Arriving Soon at Checkered Flag: the All-New 2009 Honda Fit

Just yesterday Honda announced details on the newly redesigned 2009 Fit. And today I heard from a dependable source at Checkered Flag Honda that the popular subcompact (over 2,000,000 sold globally in the last six years) will be making its showroom debut sometime next month. As soon as I receive more news on the Fit, I'll be sure to pass it along, but til then here's a preview.

The 2009 model comes as the second generation for the Fit. It's larger than the previous model, about 2.2 inches longer and 0.8 inches wider. Described as a "smart-sized" car, the Fit comfortably seats five passengers, and leaves plenty of room for all their gear. It's versatile in offering multiple seating and cargo configurations, especially with its improved 2nd-row Magic seat with one motion dive-down functionality.

It's equipped with a 1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine that produces 117 hp. Five speed manual or five speed automatic transmission is available. And although, the Fit has grown a bit, it still manages spectacular fuel efficiency. It has a EPA fuel economy of 35 miles on the highway and 28 city.

Two trim levels are offered: base Fit and Fit Sport. Standard features on the Fit are: AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers; MPR/WMA playback capability; Radio Data System (RDS); auxiliary audio input jack; power windows, mirrors, and door locks.

Step up to the Fit Sport and alloy wheels, an underbody aero kit, rear roofline spoiler, fog lights, security system with keyless entry and cruise control are added. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition featuring a 6.5-inch screen is an option on the Fit Sport.

The Fit comes enhanced with several safety upgrades including Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure technology and Vehicle Stability Assist (on Sport models). Other standard safety features include: active head restraints; Anti-lock braking; and electronic brake distribution; and a protective system of airbags (front dual-stage, dual-threshold; front-side with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System; and side curtain).

MSRP for the Fit starts at $14,550 plus a destination and handling charge. The Fit Sport with its additional premium features starts at $16,060. For more information call (757) 490-1111 and ask to speak with the Checkered Flag Honda Sales team.