The Japanese automaker, Honda has announced to launch the next-generation 2014 Jazz hatchback in September in Japan. The new Jazz is based on a completely new platform, which will also be used to develop next-generation City sedan and the Jazz based compact SUV. As the vehicle will go on sale in the Japanese auto market by September, we could now expect it to hit Indian shores by the early 2014. We earlier reported that the Honda India has plans of launching four new products within next three years, including next-generation Jazz and an all-new utility vehicle next year. While the next-generation City and Brio based MPV will come after the launch of new Jazz.
The previous generation Jazz has already been discontinued from the Indian car market, and this opens up a new gate for 2014 Jazz to come in our country. The vehicle was phased out due to its poor sales and huge losses. In fact, the company sold the last units of the vehicle on huge discounts, which further hit the profit margins of the Japanese car maker, forcing it to remove the car from its Indian lineups.
Moreover, the previous generation Jazz lacks in diesel engine, which seems to be one of the major reasons behind its low sales along with its high price tag. Now, Honda seems to rectify all these issues and will launch the 2014 Jazz with more aggressive pricing and with diesel engine. Honda cars India is also betting on more localization, as we have already seen Brio hatch and Amaze compact sedan, priced very competitive in the market.
It is also said that the next generation Jazz hatchback will be 60mm longer, and has a stretched wheelbase, making it more spacious than its predecessor. The vehicle will come with design upgrades both inside and outside. Couple of days back, a fleet of leaked press shots of 2014 Jazz surfaced on web. The images shows that the vehicle has received a wider grille and elongated headlamps, more aggressive bumper with larger dams. The rear too features a new tail-lamp clusters, which gets a vertical assembly, rising up to the C-Pillar from the bumper.
The next-generation Honda Jazz will be powered by the Earth Dream technology, 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine, which also does duty in the recently launched compact sedan Amaze. The petrol Jazz will continue using 1.2-litre petrol mill.
Source : CarDekho - Honda cars - New 2014 Honda Jazz to launch in Japan by September 2013
