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The new 2008 Honda Fit (Jazz in Europe) is a good example of how to update a car without losing the essential character that made it so successful first time around. In many ways the Fit uses a similar approach to that adopted by Mercedes-Benz for the second-generation A-Class. There's more solidity and substance to the design in every area yet all the basic lines and surfaces from the first-generation Fit are all still evident, although in every case there's slightly more volume in the sections. One exception here is the break in the rear roofline and DLO that both drop noticeably to give a less van-like look than before, but it's an awkward area of the design nevertheless.
Walking around the car, it is possible to detect the careful selection of elements from other Honda models that make the new Fit seem so familiar: taillamps are similar in shape to the FR-V, the short front hood now sports a pair of prominent creases like the Civic, the grille is now a six-point shape with a flat lower face as on the new CR-Z concept. It's a slightly uncanny experience as so much seems unchanged yet the sum of the changes is actually quite fresh and the new car is undeniably a better all-round proposition than the old model.
Inside the car, the IP is now a bold design with three huge meters contained in a deep binnacle, not unlike that of the bigger Civic, and all the best features of the old Fit are retained, such as the 'Magic Fold' rear seats, the fantastic spaciousness and the use of quality plastics in the most visible areas.
The NV200 concept shows a possible design direction for a future global Nissan van. At the preview at the Nissan Design Europe studio in London in July, Nissan explained they are aiming for a leading position in the global LCV market by 2010, and to be a significant player in the European LCV sector.
The NV200 design team, led by Martin Uhlarik, brainstormed a range of possible customers for the new multi-purpose van, deciding for the concept vehicle to focus on just one of the potential users, a professional underwater photographer. The NV200 concept is pitched as a 'mobile toolbox' that answers the specific needs of a professional underwater photographer with 'wet' and 'dry' storage zones for diving and camera equipment in a storage pod which extends from the van's load area when the vehicle is parked. As the pod is withdrawn from the van, the area left behind can be transformed into a mobile office, with the front passenger seat moved along a rail to the rear compartment .
The body of the LV200 has a matte anthracite finish, with the surfaces of the pod contrasting in glossy white finish, putting emphasis on the pod. The aquatic theme is seen throughout the vehicle in details such as starfish-inspired wheels, rippled neoprene seat fabric, 'layered shell' detailing in the tail lamps, and rippled sunroof graphics. The rear-view mirror is replaced by 'scuba goggle' shaped rear view display, with a popup camera in the rear of the pod.
The pod concept could be tailored to suit a wide range of customers, with pods custom-developed by suppliers to plug-in to the vehicle. Examples of other applications were as a camper, flower shop, mobile book service, or emergency services vehicle. The slide-out pod provides efficient use of space, a small road-footprint, as well as excellent access to storage areas when the pod is deployed. Nissan's Warhol-esque presentation showing a myriad of different pod designs in profile showed how the pod concept could be a unique and iconic marketing feature to capture the public's imagination in a similar way to the iPod or Mini brands.
The ZT is Mitsubishi's showcase for its latest technology, including the new 2.2 diesel engine, S-AWC electronic 4WD vehicle dynamics control and other advanced safety features. It also acts as a study for a possible range-topping executive sedan, a position that's been absent from Mitsubishi's line-up since the demise of the large Diamante a couple of years ago.
The overall impression is of a solid and clean sedan with a sharp crease line along the flanks that links the top of the headlamps and taillamps, yet there's a stiff neutrality to it that derives from the too-balanced look to the upper glasshouse and screen angles. Some areas, such as the softly rounded shoulder or the recessed headlamps, remind one from some angles of a Volvo, yet the most distinctive area is the front end, with its attempt to marry the 'jet fighter' grille of the sporty Lancer Evo X with some new luxury elements. The upper grille has alternating wide/narrow vertical bars and the lower grille is enlivened by a chrome blade that indexes with the strip on the lower door area, not unlike the device used on the new Jaguar XF sedan. Both grilles are linked by a chrome frame with a very static section that looks somewhat unrefined, however.
The real problem for Mitsubishi is how to bring something fresh to a segment that is so dominated in many markets by the German premium makers and their fixed values, a problem that not even established makers such as Volvo or VW have managed to crack.
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