Honda Postpones Launch of Fit Shuttle Due to the Japan Quake

The devastating earthquake and its aftermath in Japan have forced Honda to postpone the market launch of its new Fit Shuttle. The introduction of the car in Japan was scheduled to take place this month. Honda said it has not yet decided on a new release date and that the company will follow up with an announcement with more details soon.

The new Fit Shuttle is approximately 510mm longer than the hatchback, which is also known as the Jazz in Europe and other international markets. In Japan, it will be offered with a similar engine lineup to the hatchback model including a conventional 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a hybrid variant featuring a 1.3-liter gasoline unit and a 10 KW electric motor.

Suggested retail prices in Japan will start from 1.61 million Yen (about US$13,900) for the gasoline engine only model and from 1.81 million Yen (US$15,800) for the hybrid variant.

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Lincoln Brand and Porsche 911 Top JD Power's 2011 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study

Ford's luxury division Lincoln moved up one spot in the annual JD Power reliability study to gain the title of most reliable brand sold in the U.S., ahead of Lexus and Jaguar. The industry overall vehicle dependability has also improved compared to 2010, but automakers still have problems with new technologies and features.

The 2011 study takes into account problems experienced in the past 12 months by more than 43,700 original owners of three-year-old cars (2008 model year). JD Power determines the overall dependability by the level of Problems encountered Per 100 vehicles (PP100). A lower score reflects higher quality and the good news is the overall vehicle dependability averaged 151 PP100, the best value since the creation of the study.

With a score of 101, Lincoln was the top brand, improving by 13 PP100 from the previous year. The list with the top five brands include Lexus, Jaguar, Porsche and Toyota, with the most reliable model being the Porsche 911, with only 68 problems per 100 vehicles.

Seven Toyota-made cars came first in their segments, the most victories for an automaker: Lexus RX, Scion xB and the Toyota-branded 4Runner, Prius, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra. The Japanese automaker was followed by Ford Motor Company, with four models (Ford Fusion, Ford Mustang, Lincoln MKZ and Lincoln Navigator). Next came GM (Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, and Chevrolet Tahoe) and Honda (Acura RL, Honda CR-V and Honda Fit). Other cars that topped their categories were the BMW X3 (although the brand ranked below average), the Mazda MX-5 and the Mercedes-Benz CLK.

Even if the industry is showing overall improvements in reliability, JD Power stresses that automakers register an increased rate of problems with electronic features such as audio, entertainment and navigation systems, as well as with new safety features, such as tire pressure monitoring systems.

“Automakers, as a whole, have made significant improvements in reducing traditional problems, particularly with vehicle interiors; engines and transmissions; and steering and braking during the past several years,” said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. “However, as manufacturers add new features and technologies to satisfy customer demand and new legislation, they face the potential for introducing new problems,” he added.

Scroll down to take a look at the winners and losers of JD Power's 2011 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study.

By Dan Mihalascu

Source: J.D. Power

JD Power's 2011 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study

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2011 Honda Civic: Fuel Leak Fears Prompts Recall in the USA

A defective fuel pump module is to blame for the latest Honda recall that affects 18,056 Civics from the 2011 model year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], the roll-over valve inside certain fuel pump modules may have been damaged during production and could cause fuel leakage in the event of a roll-over incident. The safety agency said no crashes or injuries have been reported in relation to this defect.

The Japanese firm’s dealers will inspect the fuel pump module and if necessary replace it free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before April 11, 2011. Concerned owners may contact Honda’s customer service at 1-800-999-1009.

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Honda Reveals Production Version of New Brio City Car in Thailand

Honda today lifted the wraps off the Brio, a small city car designed for emerging Asian markets such as India, China and Thailand. Previewed last year by the Brio concept, Honda’s new model measures 3,610 meters long and 1,680 meters wide, making it 290mm shorter than the Jazz supermini and only 1 centimeter narrower.

The Brio uses a 1.2-liter i-VTEC engine sourced from the Jazz, which delivers 90 horsepower and an average fuel consumption of 5 liters/100 km (47 mpg US), while respecting the Euro 4 emission standards. The engine can be linked to a manual five-speed gearbox or a CVT transmission.

All models for Thailand feature two front airbags, disc brakes, ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution). India will get a slightly different version of the Brio, adapted for the market's needs, which will be launched later this year. The automaker expects to sell around 40,000 units of the new Brio this year in Thailand, with a starting price of €9,400 ($13,180).

“The Brio will meet the driving and lifestyle needs of people who are looking for a stylish and compact, yet spacious and fuel-efficient car that carries a brand that they can trust for its advanced and safety technologies,” said Atsushi Fujimoto, Honda Thailand president.

By Dan Mihalascu

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