The 2015 model is actually 1.6 inches shorter than the current model, but pushes the wheels out to the corners with a wheelbase that's 1.2 inches longer.
The Fit will also be available with Honda's oddly useful LaneWatch camera, which debuted on the Accord. When the driver signals for a right lane change, the camera comes alive, displaying a view of the target lane.
That engine will be mated with either a six-speed manual or a "sporty and fuel-efficient" Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with available paddle shifters.
Output for the new engine is stated at 128 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. When equipped with the CVT, Honda expects the Fit to do 33 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, with a combined average of 36 mpg.
When connected to a compatible smartphone, the Fit can take advantage of the new HondaLink smartphone connectivity, which means you can run a navigation app on an iPhone and view it on the dashboard display.
Honda's Magic Seat returns to the new Fit for this generation. The automaker claims that, with the seats folded flat, you can fit a road bike in the cargo area without removing the wheels.
Extensive use of ultra-high-strength steel gives the Fit a stiffer platform that is also 57 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. This allows the suspension to work more efficiently, reducing noise and harshness, while improving handling.
The 2015 Fit will be manufactured in Honda's plant in Celaya, Mexico, and is expected to reach customers in spring of this year. Pricing has not been determined.
