BREAKING NEWS: MASSIVE HONDA FIT/CITY/FREED RECALL

Honda has announced that the company is recalling around 700,000 vehicles globally for faulty lost motion springs in the valve train. The springs may fatigue and break over time, causing the engine to stall as a result. The recall covers certain 2009-2010 Fit, Freed and City models, and so far the company has received a total of 72 complaints of the issue in Japan and 29 complaints from elsewhere in the world.

No injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of the problem.

Honda to Expand Hybrid Line in Japan

Honda will be a very busy company next year rolling out multiple new hybrid versions of its cars, following the CR-Z launch in the summer and more recently, the Fit Hybrid launch.

Honda is set to launch a hybrid version of its small minivan, the Freed along with a stretched wagon variant of the Fit Hybrid in order to meet domestic consumption of the vehicle. The stretched wagon variant will have the same front and have the back extended by about 2 inches. The Fit Hybrid wagon variant is expected in early spring 2011 with the hybrid Freed in fall 2011. There is also news that a major revamp is underway for Honda`s Insight model that was launched a couple of years ago as well as rumors that the Civic Hybrid may not be sold in Japan past this year because of the removal of the Civic nameplate from the Honda Japan lineup.

What are your thoughts? Think that Honda needs to bring these cars over to North America?

Honda Freed launching in Malaysia

Honda's Freed small minivan will be launching in Malaysia on April 22nd, 2010 followed by similar product launches in the Asian region as well as in Thailand. Consumer interest on this model have been growing as the need of a market for a compact but useful minivan is growing in the area. 

Review - The Bangkok Post on the 2009 Honda Freed

( Quoted from The Bangkok Post )
" The Honda Freed we are getting may be built in the archipelago, but it has a totally different origin in design and engineering. The Freed (short for freedom) is born in Japan last year to be the B-segment MPV replacement for the outgoing Mobilio model. Based on a stretched current Jazz hatchback platform, it offers six, seven or eight seats in Japan. In similar ways to Thailand's automotive product champion where pick-ups are taxed a mere 3%, vehicles with seven or more seats in Indonesia are subject to the least amount of tax. Thus the Freed was chosen for local assembly and sales there. "

For more information, visit http://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/autoreview/22034/people-freedom .

News - Honda Freed Introduced in Singapore

Honda, via its local authorized dealer Kah Motor, has officially revealed the new Honda Freed 7-seater MPV for the Singaporean market. The new Freed, assembled in Karawang, Indonesia measures 4,215mm long, 1,700mm wide and 1,735mm tall. With a wheelbase of 2,740mm, the Freed uses Honda’s Global Small Platform, which also underpins the Honda Jazz / Fit.

Power is provided by a 1.5 liter SOHC i-VTEC engine (found in the Jazz as well) making 116HP at 6600 revs and 146Nm of torque at 4800 revs. The powerplant is mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission. Offered with 15-inch alloy wheels along with 185/65 R15 tires, the Freed comes with a 2+2+3 seating arrangement (separate seats in the second row), however, certain markets will be offered with a 2+3+3 seating arrangement (8-seater). The rear back rests can be folded down via a 50:50 spilt and the Freed is fitted with sliding doors.

The 7-seater MPV is fitted with a MacPherson strut front suspension, while the rear is treated to a H-shaped torsion beam. According to Honda, the Freed is able to fit a 27 inch bicycle without taking off the wheels nor the handle bars. Other features of the 1330 kg vehicle include electric power steering, electric door mirrors, ABS with EBD and brake assist, keyless entry, engine immobilizer and more. The MPV is offered in Singapore in two trim levels, the base 1.5 and the range topping 1.5EX. The 1.5EX adds power remote control sliding rear doors, auto climate control and LED indicators on the door mirrors on top of the base 1.5's standard equipment. Pricing for the 1.5EX starts at S$84,800 price tag, with COE. Pricing for the basic model will be announced this Friday.