The 2014 Honda Jazz will be launched in India next year. Honda Cars India will showcase the premium hatchback at the 2014 Auto Expo in February, as revealed to Indian Autos Blog by sources in the know.
Two engines are earmarked for India - one petrol and one diesel. According to our sources, the petrol motor is the familiar 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine (which was powering the second generation Jazz in India, and which currently powers the Brio and the Amaze) producing power and torque in the whereabouts of 88 PS and 109 Nm.
For the first time ever, the Jazz will be available with a diesel engine. Honda will use their 1.5-liter EarthDreams unit, which is currently seen on the Amaze. In the Amaze, this engine develops 100 PS and 200 Nm of torque and delivers a class-leading 25.8 km/l.
In Japan, the Jazz is available with a 1.3-liter 100 PS engine, though if Honda uses this engine in India, the Jazz will no longer stand to gain from the small-car excise benefits (the petrol engine must displace under 1.2 liters). Measuring 3,955 mm in length, the new Jazz ducks the 4 meter length with 45 mm to spare.
Indian Autos Blog got a chance to experience the new Jazz at the Twin Ring Motegi today, though the car we drove in Japan is the JDM Fit powered by the 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and comes mated to a CVT.