Honda to focus on 1.3-liter car market segment

Just like Isuzu Motors, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. is not keen on taking up Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima’s suggestion for local automakers to bring in cars with an engine capacity of 1,000 cc or less.

Instead, according to HCPI president and general manager Mitsunari Takano, Honda plans to concentrate on the 1.3-liter car market segment.

In fact, Honda is upbeat about the demand for 1.3-liter engine cars that it has introduced its latest model, the Honda Jazz.

The Honda Jazz, Takano said, is geared for the hip, young urban professionals who want a fuel efficient car with all the amenities and space of a larger sedan.

Takano clarified that Honda has nothing against the smaller engine cars, but at the moment it is not producing small engine cars.

Instead, Honda sees the 1.31 to 1.51 engine cars continuing to meet the demands of the market both in Asia, Europe and the United States.

The Honda Jazz is being offered at an introductory price ranging from P590,000 for the 1.3 A manual transmission variant to P690,000 for the 1.3 S automatic transmission with ABS and SRS variant.

Honda’s introductory price for the Jazz, however, is not expected to last long.

According to Takano, the Honda Jazz, at present, does not have any competition from any other car manufacturer.

It is a hatchback model that will appeal to young and trendy buyers.