Early 2014 Launch for New Honda Jazz; More Diesel Models in the Pipeline

                                                                                   Images for representational purpose only*

It was reported some time ago that Honda has pulled the plug on the Jazz in India. Confirming this news, the company has stated that the current Jazz has been discontinued to allow for the added production capacity requirements that the company is expected to face due to the demand of the Amaze.

However, Honda has made it clear that the Jazz will be back in 2014 based on an all new platform and to top it off, it will also be offered with the 1.5 i-DTEC motor that has been introduced in the Amaze. This plan is in sync with Honda’s capacity expansion plans as well for their new plant will commence operations by next year and the company will then have the necessary means to cater to the rise in demand across products thanks to the introduction of the diesel portfolio.

Apart from the Jazz, Honda is expected to launch three more models over the next two years and these include the all new Honda City which will also come with both petrol and diesel offerings, a small urban SUV which again will be offered with both petrol and diesel engines and the last offering expected is the all new Civic. Like the new product range expected, the Civic too will come with both petrol and diesel engines, however what remains to be seen is if Honda will introduce the Civic with the 1.6 i-DTEC or stick to the 1.5 i-DTEC.

Incidentally, the 1.5 litre engine is just a tweaked version of the slightly larger 1.6 litre engine and the reason for this change has to do with the fact that to capitalize on the tax buster slab stipulated by the Indian Government a small car cannot have a diesel engine larger than 1500cc, but this rule doesn’t apply to larger cars so the Civic could very well usher in the slightly larger engine.

No doubt, Honda has realized the potential of having a diesel product line up and while the company has stayed away from diesels, it surely looks like the dawn of a new era as they embark on their diesel ambitions.