- New, fresh face
- CVT gearbox is back
- Suspension improvements refine ride and improve handling
- Addition of leather upholstery 
- Improvement in CO2 emissions and fuel consumption
- Prices start from £11,295 OTR for the Jazz 1.2 S model
- Prices for the Jazz Hybrid start from £15,995 OTR for the HE trim level

The popular Honda Jazz has been given a refresh, with a range of enhancements to both looks and driving dynamics. The revised Jazz range, which will include a hybrid model, goes on sale in the UK on 1 February 2011, with prices starting from £11,295 for the 1.2 S model and £15,995 for the Hybrid variant in HE trim.

The challenge for Honda’s engineers was to freshen and improve the car without compromising on the characteristics that make the Jazz so popular. But by enhancing the car’s strongest qualities, Honda has taken the Jazz on to the next stage, producing a car with greater flexibility, better looks, increased ride comfort and improved eco credentials.

While the revised car is just as cleverly packaged, fresh styling gives the Jazz a new appearance. New front and rear bumpers are the main parts to have influenced the look of the car. These have also been designed to reduce drag as the airflow passes over the Jazz’s body and to avoid turbulence when the airflow detaches from the rear. These styling improvements aid aerodynamic efficiency on all Jazz models helping the Cd figure to fall from 0.336 to 0.330.

Welcome back CVT
Constantly variable transmission, more commonly known as ‘CVT’, first appeared in the previous Jazz range and due to overwhelming customer demand Honda has brought it back along with a few clever improvements.

The CVT is an automatic transmission that keeps the engine in a rev range where the car is most efficient. As well as ensuring the whole power train of the Jazz is more efficient, it also offers the driver a smooth and effortless journey.

The CVT transmission is a standard feature on the Hybrid while it is available as an option on 1.4 litre petrol models, where, thanks to the improvements, it now matches the economy and emissions of the outgoing Jazz i-SHIFT, with a CO2 value starting at just 125g/km.

High specification and flexible cabin
Leather upholstery makes a very welcome appearance for the first time in the Jazz range. Along with the addition of chrome rings defining the air vents, instruments and climate controls across the dashboard, the leather trim gives a whole new premium feeling to the interior of the car and is an important option for customers downsizing from larger vehicles from other sectors. Leather seats are standard on the Jazz Hybrid in HX trim and available as a £1,250 option on the 1.4-litre petrol EX model.

Another change across the range is a new darker dashboard material which contrasts strongly with the orange and blue back lighting of the dials, gauges and displays across the dashboard. The orange backlighting colour is unique to the petrol powered variants, while the Hybrid version uses the blue lighting to differentiate the model from the rest of the range.  

The Magic Seats, famed for their flexibility and multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations – are now even better with the addition of a reclining rear seat. The rear seats can now recline 73mms to increase rear passenger comfort.

Engine range expands with the introduction of hybrid technology
The established 1.2-litre and best-selling 1.4-litre i-VTEC petrol engines remain in the Jazz range and to compliment the launch of the Hybrid variant, these two petrol engines have benefited from some small reductions in CO2 values and improved fuel economy. The 1.4-litre manual variant with manual transmission has emissions starting at 126 g/km down from 128 g/km and uses 51.4mpg on the combined cycle. The fuel sipping 1.2 litre engine uses 53.3mpg and also drops two grams of CO2 to 123g/km. 

The Jazz Hybrid is an ultra-efficient car with a combined fuel consumption figure of 62.8 mpg – and with the same super-smooth electric system as the Insight, even more fuel is saved around town. While a CO2 output of just 104g/km makes the Jazz Hybrid the lowest of any automatic car in the B-segment.

Improved ride comfort and handling
The suspension on the 2011 Jazz features revised settings to increase ride comfort and improve handling. Already well respected for its lightness and manoeuvrability around town, the Jazz benefits from improvements to steering feel at higher speeds. Thanks to this continuous improvement the revised model has a much firmer, positive steering feel as speeds increase to inspire a confident driving experience.

All Jazz models, including the Hybrid version, share new sleek, projector style headlights adding to the sportier look. There are four new colours available across the petrol range – Azure Blue, Polished Metal, Urban Titanium and Ionized Bronze. The Hybrid version also benefits from Azure Blue plus two new colours – a vibrant Lime Green Metallic and Taffeta White. 

To mark this special occasion, Honda has launched a dedicated website at http://world.honda.com/ASIMO hosting films and photographs detailing ASIMO's evolution over the past 10 years. A 'Run with Asimo' smartphone and iphone app has also been produced to allow users to interact with a virtual version of the robot on their phone.

ASIMO was created 10 years ago as part of Honda's programme of research and development into robotics and human mobility. After 10 years of innovation, ASIMO can now run and walk on uneven slopes and surfaces, climb stairs, and reach for and grasp objects. ASIMO can also comprehend and respond to simple voice commands, recognise faces and even avoid moving obstacles as it runs.

ASMIO has lead to breakthroughs in mobility technology, but Honda's ultimate goal is to develop ASIMO into a robot to help people, both by carrying out day to day tasks and by performing work too dangerous for a human, such as firefighting and cleaning up toxic spills.

Honda is now focusing its research on the development of ASIMO's intelligence, as well as exploring the scope for interaction between humans and humanoid robots.

To view ASIMO's birthday celebrations, please visit http://world.honda.com/ASIMO

Three strong points scoring finishes for Honda Racing driver Matt Neal has kept him in the fight for the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title as the series prepares for the last three rounds of the year. The 43-year-old powered his Civic to a fourth, a fifth and an eight place finish around the famous Northamptonshire track and Neal says he is in a position to challenge for his third crown during the last nine rounds of the season.

“Silverstone is a track that doesn’t particularly play to our strengths so to come away still in the hunt is a positive thing,” he explained. “We are now going to tracks where we will be able to exploit the excellent package that the Civic gives us so I am optimistic of being right in the fight come the end of the season.”

Carrying success ballast for qualifying and the opening race meant Neal was in a tight group of cars battling at the lower end of the top ten but he nevertheless crossed the line in eighth place. He fought bravely up to fifth place in the second race of the weekend before climbing up to fourth position in the reversed-grid race despite contact at the opening corner that nearly pitched him off the circuit.

“The racing around Silverstone is always tough and it certainly was today,” he said. “It is a hard circuit to pass on because there are so few corners so to be able to improve in each of the races was my main target and that is what we did.”

Neal is third in the points standings heading into the next rounds of the championship, which will be held on the Knockhill circuit in Fife, Scotland. That is home territory for his Honda Racing Team team-mate Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden who works at the track.

Shedden is just ten points adrift of Neal in the standings in fourth position after the latest instalment of the series. He also scored points on three occasions at Silverstone despite being nudged off the track in the opening race at the very first corner. Recovering from that setback, he battled through to finish in the top ten before he climbed to seventh in race two. In race three, he followed Neal home in fifth place.

“It has been a hard weekend here,” said Shedden. “My car was handling excellently throughout the three races but circumstances beyond my control conspired against us. The first corner problem in race one set the tone for things really but we recovered well. I was in with a chance of taking pole position for the reversed-grid race but they pulled the number six out of the hat when I had finished in seventh place – that was the kind of weekend we had. Like Matt though, I know we have three tracks coming up where the Honda will be the car to have and that gives me optimism.”

The weekend also marked a special celebration of the Honda ‘Type R’ series of cars. 40 Honda Type R owners from the biggest Honda owners' clubs in the UK took part in a special 'Lap of Honour' led out by Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden driving the red Civic Type R MUGEN concept car and World and Olympic Champion cyclist Ed Clancy in his white Civic Type R.

1. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (171)
2. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (157)
3. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (148)
4. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (138)

Honda Racing Team’s Matt Neal says he can extend his points advantage at this weekend’s sixth meeting of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Snetterton in Norfolk.

The Honda Civic driver has a nine-point buffer at the top of Britain’s most prestigious championship going into the three rounds at the 1.95-mile circuit. The championship will burst back into life after a seven-week summer hiatus.

“It’s going to be a tough weekend because Snetterton’s layout always provides rough and tumble,” explained the 43-year-old. “There are some very fast straights followed by tricky corners and it is hard to defend when you are in the lead. But the fast corners on the track play right into my hands because the Civic has a great balance through those kinds of sweepers.”

Neal is forced to carry 45 kilos of success ballast into the meeting because he is leading the standings and the circuit also accentuates the strengths of the LPG-power cars in the contest.

“It’s going to be hard to match the LPG cars because the long, long straights are where they excel so we have got to look to be best of the rest after them,” said Neal. “Also, the 45 kilos will have a big effect on my car during qualifying which will make it tough for me to be at the front of the grid. Despite all of that, I am confident we can bag three solid results and increase the margin at the top of the table.”

Neal’s team-mate Gordon Shedden took two wins at the last round of the series at Croft in North Yorkshire and he thinks he can narrow the gap to Neal in the rounds this weekend.

‘Flash’ Gordon said his aim for the weekend was to zero in on Neal with some podium finishes. “Like Matt, I think the LPG cars will be untouchable at Snetterton and we have got to aim to grab our chances when they come. We will be strong because of our good chassis but you can never tell. I will have to carry 27kgs in qualifying which could hold me back a bit so I will be concentrating on races two and three to score well. 

“The Honda has been quick at Snetterton in the past and there’s no reason why it won’t be again, because we have done lots of work on it over the last 12 months. I am looking forward to it because it has been nearly two months since the last round. This is like starting the championship all over again, and we are feeling confident.”

The CR-Z, priced from £16,999, won praise for its sharp handling, efficient engine and sporty looks, as well as its unique design.

What Car? editor-in-chief Steve Fowler said: "The CR-Z is small and light and looks just right, and it’s powered by hybrid technology which means it's clean and efficient to run too. The CR-Z is the greenest and most cost effective sports car available in the market place today."

As the first hybrid with a sporty 6-speed manual gearbox, the CR-Z stands out from other green cars on the market and offers true driving thrills thanks to an agile chassis, direct steering, a low driving position and boosts of torque from the petrol-electric drivetrain.

Demand for the car has been strong since its release in June, with over 500 cars sold in the UK in the first month. Most customers have chosen the top spec GT model, priced at £19,999.

The What Car? Green awards, now in their third year, look for the best eco-friendly cars to buy. Rather than centre exclusively on emissions or miles per gallon, the awards take in a range of factors including value for money, safety and the driving experience, but maintain a core focus on environmental impact.

Barretts Honda are celebrating winning Best Sports Car at the What Car? Green Awards with some great finance PCP Offers and a stunning contract hire deal for business users in the Honda Summer Sale Event.

To find out more click the links below.

Barretts Honda News

New Honda CR-Z at Royal College of Arts

Finance Deals on New Honda CR-Z at Barretts Honda, Canterbury

Honda's new sporty hybrid - the CR-Z - which led a convoy of low emission vehicles on this year’s Eco Rally held yesterday, was also the star of a street art exhibition outside the Royal College of Arts (RCA).

Since Monday, the street art collective Agents of Change had been creating a bespoke piece of graffiti as a backdrop to a display outside the RCA. The live art installation was unveiled yesterday with the Honda CR-Z forming an integral part. The car was adorned in vinyl graphics to reflect the direction of the street art.

The street art incorporated a red, green and blue colour scheme - a reference to the three driving modes of the CR-Z - ECON (green), NORMAL (blue) and SPORT (red).

Agents of Change are among the 20 ‘Cultural Engineers’ celebrated by Honda as part of its Dream Factory activity in the UK. Each of the pioneering individuals – musicians, artists, filmmakers and social entrepreneurs – share common traits with the CR-Z and their work reflect the values of the hybrid coupe: delivering fun, great design, with a modern conscience.

Honda is celebrating the inspiring stories and ground-breaking achievements of these innovators through a website, a limited edition book, an eclectic exhibition in London and a series of nationwide workshops. For more information on the work of the Cultural Engineers, visit: http://www.dreamfactoryuk.com

Barretts Honda are celebrating the launch of the new Honda CR-Z Hybrid Coupe with some great finance PCP Offers and a stunning contract hire deal for business users in the Honda Summer Sale Event.

To find out more click the links below.