ROAD RACER

New Delhi, Dec. 1: Honda Siel Cars India will showcase the Jazz, a hatchback, and a new version of its sedan Accord during the auto expo to be held here next month.

“We have some big plans for the auto expo. Most notably it will be the prototype of the Jazz, which we are planning to launch in India,” said Honda Siel president and CEO Masahiro Takedagawa.

The 2008 version of the Jazz, which is sold as the Fit in Japan, will be introduced in various markets next year — India, the US and Thailand.

The company will also exhibit a new version of the Accord, which was displayed as the Honda Inspire at the recently held Tokyo Motor Show. The car sports a 2.4-litre petrol engine. The V6 variant of the Accord has a 3.5-litre engine.

The Jazz, with an overall length of 3,900mm, will conform to the government’s definition of a small car. Therefore, it will be eligible for lower excise duty.

The new version of the Jazz will come with either a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine for the base variants or a 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine.

The 1.3-litre engine is likely to be made in India. Honda is also rumoured to be developing a 1.1-litre engine using the i-DSI platform for the India-specific Jazz.