Honda Cars India Limited has re-launched the Jazz hatchback in the premium small car segment. Its combination of good looks and fuel economy along with class-leading space should give the Hyundai Elite i20 tough competition.
Japanese carmaker Honda’s premium hatchback Jazz made a comeback in the Indian market with the company launching a third-generation version of the model priced between Rs 5.3 lakh and Rs 8.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The premium compact car, which would be rolled out from its Tapukara facility in Rajasthan, will be pitted against the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai Elite i20. While the petrol variants of the car are priced between Rs 5.3 lakh and Rs 7.29 lakh, the diesel versions are priced between Rs 6.49 and Rs. 8.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Automatic Petrol variants of the car are priced in the range between Rs 6.99 lakh to Rs 7.85 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The localization level of the car has also been raised from 72 per cent last year to over 95 per cent now. The company is also exporting the new Jazz to markets like South Africa.
Noriaki Abe, president and director, Asian Honda Motor Co. Ltd said, “The Jazz is a very successful model around the world with over 5.5 million units sold across 75 countries since the launch of its first generation in 2001. The Jazz has played a significant role in boosting our business globally and I am confident that it will replicate the same success and delight our customers in India.” Elaborating on the importance of Indian market, Abe said it is now the fourth largest market for Honda globally and contributed around 30 per cent of sales in the Asia and Oceanic region.
The third-gen Honda Jazz is equipped with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder i-DTEC diesel engine that has a displacement capacity of 1498cc, giving it a maximum power output of 99 bhp and 200 Nm of torque mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.2-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine has displacement capacity of 1199cc with a total power output of 89 bhp and maximum torque of 109 Nm. Transmission options are either a five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission. The Jazz diesel gives a mileage of 27.3 kmpl, while the petrol with manual gearbox is rated at 18.2 kmpl, and the CVT at 19 kmpl. India is the first country where Jazz would be offered with a diesel powertrain engine.
Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) president and CEO Katsushi Inoue said: “The all new Jazz will be a key pillar of business and would be instrumental in driving the growth for Honda Cars in India.” The new Jazz’s design is based on what Honda calls ‘Crossfade Monoform Exterior’ and shares the platform with the City midsize sedan too.
Since 2013, HCIL has invested over Rs 3,000 crore with a major chunk of the amount deployed for its Greenfield facility at Tapukara, Rajasthan. This investment has been done to expand production capacity to 1.80 lakh units annually from 1.20 lakh units. Nearly 250 auto component players including Motherson Sumi, Bosch India, VG Group, etc. are part of its domestic suppliers base. The company has a sales and distribution network with 240 facilities in 157 cities spread across the country, and is planning to ramp it up to 300 facilities in 200 cities by the end of this fiscal.
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