[cbstd]

The new Civic has balloned in size and weight to occupy the portion of the Honda product line that the Accord once occupied. The inflated Accord is now in the same league as the 5 Series BMW and E Class Mercedes in terms of size. If an American consumer wants a larger car than the Accord he is directed to the Acura dealer next door.

This has left Honda without an entry level car in the US market, soon to be filled by the Honda Fit. Weighing in at 2,400 lbs. and powered by a 1.5 litre engine, the Fit it the spriritual decendant of the old Honda Civic which captured American hearts over 20 years ago. The Fit is an upright, boxy people mover that is space effcient. But the platform could yield the basis of an inexpensive sports coupe.

The Honda product line will need a new sports coupe, the NSX is no longer in production and the S2000 roadster is rumored to be on the chopping block. A sub-2400 lbs coupe with a peppy and economical engine would go a long way to winning back the young hearts and minds being lost to the Scion product line.

Currently Honda is offering the New Civic as a sporty Si coupe and a Si four door sedan in the fall. While they offer good performance in a reasonablely priced package, the enthusiast community is concerned about the 3,000 lbs. bulk these cars must carry. A sleek new coupe weighing less than a Miata would become an instant hit amongst the sport compact crowd.

The Fit will be introduced to the American market this spring. Traditionally, Honda waits about 6 months to introduce an evolved version of a new platform.

My guess is that Honda will show a CRX-type version of the Fit sometime next winter for sale in the spring/summer of 2007.

Scott

 

[daveb91]

No

 

[Tiersin]

I've already asked about that. From what i've herd, theres been a rumor of the new crx for the last 10 years. Even if they do make a smaller car, it probably wont be based off of a 17 year old design that honda has all but thrown away. It would be something totaly different.

And to suceed in todays market, it would need to be power everything, and have all the little gizmos that would make it stand out. That would add weight. And honda would not put a K series engine in it if it was to light. As sexualy exciting as a new CRX sounds, unfortuanatly it will probably never happen, which in our case, is a blessing because the price and intrest in the old generations of the car would be lost.

 

[bobski]

I don't understand how people can say it couldn't be built similar to the way it was years ago. It seems to me that you take an Insight, put a normal rear suspension on it, strip out the hybrid gear and replace it with an R18. To make an Si model, bolt in a few chassis reinforcements, a K-series, upgraded brakes and suspension bits (shocks, springs, sway bars). There you have it - modern HF, DX and Si.

 

[daveb91]

You guys are crazy a 2 seater small car wont sell along side the Civic Si.

 

[shadowcrx]

You guys are crazy a 2 seater small car wont sell along side the Civic Si.

um can you say s2000?

 

[GetCaughtDead]

the s2000 is in a completely different class. you're talking about apples and oranges.

 

[daveb91]

You guys are crazy a 2 seater small car wont sell along side the Civic Si.

um can you say s2000?

UM can you say $35k

That would be like me saying you cant have the Cobalt SS and the Corvette.

You cant have two cars basically competing in the same class. Small sporty car class at $20k.