Fresh Fit to debut at New York show

Gerry Malloy

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Honda will introduce its all-new Fit for North America at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, which opens to the public later this month, on Easter weekend.

A Japanese version of the new Fit, which was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last fall, was named Japan's Car of the Year for 2007-2008 by one of two rival Japanese Car of the Year groups.

According to Honda Canada, the North American version won't be the same as that sold in Japan, but it will almost certainly be derived from that vehicle, which is less boxy and more aerodynamic in appearance than its predecessor. The front windshield pillar has been moved forward and the front quarter window dramatically increased in size.

The new car is slightly larger as well. Honda says the sub-compact Fit hatchback offers interior room equivalent to that of a compact sedan.

It is expected to go on sale here this fall.

No carrot ... just stick

In its new budget released this week, the federal government stripped the carrot away from its carrot-and-stick ecoAuto feebate program, leaving just the stick.

The carrot – the $1,000 to $2,000 rebate offered to buyers of government-designated, fuel-efficient vehicles, announced in last year's budget, will disappear with the current model year. (Rebates on 2008 models purchased new will continue until March 31, 2009.)

But the stick – the so-called Green Levy, also known as a "gas-guzzler tax," will continue. It allocates penalties of up to $4,000 to buyers of vehicles with combined fuel-consumption ratings of 13.0 L/100 km or greater.

The feebate was strongly criticized when it was introduced as being an ineffective approach to helping curb carbon dioxide emissions, which was its stated purpose.

By terminating the rebate part of the program the government is acknowledging its ineffectiveness in that regard, while seeming to confirm that its primary role was revenue generation by maintaining the Green Levy.

New FX to launch Infiniti in EU

While the Infiniti brand is almost two decades old in North America, it is just launching in Europe.

It will do so with the world debut of the second-generation FX luxury crossover at the Geneva auto show next week. That unveiling will be the first time a new Infiniti has made its debut outside the U.S., where the brand was first launched.

Other Infiniti models to be sold in Europe include the G37 coupe and sedan and EX37 crossover. Sales will begin this fall in nine countries, including France, Spain and Italy, and 12 more, including the U.K. and Germany, will follow in 2009.

BMW plans mild hybrid diesel

BMW will premiere a re-engineered X5 SUV concept that previews the next stage in the company's Efficient Dynamics technology at the Geneva auto show next week. It represents the first application of a four-cylinder diesel engine with that technology in a large SUV (Sports Activity Vehicle in BMW-speak).

Rather than employing the two-mode, full-hybrid system that BMW developed in conjunction with GM, Daimler and Chrysler, which was shown at the Canadian International AutoShow in an X6 Hybrid concept, the Geneva study combines an efficient four-cylinder diesel engine and a generator in a mild hybrid configuration.

That is, it uses its batteries and an electric motor to supplement drive power from the internal combustion engine, rather than operating on electric power alone. Unlike hybrids currently on the market, it uses a Lithium-ion battery pack of the type under development for use in plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Its 2.0 L, four-cylinder diesel engine, with variable twin turbos and third-generation common-rail injection, is rated at 204 hp and generates 295 lb.-ft. of torque.

With an average fuel consumption of 6.5 L/100 km in the EU test cycle and a CO2 emissions level of 172 g/km, it is said to be the most efficient vehicle of its size in the competitive environment of BMW's X models. The concept car features a one-square-metre solar roof that acts as an additional one kWh energy source to preheat gear oil and provide direct energy during standstill for ventilation or for operating a cool box, audio equipment, a mobile phone charger, or charging the vehicle battery.

Hyundai concept for Geneva

Hyundai is scheduled to reveal a new concept car, called the HED-5 at the Geneva auto next week. Although not much detail has been released, it is expected to be a small, six-passenger, Mazda5-like minivan.

It is also said to incorporate an application of existing technology that can make a significant reduction in CO2 emissions, without compromising price, performance, or driving enjoyment.

Whether its production version will be restricted to the European market, or will make its way to our shores remains to be seen.

New Vibe under $16,000

GM Canada has announced that the all-new 2009 Pontiac Vibe, now arriving in dealer showrooms, has a starting price of just $15,995, including a host of standard safety features.

All new Vibes include six airbags, active head restraints, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control, and OnStar as standard equipment.

Corolla and Matrix pricing

Toyota Canada has announced that the 2009 Corolla will have a starting price of $14,565 – the lowest introductory price for the model since the 1997 model year.

Matrix pricing will start at $15,705 – $1,495 lower than a comparable base-model of its predecessor.

Both are in dealerships this month.

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