Honda Begins Sales of All-New Compact Multi-Wagon Freed Spike

Not for us in North America, however, I look at this and can't help but see the new inovative utility space and think about what they could 'port' over for the next generation Honda Element (if there indeed is one)....


TOKYO, Japan, July 8, 2010 - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced it will begin sales of the all-new Freed Spike compact multi-wagon in Japan on July 9, 2010. The Freed Spike features a compact body size for nimble maneuvering, a spacious and high-utility cabin and a cargo area ideal for an extensive range of uses.




Under the key phrase “a compact vehicle loaded with possibilities,” the Freed Spike leverages the packaging technology of the acclaimed Freed to secure a spacious cabin and cargo area, with a special emphasis on making it fun-to-use by providing utility not only during travel, but also after reaching the destination.




High utility for active lifestyles
Reversible, dual-height floor panels—a new concept from Honda—enables the user to make the rear of the cargo area slope down deeper or flat as needed for stowing sports and camping equipment or even for sleeping in the vehicle.


The rear seats can be arranged in several different configurations to add to the flexibility of the large cargo area.


A foldaway table and a wide variety of storage compartments are conveniently designed into the cargo area.





Individualistic styling for personal expression

With styling that conveys tough and versatile individuality, the Freed Spike helps users express their playful spirit and individual characteristics.




Practicality for everyday use
The compact body size helps make driving easy while the spacious interior offers exceptional utility and convenience.


The Freed Spike combines ample power with outstanding fuel economy and a smooth, stable and comfortable ride.


Note: The name “Freed Spike” combines “free” and “do” (“Freed”) with “spike” to characterize the vehicle’s toughness, functionality and playful athletic spirit.


♦ Key Features of the Freed Spike Packaging
·While maintaining a spacious interior, the compact body has a length of 4,210 mm, width of 1,695 mm and height of 1,715 mm*1 for easy parking in tight spaces and smooth driving on narrow streets.
·The long 2,740 mm wheelbase supports generous interior space. At the same time, the compact design of the engine and other parts allows for an ample steering angle, resulting in a minimum turning radius of 5.2 m and highly nimble maneuvering.
·Honda’s proprietary low-floor, low-center-of-gravity technology allows the slender fuel tank to be positioned beneath the rear seats. Combined with the advanced sub-floor structure, this fuel tank position makes possible an extremely low and flat floor.
·Thanks to the low floor, passengers in the rear seats sit only 390 mm*2 above the ground, making access easy for children and seniors. The one-step floor design results in a flat floor between the seats and the doors and substantially enhances legroom.
·Sliding rear doors on either side of the vehicle achieve a large 600 mm*2 door opening for easy ingress and egress even in cramped spaces. Power sliding rear doors offer convenient access when hands are full (available on certain models).
·The easy to see and operate instrument panel controls are sorted by function, while also facilitating easy walk-through between the driver and front passenger seats.

*1 FWD models without sky roof
*2 Honda calculations


High-Utility Cargo Area
·Two reversible dual-height floor panels, a new concept from Honda, flip over lengthwise to alter the height of the cargo floor. Thanks to the 60:40 split floor panel, cargo of all shapes and sizes can be accommodated. To operate, simply lift a panel by its inset handle for easy removal and placement.
·With the combination of plastic and aluminum materials, the dual-height floor panels are lightweight, but strong.
·The rear seats combine exceptional comfort with a convenient dive-down mechanism. Slender in design to lie flat in dive-down mode, these seats feature cushions with S-shaped springs for exceptional comfort.
·A foldaway table that can be used for numerous fun activities and a spotlight with an adjustable angle provides convenient illumination in the cargo area (available on certain models*3).
·The rear side pockets and wheel-well-integrated side lining trays are ideal for storing small items. Tie-down hooks offer a convenient way to secure luggage and other cargo.

*3 Standard on the G Just Selection, G Aero and Gi Aero



Exterior Design
·The dynamic exterior design reflects the Freed Spike’s functionality and ability to support an active lifestyle.
·The rear quarter panels, identical in color to the body, emphasize the ample size of the cargo area. Details such as the blacked-out pillar garnishes and stylish rear combination lights convey the Freed Spike’s tough but functional individuality.
·The gun metal-colored front grille and headlights make a bold impression, and the lower bumper accentuates the vehicle’s wide stance.



Interior Design
·The black interior color scheme conveys the image of tough and useful tools.
·Interior panels call to mind burnished titanium*4 while the door linings offer a soft feel.
·Garnishes on the steering wheel spokes add a stylish touch.
·The blue illumination of the meters and illuminated rings in the drink holders*4 for the driver and front passenger add functionality and elegance to the interior.

*4 Standard on the G Just Selection, G Aero and Gi Aero



Driver Support
·With front pillars designed to maximize visibility, side window sills that descend forward and oversized quarter windows, the Freed Spike offers the driver an excellent field of vision that enhances driving enjoyment and safety.
·The meters feature active and elegant blue illumination, while meter placement above the steering wheel enhances visibility and minimizes eye movement.
·Available on certain models, the backup support mirror*5 helps reveal blind spots behind the vehicle for enhanced peace of mind. Yellow guidance lines on the mirror’s projected upright image help the driver confirm the position of the vehicle and its distance from other objects.

*5 Standard on C, G, G Just Selection, and G Aero; when the optional Honda HDD InterNavi System is selected on the G, G Just Selection, or G Aero, a backup camera replaces the backup support mirror



Powertrain
·The 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine offers outstanding fuel economy of 16.4 km/l,*6 as well as ample torque and smooth performance even when the vehicle is loaded with luggage or equipment.
·The continuously variable transmission (CVT)*7 with torque converter offers smooth, exhilarating performance under a wide variety of driving conditions. The torque converter supports smooth, powerful off-the-line starts, while the CVT offers smooth and seamless acceleration without shift shock.

*6 Fuel economy of FWD models measured in 10•15 mode by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
*7 FWD models



Safety and Environmental Performance
·The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure enhances self-protection as well as mitigating damage to other vehicles in the event of a collision.
·Pedestrian-injury mitigation technology helps protect pedestrians from head, leg and other injuries in the event of a collision.
·Along with the front seat i-side airbag system, the side curtain airbag system helps reduce the risk of head or neck injury in a side impact (standard on Gi Aero).
·Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is available on certain models.*8
·All models are certified by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as complying with the 2005 – 75% emissions standard.
·FWD models are certified by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as complying with the 2010 + 25% fuel economy standard.
·AWD models are certified by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as complying with the 2010 + 5% fuel economy standard.

*8 Standard on Gi Aero; optionally available on G Just Selection and G Aero




Source;

http://world.honda.com/news/2010/4100708All-New-Freed-Spike/index.html?r=r&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Honda Freed “premium compact MPV” launched: RM112,980 in Malaysia

This would do well here, 6X seater, looks like power sliding doors, seats fold up in the 3rd row like the Element....what's not to like?
Honda Malaysia has launched the Freed, which the company describes as a “premium compact MPV” in a new market segment. The “premium” slant is meant to distance this seven-seater from rivals’ compact MPVs, and the Freed’s price of RM112,980 (OTR with insurance) backs up the positioning – it’s costlier than the Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 and the much larger Toyota Innova, for instance.

The Freed has a unique trump card however – automatic sliding doors that can be operated from the key fob (and from within the car, of course). These doors come with anti-pinch sensors and open to a gap of 600 mm. Honda also points out the low 410 mm height from the ground to the Freed’s floor; this plus grip handles enable easy access for children and the elderly, it says.

The doors open to a “walkthrough cabin” that has four “captain chairs” for the first two rows and third row seats that fold up sideways, like in old scool 4X4s. Up front is a dual layer dashboard with the instrument binnacle situated ahead of the driver. Everything else is in the middle – an aftermarket 2-DIN Alpine stereo with USB port, a chunky gearknob and the air-con controls. The parking brake is a foot brake. Safety kit wise, the Freed comes with dual airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist and “neck-shock mitigation seat” – the latter basically reduces whiplash injury in an accident, although Honda’s term for it sounds very bombastic.

The Freed sits on the Jazz/City platform, although its 2,740 mm wheelbase is quite a bit longer than the City’s 2,550 mm. The wheelbase is actually 140 mm longer than the Grand Livina’s although the Nissan is longer overall. The drivetrain is similar to the what we’re familiar with in the City – a 1.5-litre single-cam i-VTEC paired to five-speed automatic. For this application, the gear ratios are shorter and the 116 bhp/146 Nm engine makes 2 bhp less and 1 Nm more than the City. The steering is EPS, suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam at the rear, while the brakes are front discs and rear drums.

We’ve already driven the Freed and visited the Indonesian plant where it rolls out from, and our impressions and verdict will be coming your way soon. For the meantime, check out the live images from this morning’s launch.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2010/04/22/honda-freed-premium-compact-mpv-launched-rm112980/

Honda Malaysia: Honda Freed to be launched in Q2 2010

This would fill a void left by the 1995-1998 (small) Honda Odyssey....

I knew this MPV was coming to Malaysia the moment Honda announced that it would be building it in Honda Prospect Motor Indonesia. And Honda has just announced that the Freed is 100% coming to Malaysia, set for a launch in Q2 this year to be exact. It will come in as a CBU import from Indonesia.

“Since its official launch in Japan in 2008, Freed has been well received in the Asia region including Indonesia and Thailand. It later garnered great anticipation in Malaysia in 2009. Therefore, we are excited to inform all that Honda Malaysia will be bringing in the Freed onto Malaysian shores in the second quarter of this year,” said Mr. Toru Takahashi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia.

The Honda Freed is the latest and probably the longest wheelbase addition to the Global Small Platform which underpins cars such as the Honda Jazz. There are various seating configurations – a 5-seater 2-3 config as well as triple row configs such as 2-3-3, 2-2-3 with individual 2nd row seats, and 2-2-2 with individual seats for everyone. We’ll have to wait until the launch to find out what kind of seat configuration we’ll get.

The Freed is a B-segment MPV positioned below the Honda Stream but it has some unique features that most of its B-segment competitors do not have, such as automatic sliding doors on BOTH sides. The Freed also has a walkthrough cabin, which means the floor is flat from the front to the rear and you can walk from the front row to the rear row (hunched down of course) without having to exit the vehicle. Honda claims that the flat floor and high roof allows you to carry a 27 inch bicycle without taking off wheels or handle bars.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2010/03/01/honda-freed-to-be-launched-in-q2-2010/

Honda planning a 2011/12 Honda Freed Minivan Hybrid

Honda Motor Co., Japan's second-largest carmaker, may release hybrid versions of minivans and sedans as it plans to expand its offerings of fuel-efficient vehicles.

Honda plans to release a hybrid version of the Freed minivan around 2011, Nikkei English News reported earlier, citing company President Takanobu Ito. The models and timing haven't been chosen, Ito told journalists in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Honda plans to bring out a hybrid version of the Fit car next year and the hybrid CR-Z sports coupe in February, Ito said in July. The new vehicles will give Honda four hybrids in its lineup.
Ito also said that although it is developing an electric car, Honda cannot yet discuss how it would fit into the carmaker's business model.

Honda is developing a small battery-electric car to be sold in the United States by about 2015, the Nikkei newspaper said Aug. 21.

Source;
http://www.freep.com/article/20090910/BUSINESS01/909100306/1002/Business/Auto-headlines--Geely-plans-Volvo-bid