Honda Jazz: Indian Launch Preview

In India, Honda already enjoys a reputation for making reliable and refined cars that are built to last and frugal in nature. People have been eagerly waiting for a small car to roll out of the big H's stable and finally their prayers seem to have been answered. Based on the same platform as the new Honda City, the Jazz will be competing with the likes of the Skoda Fabia and the Hyundai i20. The Jazz is a premium hatchback and it is most likely to get a 1.2 litre 4-cylinder motor. Internationally, the 2009 Jazz was launched with a 1.3 litre and a 1.5 litre engine options, while in UK it makes do with a 1.2 litre engine.

Another reason for Honda to bring in the Jazz earlier than planned is the enticing 8 percent concession on excise duties on small cars in India. This also means that the Jazz could be competitively priced against its rivals. The Jazz's key features include space, refined motor, fuel efficiency and driving comfort. The exact engine options and specifications of the model coming to India are still speculated and Honda hasn't releases any technical details about the Jazz. The estimated launch date for the Jazz is expected to be sometime around June 2009 and it is expected to fall in the price bracket of Rs 5-7 lakh, starting from the base version to the top end variant.