Jazz 1.5 S the BETTER Fit 1.5RS

5AT vs CVT

According to JAZZ Chief Engineer and Large Project Leader, Kohei Hitomi, 5AT has an very particular advantage over CVT during higher speed run. The 5AT is able to put more actual horsepower and torque onto the wheels. The CVT is 5% more efficient at low revs, but at higher revs the 5AT is more efficient. For dynamic performance and feel, 5AT is superior to CVT.

HID is standard on Jazz 1.5S.

• To get HID on the Fit 1.5RS, you will need to add the S-package.

Front fog lights is standard on Jazz 1.5S.

• To get fog lights on the Fit 1.5RS, you will need to buy a Honda Access package.
• And it will not have the controls on the light stalk.
  
  

Remote Door Lock Handy Switch

Fit 1.5RS adds the following equipment

• 120ps i-VTEC engine

• Paddle shift

• Front Sports Bumper/ sports grille

• Rear Sports Bumper

• Side Skirts

• 262mm front discs, rear STILL drums!

• 15” steel wheels/ rear stabilizer bar

FIT 1.5RS S-package adds the following

• HID headlamps/auto lamp function

• Leather steering wheel

• Advanced pollen filter

16” wheels is an option on Fit 1.5RS and if you add this option, you get rear disc brakes

FIT 1.5RS MT adds the following

• 5-speed manual transmission

• Rear disc brake

• 16” alloy wheels

• VSA

Jazz Development Chief Engineer and Large Project Leader Kohei Hitomi

JM: Hitomi-san, as a global model, how differently is the Honda Jazz for Singapore market developed?

KH: The first generation Honda Jazz is based on the Honda Fit, which is a Japan Domestic Model. Hence for all global markets, the 1st generation Jazz adopted many of the engineering concepts meant for the Japan Domestic Market. For the second generation Jazz, Honda R&D is able to look more carefully at the needs of the global market and adopts separate development concepts more appropriate for each market.

JM: Hitomi-san, I see. For the Singapore model what is a major diference in the development concept of the Jazz and the JDM Fit?

KH: We checked the user characteristics of Singapore users very carefully through owner's focus group and surveys. We found that users in Singapore are more similar to users in country such as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand. They drive at speeds much higher than Japanese Fit users and prefer quick acceleration especially during overtaking. With this knowledge in mind, we have selected the 5-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shift for Singapore instead of the CVT used in the Japan Domestic Market.

JM: Hitomi-san, regarding performance of 5AT with paddle shifters, what would be main difference?

KH: The Fit 1.3 is configured mainly for low speed economy drive. The 5AT with paddle shifter provides better all round performance. If you like quick acceleration and find the acceleration performance of the current Jazz a bit laggy, you will find the new 5AT more matching to the new Jazz 100ps engine. The CVT is about 5% more efficient below 70km/h, above that the 5AT is better at transferring power onto the road. Hence I would say that for Singapore road conditions and driving preference, the 5AT is a better all round transmission for this market.

JM: Hitomi-san, is that the reason why all round disc brakes are recommended for the Jazz 1.3 even?

KH: Yes, we equip all 5AT models with 15" wheels and the brakes are also configured differently from the Fit 1.3. The main reason is average driving speed being much lower in Japan hence the 240mm front discs and the rear drums in the Fit 1.3 is good enough. For Singapore, bearing in mind the high average speed and preference for quick acceleration, front 262mm discs and rear 240mm discs is recommended. It will brake quicker and more effectively especially at speeds above 70km/h.

JM: Hitomi-san, so would you say that Fit 1.3 used in Singapore may not have enough braking performance.

KH: The Fit is never designed for use in Singapore. With the CVT now coupled to the torque converter, brake performance for the Japanese market is good enough. I cannot comment on the use of the Fit in Singapore as it was never intended for use in Singapore. For Singapore use, I will recommend customers to consider only the Jazz.

JM: Thank you very much, Hitomi-san.

No Wide Ugly Tyre Fender Gaps

The 2009 Jazz has 15" wheels standard on the 1.3 and 16" wheels on the 1.5.

Look at the fine gaps between the tires and the fender.

The JDM Fit has smaller and lower 14" wheels (tyres are 175/65R14). To maintain the same ride height of 1525mm, the suspension is higher and unless you use over sized tires, the Tyre Fender gaps will always be big and unsightly. Changing the springs can solve the problem, but extra cash and a poorer ride seems like the results.

Front Disc / Rear disc explained

The Jazz features front 262mm discs and rear 240mm discs.

The larger front discs is an obvious advantage. It wipes speed off faster and is also able to dissipate heat quicker. Both which provides braking advantage.

Rear discs brakes are more effective in high speed braking compared to drums.

All JDM models with the exception of the Fit 1.5RS MT has rear drums. The Fit 1.3 has 240mm front discs and rear drums. The Fit 1.5RS CVT has 262mm front discs and rear drums. The Fit 1.3 is equipped with a CVT and due to its design for lower speed use in Japan, the brake performance is sufficient. The Jazz 1.3 5AT with padde shifters however requires larger brakes as it is designed to extract maximum performance from its 100ps engine. 15inch wheels are also standard equipment on the Jazz 1.3 compared to 14inch wheels on the Fit 1.3.

April 21st, 2008 Reasons to wait for New Jazz 1.3

First of all, it is a Jazz...

Secondly, it has a 5-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

Thirdly, it has a rear cargo cover.

Fourthly, it has 15in original Honda alloy wheels.

Fifth, there are REAR disc brakes, NOT drums!

Sixth: Front Discs are 262mm not 240mm !!

Seventh: Electrical Vent System

Eight: Rear Centre 3-point seatbelt !!

12th March 2008 JTUNE australia

jtune ecu Just got it !

27-02-2008 US rear looks better ?

One man's meat is another's poison.

26-02-2008 Recaro SP-X

Dream Seat ! If you are a Recaro seat fan, this is one seat you must add to your collection !

21-02-2008 TMAP take over import of Toyota cars from Toyota Tsusho

A report by ST senior correspondent Christopher Tan says that Toyota Motor Asia Pacific will take over the role of importing cars from Japan from April 2008.



In the past trading house Toyota Tsusho has been handling imports from Japan and TMAP is only responsible for the Thailand-built cars.



Significantly, Borneo Motors has also announced that the Toyota Wish will be launched in the same month.



If there is any sign that life is getting harder for the PIs, this is the first one.



If PI's find it hard to get Toyotas to sell, I think naturally they are going to focus more on Honda.



More later.

17-02-2008 Parallel Imports Singapore Inc.

DB8, EK9, DC2, DC5, CL7(R), SE3P may not mean much but to me, JDM cars always had a certain attraction.

It is like eating ramen in Japan, nothing beats getting a taste of the real thing.

And this I think is how Parallel Imports have revolutionarized car ownership in Singapore.

As the possibly the largest market outside the US, the Japanese market is filled with a myriads of models to entice Japanese people to buy into the brand.  The diversity and the mystery that shrouds the Japanese culture and its people are also responsible for the interesting offerings from all Japanese manufacturers.

In Singapore, the de-regulation of personal imports has certainly created a new trend - before a spanking new model is introduced by a local distributor, a Japanese model would certainly be available already for months.  Which makes you wonder why distributors take longer to launch the same model.

The Toyota Wish and the 2007 Honda Stream are good examples.  Even after more than 10,000 Toyota Wish is sold by PIs, the official Borneo Motors import has yet to make its showroom appearance.  PIs sold more than 3000 Honda Stream before Kah Motor could show it in its showroom.

The 2008 Honda Fit arrived in Singapore at the end of 2007.  The official Honda Jazz will make showroom appearance only in May 2008.

Earlier availability is perhaps a clear advantage now.  Most importantly however, I think significantly consumers now have a choice - in the past if the official distributor did not carry a particular model, getting it is next to impossible.

In a free economy, choice is a very important element to sustain freedom in the movement of goods and services.

17-02-2008 Timeless Honda CR-X

16-02-2008 Creating my own preferred gear ratios

Looking at the ratios of the various Honda K-engines, it is quite clear that there are lots of OEM ratio for u to mix and match if u are adventurous.

Let's start with the original ratios of the FN2.

1st Gear: 3.266
2nd Gear : 2.130
3rd Gear : 1.517
4th Gear : 1.147
5th Gear : 0.921
6th Gear : 0.738
Finda Drive : 5.062
LSD, not equipped.

Looking at my new acquired JDM EP3 gearbox,

1st Gear: 3.266
2nd Gear : 2.130
3rd Gear : 1.517
4th Gear : 1.212
5th Gear : 0.971
6th Gear : 0.780
Finda Drive : 4.784
LSD, equipped.

To get more boil but losing some speed in the process, I will swop in 4th gear and 5th gear.  The LSD goes over as well for better cornering traction.

And how about swopping in 6th gear from the FG2 gearbox to get good cruising fuel economy?

Will these ratios work for me when I am all done? Hmmmm... we shall see.

1st Gear: 3.266
2nd Gear : 2.130
3rd Gear : 1.517
4th Gear : 1.212
5th Gear : 0.971
6th Gear : 0.659
Finda Drive : 5.062
LSD, equipped.

16-02-2008 Honda K series Gear Ratios COOL!

15-02-2008 This lot is taken !

You know how precious HDB open air car park lots are when you come and visit me in Bishan.

Last night, I met the most unreasonable neighbour that I have.

Spotting an empty lot #221, I quickly reversed my car.

A petite size human being was standing in the middle of the lot and when I asked him what he is doing there. He looked at me doggedly and said "This lot is taken!"

What ensued just showed me how fragile Singaporeans are..... to be continued.