It looks like the new 2014 Honda Jazz has landed on our shores - reader Rozaimi sighted this trailer near the Bukit Jelutong toll carrying two units of the Honda Jazz.
They're completely covered up with a white cloth but we're think no other hatchback of that shape and size would be sharing a trailer with a shipment of Honda City, agreed?
The Jazz's Malaysian launch will happen some time this year, following the Thailand launch which saw multiple variants launched from RM55k. Listings on oto.my have suggested a few launch dates from July to September, which is a pretty wide spectrum, but dealers have been known to be wrong thanks to the principal giving out conservative dates to play it safe. We're predicting a third quarter 2014 launch for this one.
The new Jazz's drivetrain should be similar to our Honda City's, comprising a 120 PS/145 Nm 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder motor and a CVT automatic transmission. The Thailand spec car starts off with an S spec with a 5-speed manual transmission for the baseline RM55k price, and this goes up to RM59k for the entry level S CVT variant, rising to RM75k for the range-topping Jazz SV+ CVT.
Equipment highlights include a seven-inch touch-screen audio system with HDMI support, Siri Eyes Free Mode for iPhones (4S and above), touch-panel auto air-con, steering audio/phone controls and keyless entry/push start. On the safety front, top-spec cars get ABS, EBD, VSA, six airbags and a reverse camera. Ultra Seats too, of course.
For Malaysia, oto.my classifieds listings have so far indicated an RM75k price, which is pretty much equal to the current locally assembled Honda Jazz 1.5 Petrol's RM74,800 retail price. This leads us to believe the Honda Jazz will be launched right away as a CKD car, which makes sense given the massive investments that Honda Malaysia have been putting into their Alor Gajah plant.
A Honda Jazz Hybrid will probably come later, powered by a 110 PS/134 Nm 1.5 litre i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle engine paired to a 29.5 PS/160 Nm electric motor built into a seven-speed twin-clutch 'box.
One key benefit of this new hybrid system over the previous generation Jazz Hybrid's system is the fact that it can run in pure electric mode and automatically switches between EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive depending on driving conditions. Moving off from a stand still is done in EV mode.
We'll come back to you with more information on the 2014 Honda Jazz as soon as we have it, so stay tuned!
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