Honda Planning an Eight Passenger Fit Variant?
While we’re fans of the sporting practicality that Honda’s five-passenger Fit has been offering to Americans for the last few years, we’re not sure that we’d be quite so happy with the package if we had to share it with three additional friends.
That’s what Honda seems to be proposing, if French web site Le Blog Auto can be believed, with these scans of a new Fit variant called the Freed, stretched to accommodate as many as eight passengers. The Freed will apparently be powered by a 1.5-liter four making 118 horsepower and hooked up to a CVT transmission.
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Comments
Jim
If they made that body available and the third row seats completely removable or better optional, it would make a nice small wagon. Better yet, make the second row seat fully removable also.
Trinks
Second and third row Magic Seats would be pretty swanky. I hope they make this by the time I have a couple kids and my dog to lug around. As of right now, though, I don't see myself buying one of these.
ziggy
They must have scrapped the idea of bringing the Stream to the U.S. Hmmm, practical vehicles that get good gas mileage. Why didn't the big 3 think of that. Oh that's right their busy producing large trucks and SUVs.
Pete
I love my Fit MT Sport, but the thought of the same engine hauling another 3 people plus ~300-500lbs more vehicle up to speed on the LA freeways is a bit frightening. I can't imagine they'd bring this vehicle here with a 1.5l.
Jeb
118hp to pull around EIGHT passengers? This thing better have cycle pedals for the back seats to add some oomph. With eight up, it's going to accelerate slower than a Smart ForTwo, and anywhere outside of neighborhood streets, that's getting into dangerous sluggishness.
Garfield134
Man, I hope this is wrong or a BAD joke / hoax. The Fit as it is is pretty cool. This guy is butt ugly, I'm sorry. 1.5 liter 4 to haul it around...no way. I suspect the 3rd seat in this thing is too small for the US market. The rumors floating around for the Stream seem to indicate that the 3rd seat for it has been nixed for the US.
See Winding Road article:
/countriesmarkets/japan/japan-report-honda-stream-headed-to-us-in-2009/
To me, the Stream looks like the ticket: stylish, roomy, practical, good trade off of fuel economy and interior space. The Fit works well as it is. Leave it alone. I would stongly consider a Stream for my next car. If this car shows up here, the Mazda 5 looks like a better deal and I may need to jump ship, reluctantly.
Dude If Only - Honda FIT Forums
[...] and off the same website... a bit of stranger news. Winding Road
Mena
Because we all know that the car companies ONLY build cars that no one buys. :rollseyes:
mo
the big 3 sell what gives profit. this thing is gonna gives nothing but ..... laughter. so what is that agian. i believe honda has enough knowledge to know that the average american is bigger (in size) than the average japanese.
ziggy
"this is gonna gives nothing"
Sounds like knowledge is not education.
nosirrahg
I believe this will officially be known as the "Conniption Fit."
mo
ok, i did a typo so what. ppl always point out my typos, are they that many?? :(
Mena
ALL companies sell what makes a profit for them. Why do it if you aren't making money? For publicly owned corporations, it's required by law that they try to make a profit. You make the Big 3 sound extra evil but ALL of the other car companies exist to do the same thing, make a profit.
mo
duh
Jonathan Fung
Haha. Yeah, seriously. I can see them using this car in Asian markets, but I don't think it'd be too big of a seller here with all of 118 hp pulling around 8 people.
Clint
Honda Planning an Eight Passenger Mazda5 Variant?
Rex
As this will be a JDM model small HP is all well and good. And 8 pass. seems very Optimistic. Maybe more like 2 adults 2 teens 3 small kids.
An 8-passenger Fit? - Honda FIT Forums
[...] An 8-passenger Fit? Did anyone post about this yet? Looks pretty speculative ... maybe an elaborate joke? But worth taking a look at . Winding Road
Mark
I'm over in Japan and seriously considering this car. I'm 6-3, but my father-in-law is only 5-0 so that third row is not something we have ever worried about. I would much prefer the Stream, but we can't get the kids' bicycles inside that. My wife is also tiny so bicycle racks are not an option she says.
Is anyone familiar with the Sienta? It's even uglier than the Freed, but according to the data, has about 10% better fuel economy. Its rear seats are not removeable, but can be tucked under the middle seats which is very nice. The Freed's rear seats fold up to the ceiling and remain somewhat of an obstruction.
There's no spare tire in the Freed giving it a deeper floor than the Sienta.
I have test driven the Freed and it felt weak. I should have taken it up a hill as someone mentioned it might be dangerously sluggish there.
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