Indian Autos blog

Motorbeam is reporting with images that Honda is testing the 1.5-liter variant of the Jazz in Pune. To not make it obvious for those in the know,the X variant is the donor car. This 1.5-liter VTEC engine comes from the City producing 118PS power at 6,600RPM and 146Nm of torque at 4,800RPM. As a result, the acceleration improves, with 0-100kph coming up in 9 seconds and the top speed going  [ Read More ]

Speaking to Indian Autos Blog yesterday afternoon, Mr.Jnaneswar Sen, Vice President – Marketing, Honda Siel Cars India Limited, clearly expressed that many popular international models aren’t sailing to Indian shores in the near future.

Mr.Jnaneswar Sen, Vice President – Marketing, Honda Siel Cars India Limited, -

We have no plans for European Honda Accord. We test our global models in India (a standard procedure followed with almost every popular international model, we learn). If you come to our plant, you will see Odyssey and Stream here. We have no plans of launching these vehicles locally.

When asked if the Euro Accord was playing home to a diesel engine, he said -

These are only speculations, and I don’t want to comment on speculations.

Given the sales of Honda Jazz are dull and there were talks of a more powerful and comfortable variants, we asked Mr.Sen about them. Listen in to what he said -

The 1.5-liter Honda Jazz makes no sense for India. The enthusiasts may like such a vehicle. If we increase the displacement, the product cost as well as the excise duties will go up. The A/T model overseas is coupled to bigger engines, like the 1.3 or 1.5-liter engine. The Indian model, quite possibly the only one, comes with a 1.2-liter engine and the volumes are low.

After hearing to what Mr.Sen had to say, we can safely conclude that many of the next generation Hondas will make it to India and Honda wouldn’t prefer tweaking the existing line-up of vehicles from another country to suit Indian buyer’s preferences. We also think Honda will request their HQ in Japan to take India into consideration as a potential market when they’re designing internationally popular models.

Honda Siel will launch a ‘Hot’ variant of its pricey hatchback – Jazz, by early-2010. The new variant will feature Honda City’s 1.5L V-Tec engine that produces close to 110Bhp. The Jazz will also be offered with an optional automatic transmission by end-2009.

Honda claims that the V-Tec engine will be as fuel efficient as the 1.2L counterpart. Despite the 300cc increase in engine displacement, and a 20Bhp increase in power, Honda says that the clean and efficient City V-Tec engine will find the best match in the lighter Honda Jazz.

Predictions say that the Jazz 1.5 would cost 10-15% more than the existing Jazz 1.2, almost a lakh more. But for those who are looking for a powerful, comfortable, spacious and compact alternative to entry sedans, the Honda Jazz would be the only choice.