Rockleigh, NJ, November 16, 2009 – In 1967 Volvo’s 140 series was introduced. This series was loaded with new and innovative safety features, long before mandates by governments and safety organizations.  One such feature was the addition of three roof reinforcements in the sedan and four in wagons.

“We are proud of our safety tradition and proud of what our future holds to help protect those in and around our Volvo cars,” states Doug Speck, CEO and President, Volvo Cars of North America.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:  Top Safety Picks – 20

Source: IIHS Acknowledges Volvo’s Long Standing Tradition of Building Strong Roofs

High quality photo is available here: Large

(From left to right) Dave Zuchowski, vice president of national sales, Chris Hosford, executive director of public relations, John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, Ben Stewart, automotive editor of Popular Mechanics, William Congdon, publisher of Popular Mechanics and Joel Ewanick, vice president of marketing

High quality photo is available here: Large

(From left to right) John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America and Ben Stewart, automotive editor of Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics honored the all-new Hyundai Genesis Coupe with a 2010 Automotive Excellence Award in the “Fun to Drive” category. Genesis Coupe outperforms the competition with its dynamic rear-wheel-drive handling aimed at true sports enthusiasts. This is the second time Hyundai has earned a Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award; the 2006 Sonata received the honor for its excellence in safety.

“Hyundai has transformed its image – and its cars – in an amazingly short time,” said Ben Stewart, Popular Mechanicsautomotive editor. “The Genesis Coupe is more than just a sleek, fun-to-drive sports coupe. It’s proof that Hyundai has developed world-class design, engineering and car-building expertise.”

The annual Automotive Excellence Awards recognize the top 10 cars, trucks and technologies that are most significant each year. In 2009, Popular Mechanics editors saw a trend in the return and refresh of American icons in addition to a fuel efficiency focus with a mix of new hybrids and compact cars.

Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s most dynamic performance car ever and uses the same flexible rear-wheel drive architecture as the 2009 North American Car of the Year Genesis sedan to appeal to true driving enthusiasts. The Genesis Coupe offers a 2.0-liter intercooled four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 210 horsepower, and a 3.8-liter V6 Track model with 306 horsepower and massive Brembo brakes. In fact, when tested side-by-side against an Infiniti G37, “the Hyundai Genesis Coupe nearly matched the Infiniti in every performance measure, and did so for $15,000 less,” according to Stewart.

“It’s an honor for Hyundai to once again receive this prestigious award, and we are even more thrilled that the Genesis Coupe took the crown in the ‘fun-to-drive’ category,” said Derek Joyce, Genesis Coupe product manager, Hyundai Motor America. “With an aggressive, wedge-like design, rear-wheel-drive architecture and 5-link independent rear suspension, the Genesis Coupe was truly built with the driving enthusiast in mind.”

Each year, to determine the winners of the Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards, editors drive more than 100 of the newest cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles, amassing well over 100,000 miles in the process. Through their experiences on extended test drives around the world, instrumented comparison tests and longer-term evaluations, the auto team nominates a list of vehicles in each category. Those selections are put to a vote and the top recipients in each category win an Automotive Excellence Award. The auto team is led by Automotive Editor Ben Stewart, working with Senior Automotive Editor Mike Allen, Detroit Editor Larry Webster and Editor-in-Chief James Meigs.

POPULAR MECHANICS
Popular Mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com) is a magazine that helps readers master the modern world. In addition to providing hands-on coverage of personal technology, cars and home improvement, Popular Mechanics reports in depth on the science and technology behind major issues — including such stories as disaster planning, hydrogen fuel and other energy alternatives, military expenditures, and digital privacy. Popular Mechanics is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation (http://www.hearst.com) and one of the world’s largest publishers of monthly magazines.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai’s all-new flagship, the Genesis sedan, earned the most top-car honors in 2009 beginning with the 2009 North American Car of the Year – the first time a Korean brand has ever achieved the honor. At last count, Genesis tallied more than 20 top honors from the most prominent media outlets and automotive organizations in North America including, J.D. Power and Associates, Motor Trend, AutoPacific, Cars.com and other leading consumer publications.

All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. In addition, Hyundai Assurance is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.

Source: http://www.hyundainews.com/Corporate_News/Corporate/11_09_2009_3328.asp

Wanna know more about the Genesis Coupe?  The guys over at Modified did a great write up.

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, Mich., 11/20/2009

Theta II 2.4-liter I-4 engine with Gasoline Direct Injection goes into production

• Built in Alabama, starting this week
• First Application in 2011 Sonata
• 10 percent better fuel economy and improved durability
• 200 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque

A new four-cylinder engine will help power Hyundai’s drive towards becoming the fuel economy leader when it launches in the company’s most popular car, the 2011 Sonata.

Today, Hyundai unveiled the engine, which is built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, at its Hyundai America Technical Center in Superior Township, Michigan, where it engineers, designs, tests and certifies vehicles sold in the U.S.

The 2.4-liter Theta II GDI engine features gasoline direct injection (GDI) technology which operates with greater efficiency using less fuel, creating fewer emissions and delivering improved throttle response, all while making more power than a traditional port-injected engine. In the all-new 2011 Sonata, consumers can expect an estimated best-in-class fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon in highway driving (EPA certification pending).

“At Hyundai’s core is a promise to deliver unparalleled quality and value to our customers,” says Hyundai Motor America President and CEO, John Krafcik. “Leading the introduction of this technology in our most important, highest volume product, the all-new 2011 Sonata, demonstrates our commitment to delivering products that excite and reward Hyundai owners.”

Hyundai announced in late 2008 that it would lead the industry in meeting newly proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, that would have required a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2020, five years early through a combination of new technologies, including hybrids and gasoline direct injection. Since that time, the industry has agreed to work with the more aggressive standard. The Obama administration has since proposed more aggressive standards of 35.5 mpg by 2016, which Hyundai supports and also plans to meet ahead of schedule in its quest to become the most fuel efficient brand in the U.S.

Theta II 2.4L GDI

Hyundai’s Theta I-4 engine family is a proprietary design, engineered in Namyang, Korea and currently in production for applications all over the world at volumes exceeding 2 million annually. The new Theta II 2.4L GDI engine is a derivative of the Theta with major upgrades in technology and architecture. It features a unique block, valvetrain, front end accessory drive (FEAD), intake manifold, pistons, rods, crankshaft, variable induction system and catalyst.  The Theta II 2.4L GDI delivers an estimated 200 horsepower @ 6,300 rpm and 186 lb.-ft. of torque @4,250 rpm.  The most significant technology in the new engine is direct injection.

How GDI Differs from Conventional Port Injection

The key to direct injection is the use of individual fuel injectors for each cylinder strategically positioned to deliver the optimal fuel charge directly into the combustion chamber.  In a traditional multi-port system, gasoline is delivered via the port of each cylinder, where it mixes with air and is drawn into the cylinders when the intake valve opens and the piston moves down. A drawback to the traditional system is when engine speeds increase, the time to open the valve to deliver fuel becomes progressively shorter making accurate delivery more challenging.

GDI avoids that issue and the shorter, more direct path of fuel delivery, allows for greater control of the optimum fuel mixture at the optimum moment, thus improving efficiency.

The fuel is injected by a camshaft-driven, high pressure pump that operates at pressures up to 2175 psi (150 bar). Direct injection also utilizes a higher than normal 11.3:1 compression ratio to for increased power.  The pistons are “domed” to increase combustion efficiency.

The injection is split into two phases to achieve optimum combustion during the catalyst heating operation right after the cold start. First, the pilot injection is applied during the piston’s descent in the intake stroke and then, in the second, at the end of the compression stroke, the rest of the fuel is injected and then ignited after some delay. This split-injection technique reduces loading on the catalytic converter and helps lower emissions.

When an engine is cold, so is the catalyst.  Traditional engines run high rpm’s for a few seconds upon startup to “fire” the catalysts.  The GDI’s split-injection strategy enables the catalyst to reach operating temperature faster. This helps reduce emissions by 30 percent during cold starts meeting California Air Resources Board’s ULEV-2 and PZEV standards.

Dynamic Performance and Fuel Economy Improved

Compared to a conventional engine of the same displacement, GDI delivers 7 percent more torque at low engine rpm’s and 12 percent more torque at the high-end for better take-off and overtaking performance.  Best of all, GDI boosts gas mileage by up to 10 percent compared to a conventional engine.

Variable Induction System (VIS)

Design modifications in the Theta-II 2.4L GDI engine continue with a 2-stage variable induction system which improves engine breathing by automatically adjusting the volume of the air drawn into the combustion chamber to create the optimal air-to-fuel mix under different engine load conditions.

Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT)

Depending on engine load and speed, CVVT can modulate the phasing of the valve opening and closing for more power and lower emissions. The new Continuously Variable Valve Timing System improves engine breathing on the intake and exhaust sides for better fuel economy and lower emissions.  And the CVVT system is run by a new steel chain with an innovative roller and a retuned chain tensioner for the improved fuel efficiency and robust durability.

Weight and Friction Reduction

A critical engineering challenge is to find ways to reduce engine weight and internal friction to attain better fuel economy.  Friction reduction measures in the Theta II 2.4L GDI include a revision of the piston pin from a fixed-type to a full-floating design which helps reduce friction between piston and cylinder wall.  This further improves long-term durability.

And under the piston crown, engineers have added a piston cooling jet which sprays a fine oil mist to the bottom of the piston reducing heat and contributing to the durability.

Weight reduction measures include a new lighter-weight aluminum cylinder block and a lighter weight crankshaft. Hyundai engineers looked for weight savings throughout the engine, inside and out.  In the end, the Theta-II 2.4L GDI is more than10 pounds lighter than its predecessor.

Next Steps?

Hyundai has stated aggressive goals aiming at fuel economy leadership. The benefits of GDI technology will be expanded over time to the entire family of Hyundai gasoline engines.  GDI is one technology out of several that will help deliver superior efficiency, durability, quality and value to Hyundai customers.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 790 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. In addition, Hyundai Assurance is now offered on all new vehicles leased or purchased from a certified Hyundai dealer. The program is available to any consumer, regardless of age, health, employment record or financed amount of the vehicle. The program is complimentary for the first 12 months.

ABOUT HYUNDAI AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC.

Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc (HATCI), headquartered in Superior Township, Michigan, near Ann Arbor, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea.  HATCI provides design and engineering support and tests and certifies all Hyundai (and subsidiary Kia) products sold in North America. In addition to the headquarters in Michigan, HATCI operates two design centers in Irvine, Calif., two engineering facilities in Irvine and Chino, Calif. and the Hyundai California Proving Ground in California City.

Source: http://www.hyundainews.com/Corporate_News/Corporate/11_20_2009_3331.asp

• Fiesta Movement agents and friends will head to Hollywood to celebrate at an awards ceremony recognizing the agents and marking the arrival of the 2011 Ford Fiesta
• Voting for the viewer’s favorite award, where fans can select their favorite agent, is taking place now atwww.fiestamovement.com
• Parachute, a pop-soul band that had four agents create a music video of its new single for October missions, will take to the stage to rock out for the evening

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 18, 2009 – On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford will celebrate all things Fiesta Movement-related – the agents, social media and, of course, the Ford Fiesta – during an awards celebration at the Palladium in West Hollywood.

Among the awards categories will be a viewer’s favorite, with fans and consumers having the opportunity to select their favorite Fiesta agent. Fans can visitwww.fiestamovement.com to cast their vote now, and can vote once daily; voting closes Dec. 1.

The Fiesta Movement Awards Celebration, which takes place Dec. 1, will provide attendees with a sneak peak of the new Fiesta in advance of its reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Dec. 2.

“We’re celebrating the agents and all of the engaging content they created with this awards ceremony,” said Connie Fontaine, Ford brand content and alliances manager. “Over the past six months, our agents have showed that they love Fiestas and we are thrilled to give three agents exactly what they want – a Fiesta of their own.”

The band Parachute will be on hand for a live performance featuring its hits “She Is Love” and “Under Control” from the debut album Losing Sleep. Fiesta agents are no strangers to Parachute; four of them created a music video for “Under Control” for October missions. The agent videos will debut at the awards celebration during Parachute’s performance.

In keeping with the spirit of the Fiesta Movement and its use of social media platforms, the awards celebration will also play host to the world’s largest corporate tweetup.

Building buzz
As part of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative, 100 young trendsetters are test driving and living with a European-spec Ford Fiesta for six months, traveling as agents on special missions. They then go on to relate their experiences through a variety of social media sites.

Throughout the Fiesta Movement, agents have traveled more than 1.1 million miles and have generated more than 5.5 million YouTube views, more than 677,000 Flickr views and more than 3.4 million Twitter impressions. The Fiesta Movement and test drive program has resulted in more than 60,000 hand-raisers.

source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-fiesta-movement-awards-voting-31429

• Ford confirms development plans of an all-new Ford Police Interceptor and affirms continued commitment to the police and municipal vehicle businesses
• New Police Interceptor’s durability, safety and performance will exceed the existing Crown Victoria’s law enforcement vehicle lineup
• Ford is the market leader in the law enforcement vehicle segment, selling 45,000 of the 60,000 police vehicles sold in each year in the U.S.

Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 13, 2009 – Ford Motor Company announced today it will produce an all-new purpose-built Police Interceptor specially designed and engineered to replace the Ford Crown Victoria law enforcement vehicle lineup in 2011.

The new Ford Police Interceptor is being developed in conjunction with Ford’s Police Advisory Board, which provided input during the past 14 months on key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience and comfort.  The new Police Interceptor will be offered without interruption when production of the Ford Crown Victoria ends in late 2011.

“We have heard the repeated requests from the law enforcement community to continue uninterrupted support of the law enforcement community,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas.  “Ford is answering the call with the new Police Interceptor – engineered and built in America.”
Ford – which currently controls approximately 75 percent of the police pursuit vehicle business in the U.S. – has invested significantly in designing the purpose-built new police and municipal vehicles to meet the needs of these crucial customers.

The new Police Interceptor is designed to provide municipalities with reduced ownership costs through improved fuel efficiency, quality and the kind of durability police departments nationwide have come to expect from Ford.

“Ford’s commitment to the law enforcement community produced the Crown Victoria, the benchmark police vehicle,” said Lt. Brian Moran, fleet manager, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and a member of Ford’s Police Advisory Board.  “This commitment has continued, and Ford has been working closely with the Police Advisory Board on developing the new Police Interceptor.   I am confident that the next-generation Ford police vehicle will meet the future needs of the law enforcement community and will set the new standard.”

Ford plans to reveal the new model and provide full vehicle specifications in the first quarter of 2010 – in time for law enforcement agencies, police equipment manufacturers and upfitters to develop a transition plan from the Crown Victoria to the new product.

Each year, Ford sells approximately 45,000 police vehicles, making the Blue Oval the nation’s largest provider of police and municipal vehicles.

“Ford long has supported our public servants with vehicles that work as hard as they do,” said Ken Czubay, Ford vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service.  “We intend to build on this legacy with a new generation of municipal and police vehicles that set even higher standards.”

source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-announces-development-of-31418

Drive inward from either coast of the continent and take note of the vehicles you see. In the heartland, pickup trucks and full-size SUVs are the norm rather than the exception. You don’t see as many itsy-bitsy cars either (and in the center of the country, those little microcars that dot the highways on either coast are more often than not, an oddity). The rationale is simple: The highways are big. Distances between urban centers are equally large. And so are the demands folks place upon their vehicles. The truth is, you can’t tow a horse trailer with a front-wheel-drive econocar. If you have to haul a heavy load, simultaneously carry up to eight people in the vehicle, and pull a heavy trailer, there are only a select few capable vehicles. Ford’s Expedition is one of them.

Impressive Inside and Out
When we walked out to the parking lot to pick up our test Expedition, it was pretty easy to find. Painted in the new for 2010 Tuxedo Black Metallic, the Limited 4×4 model was shod with chrome 18-inch wheels, but was otherwise primarily monochromatic. Running boards were body color, ditto with the power folding, heated sideview mirrors, while the headlamps were given the blackout treatment. The standard roof rack included blacked-out crossbars with bright (chrome) sidebars. Bottom line here, it was, at least in our eyes, a stunning big sport ute.

Climbing inside wasn’t disappointing either. Trimmed in a Stone color leather with perforated inserts, the front bucket seats proved to be full-feature, 10-way power jobs complete with heating and cooling, power lumbar and recline features, along with a memory element on the driver’s side. Second row bucket seats (optional) were also trimmed in the same sandstone material and came equipped with seat heaters. The third row of seats were set up with a power-fold feature (see below). Rain-sensing wipers are standard on the Limited, as are power-adjustable pedals, dualzone electronic temperature control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel complete with secondary audio controls, along with a premium sound system. The “tunes” included a six-disc CD changer, MP3 capability and seven speakers (including a subwoofer with 340 watts). SIRIUS® Satellite Radio is standard, as is Ford’s SNYC® system.

Just what is the SYNC system? Basically, it’s a full-feature, factory installed, in-car communications and entertainment system developed by Ford and Microsoft. Ford SYNC allows drivers to bring nearly any Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phone or digital media player into their vehicle and operate them using voice commands, the vehicle’s steering wheel, or radio controls. It allows portable MP3 and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to function with simple voice commands. SYNC can even receive text messages and read them aloud using a digitized female voice “Samantha.” SYNC can also interpret a hundred or so shorthand messages (for example, “LOL” or laughing out loud). Among the myriad features, it can call 911, it can transfer the names and numbers in a mobile phonebook automatically, it’s fluent in English, Canadian French and Mexican Spanish.

Seating, Cargo and Towing
Even with third-row seating, the Expedition offers 18.6 cubic feet behind the back row. Behind the second row, there’s 55 cubic feet of storage space. With all rear seats folded/lowered, there’s a cavernous 108.3 cubic feet of storage space. Lift-over height works out to 34.4-inches. And if you run out of room there’s always the roof rack system. The other big part of the full-size Expedition equation is the towing capacity. Few vehicles rival Ford’s big sport ute in the ability to tow a large boat or camper-trailer or horse trailer. The 5.4L V8’s 310 horsepower and 365 lb./ft. of torque give the Expedition 4×2 regular-length model a maximum 9,200-lb. towing capacity when properly equipped with the available Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. Our 4×4 model was set up to tow 9,000 pounds. That’s definitely big boat and big trailer territory. To get there, the Expedition was fitted with a Class IV hitch receiver, 4- and 7-pin trailer electrical connectors, a heavy duty auxiliary transmission cooler, a heavy duty radiator, and an electronic brake wiring kit.

Another point to consider is that Ford’s V8 is designed so it can run on both gasoline and E85 (85- percent ethanol/15-percent gasoline, which is pretty common in many areas of the heartland). Backing the 5.4-liter engine is a heavy-duty six-speed automatic transmission, complete with a tow-haul mode. Our test ute included Ford s optional “Control Trac®” four-wheel-drive system. Basically, this setup has an auto mode that senses when the Expedition is on a loose or slippery surface. Once it determines if the surface lacks grip, it automatically transfers power to the appropriate wheels. Because of our location in the (regularly) wet Northwest, the auto mode proved incredibly useful, particularly when maneuvering a heavy boat trailer in and out of slippery launches. Where other trucks and SUVs struggled, our Expedition didn’t flinch. And, by the way, the auto mode is pretty much seamless.

Ride and Handling
Something that is quite surprising in a SUV of this size is the ride and handling. It’s more car like than you might first imagine. A big part of that is due to the fact the Expedition is equipped with independent rear suspension (IRS). This allows each wheel to independently react to rough or uneven surfaces for a smooth and controlled ride. It also performs perfectly on smooth surfaces, however Ford’s suspension tune also has a lot to do with (for a big sport ute) the confidence-inspiring handling.

Ford didn’t stop there, though. The 2010 Ford Expedition comes equipped with the exclusive AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control®). This is an advanced electronic stability system that improves vehicle control on all driving surfaces, including ice, snow, gravel, rain-soaked roads, and even on dry pavement. Stopping power is increased with this system, as is traction, overall handling and, of course, stability. The system accomplishes this by way of sensors that monitor vehicle stability 100 times per second then automatically determines when and how it will apply brakes and modify engine power to help keep all four wheels firmly planted.

The reality is, the big Expedition sport-utility vehicle is the right vehicle for many people. Sure, it’s a big truck; but, on the other hand, it has equally big capabilities. If you need to move plenty of people, a bunch of cargo or haul a trailer, few other vehicles can match it. And we’re pretty sure that’s why you see plenty of them in America’s heartland.

source: http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/expedition/reviews/review-details/?id=184

October 29, 2009

Even if you don’t know why, you probably have heard the name Funkmaster Flex. For more than a more than a decade Flex has been one of America’s top radio personalities, reaching more than 2 million listeners per week.

He’s also an avid car enthusiast, customizing new vehicles and building vintage cars with special attention to style and performance. Most recently, Flex customized the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, which he will debut at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. He has also developed his own car-customizing television programming.

He’ll be hosting a live chat from the show. This trade show attracts 100,000 automotive enthusiasts who are part of the industry. And you have to be in the industry to attend, as it is closed to the public.

Tune in on this Web page Wednesday, November 4, at 4:00 p.m. EDT to see what the Funkmaster has to say about the SEMA show and his latest Ford rides, and see where the conversation goes.

source: http://www.thefordstory.com/our-plan-progress/funkmaster-flex-hosts-a-chat-live-from-the-sema-show/

]]> http://netcarmarket.com/2009/11/funkmaster-flex-hosts-a-chat-live-from-the-sema-show/feed/ 0 http://netcarmarket.com/2009/11/2010-honda-fit-performs-with-style-and-substance/ http://netcarmarket.com/2009/11/2010-honda-fit-performs-with-style-and-substance/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:02:53 +0000 lars http://netcarmarket.com/?p=38 Affordable and fuel-efficient five-door defies convention with ultra-configurable interior, premium features and a high-quality feel

TORRANCE, Calif. August 25, 2009 - The 2010 Honda Fit, a perennial favorite of the automotive press and customers alike, offers value and versatility in a fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient five-door package.

Compact on the outside yet spacious inside, the Fit stands apart from other entry-level vehicles with its multifunctional interior and high levels of refinement. The exclusive 60/40 split rear Magic Seat® offers multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations – tall object mode, long object mode and utility mode – in addition to the standard five-passenger mode.

The “super-forward aero-form” exterior design supports excellent outward visibility and contributes to the vehicle’s aggressive, sporty stance. The 1.5-liter, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine is tuned to deliver a rewarding combination of power and fuel economy. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard and a 5-speed automatic transmission is available. Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters on Fit Sport models equipped with the available automatic transmission allow for manual gear selection.

“The Fit offers a long list of standard feature content, outstanding fuel economy and performance while still maintaining a high level of affordability,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda. “Entry-level customers can receive a tremendous value from the Fit without sacrificing function or design.”

Compact on the outside with an overall length of 161.6 inches, the interior provides an impressive passenger volume of 90.8 cubic feet for its class and a rear cargo volume of 20.6 cubic feet. The rear Magic Seat provides convenient one-motion dive-down functionality and can fold flat into the floor to create a rear cargo volume of 57.3 cubic feet.

Safety highlights include the Advanced Compatibility Engineeringâ„¢ (ACEâ„¢) body structure, standard anti-lock brakes and more. Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, dual front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) and side-curtain airbags are standard equipment on all models. Vehicle Stability Assistâ„¢ (VSA®), commonly referred to as electronic stability control, is included on Fit Sport models equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System¹.

The engine produces 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 lb-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm. The Fit equipped with the available automatic transmission achieves an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) city/highway fuel economy rating of 28/35 miles per gallon² . The Fit with a manual transmission and Fit Sport with either a manual or the available automatic transmission achieve an EPA city/highway fuel economy rating of 27/33 miles per gallon2. Emissions ratings are CARB ULEV-2 and Federal EPA Tier 2, Bin 5.

The front MacPherson strut suspension and torsion beam rear suspension settings are tuned to provide a sporty, refined and dynamic driving experience. Fifteen- and 16-inch wheels (Fit and Fit Sport respectively) feature 175/65 R15 84S (Fit) and 185/55 R16 83H (Fit Sport) tires. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution (EBD) uses 10.3-inch ventilated discs in the front and 7.9-inch drums in the rear.

The Fit comes with standard amenities such as air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, MP3/WMA playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS), auxiliary audio input jack, power windows, power mirrors and power door locks. The Fit Sport adds alloy wheels, an underbody aero kit, rear roofline spoiler, fog lights, security system with keyless remote entry and cruise control.

The Fit Sport audio system provides six speakers, a five-mode equalizer and a USB Audio Interface³. The Fit Sport is available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System⁴ with Voice Recognition, featuring a 6.5-inch screen and more than 7 million points of interest.

The Honda Fit has received multiple awards including the prestigious Car and Driver Magazine’s 2009 “10Best” list (www.caranddriver.com) and Kelly Blue Book’s (www.kbb.com) “Top 10 Green Car” and “Coolest New Cars Under $18,000″ awards.

Basic Specs:
Engine: 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC (all aluminum)
Horsepower: 117 hp @ 6,600 rpm
Torque: 106 lb-ft. @ 4,800 rpm.
EPA-estimated Fuel Economy, City/Hwy/Comb.: 28/35/31 (Fit AT), 27/33/30 (Fit Sport AT), 27/33/29 (Fit MT and Fit Sport MT)
Emissions Rating: CARB ULEV-2 or Federal EPA Tier 2, Bin 5
Seating Capacity: 5
Length: 161.6 inches
Width: 66.7 inches
Wheelbase: 98.4 inches
Track (front/rear): 58.7 / 58.1 inches
Passenger / Cargo Volume: 90.8 / 20.6 cubic feet
Standard Airbags: Driver’s and Front-Passenger’s Dual-stage, Dual-Threshold Front Airbags; Front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and Side-curtain Airbags
Standard anti-lock braking system: 4-channel with Brake Assist
Available Satellite-Linked Navigation Systemâ„¢ (Fit Sport)
Available Vehicle Stability Assistâ„¢ (Fit Sport)

¹ Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

² Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

³ The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.

⁴ Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

source: http://automobiles.honda.com/news/press-releases-article.aspx?Category=Fit%205-Door&Article=5151