rearmost slide position and without removing the rear head restraints. The seats offer multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations (tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode) in addition to the standard five-passenger mode. Additionally, a new hidden storage bin under the driver's side rear seat provides a place to store small items.
Adding further refinement, Fit Sport offers an available factory-installed Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System(tm) with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen. All Fit Sport models feature a USB audio interfacei compatible with current generation iPods(r) and many USB storage devices.
"The goal is to provide entry-level vehicle customers with functionality and refinement that's a class above," said Colliver. "Buying a Fit is a choice, not a compromise."
Fun to Drive
The Fit features a new 1.5-liter i-VTEC(tm) 4-cylinder engine connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or an available 5-speed automatic transmission, which includes steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on the Fit Sport. The new engine is designed to offer the best balance of fuel economy and power. Larger 15-inch and 16-inch (Fit Sport) wheels hint at enhancements to the Fit's suspension, steering and body rigidity, which are intended to produce sportier handling without sacrificing comfort.
Top-of-Class Standard Safety Equipment
The 2009 Fit adds Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology, available Vehicle Stability Assist (tm) (VSA(r)) and active head restraints, to a top-of-class list of standard safety features. With Fit's adoption of ACE, more than 94 percent of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. will include the innovative body structure. When introduced to the 2009 Fit, VSA will be available in the lineup of every model Honda sells in the United States. Dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all Fit models. All seating positions have three-point seat belts. Additionally, front and rear visibility is improved.
Standard active safety equipment includes an anti-lock braking system (ABS), with ventilated discs in the front and drums in the back, and electronic brake distribution (EBD).
I think they managed to make the US version a little more attractive and less like a toy in visual appearance than the Japanese version. That rear hatch spoiler really helps things out, as does the lower treatment of the front bumper, IMHO.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
I like the current gen headlights better. The body-color housing and clear lens is more unique than this arrangement. The proposed redesign headlights are far more generic.
Like Clarkson's description of how a vintage 911's dash layout came to be: Some engineer put all the knobs and controls in his mouth, stood in front of the clay mockup of the dashboard, and spat.
I'll take one slammed, tinted and with a Civic Si drivetrain, thank you.
User Rating: BANNED Don't click here if you like disease. http://forums.thecarlounge.com...33716 The third grade class at a Catholic Girl's School has more cojones than the entire bunch of vortex moderators.
Nice. After seeing the new generation Fit on the road (or at least, in somebody's driveway) in Japan last year, I was wondering when Honda was going to give the US the current model as opposed to the old one. I dig it.
Here's the one I saw in Japan (Pika Pika):
Michaelangelo - Team Post-Killing Ninja I never trust any grey-market car coming out of Florida. You could take a dead manatee, stick some wheels on it and title it at the Florida DMV." - VadGTI
I love that short nose. Very cool. It makes the U.S. version look as if it has quite a large nose.
Quote, originally posted by Burnin8r »
thumbs down (to wooden steering wheels) unless its a car that you drive while wearing a leather helmet + goggles while yelling "tally ho, chocks away!"
Quote, originally posted by patrikman »
A restoration to me is some sort of exorcism/brainwash for a car. /rant.
Ugh I think I am through with my bubble car affection..... thank f**** for that!
All fellow members of the Roman senate hear me. Shall we continue to build palace after palace for the rich? Or shall we aspire to a more noble purpose and build decent housing for the poor? How does the senate vote?
Looks awesome. I look forward to selling a bunch of them.
My brother is a tech at a Honda/Acura dealership and he tells me the current Fit are flying off the proverbial shelf. You should have no problem selling the new ones.
Anybody check out the prices for used ones? Might as well get a new one.
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I like the first gen better. 
The Road Racer 
The Road Racer 
Might as well get a new one. 