Honda Concept Previews a Smaller Type R, But Not for Us
Honda quietly unveiled the Small RS Concept hatchback at the Indonesia International Motor Show.
This concept is basically a mini Type R. It has a large rear wing, LED daytime running lights, gloss black accents, a small air intake in the hood, side skirts, wing mirrors, creases along the sides, a rear diffuser, and unique tailpipes.
Black wheels and orange paint round out the look.
No word on technical specs just yet.
There are RS versions of the Jazz, Brio, and Mobilo available in Indonesia, but Honda hasn’t said whether this concept would make production.
One will notice that those three cars aren’t sold in the States (except for the Jazz/Fit), so it’s hard to say if a version of this concept would be sold in this part of the world.
Since Honda already sells a Civic Si here along with the Type R, and since the RS Concept appears to be based on a vehicle not already sold here (the Mobilo), the smart money says no. However, a hopped-up microcar with the RS treatment could be a lot of fun. Maybe they could just do a Fit Type-R for the Americas?
That’s the thing about concepts — ideas can be taken from one of an automaker’s global concepts and applied to another market. In this case, Honda clearly has taken ideas from the Type-R and translated them into the RS overseas, but the idea of an even smaller car getting RS/Type-R treatment could head back our way.
Who are we kidding? We just want a Fit that can be driven like a Type-R. Make it happen, Honda.
More images can be seen here.
[Image: Honda]
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Lol, I like the idea of a hot-hatch crowd in Indonesia. Good for them. Small fun cars for everyone!
Can’t wait to show my girlfriend this, it embodies almost everything she hates about car design (minus two very important criteria, it’s not a crossover and it’s not red, then it would be the her least favourite vehicle on the planet). And it’s a Honda, her least favourite brand. I love the name, Small RS would be a great car name. This article made me look up these vehicles, the Mobilio is actually a 7 seater, and I really love the look of the Brio, with minimal changes it could be electrified and sold as the production equivalent of that Urban EV concept.
Too bad small cars don't sell in the US and Honda always plays it so safe. The odds of anything even remotely resembling this car, or even a hopped up Fit, are remote at best.
When I was working in Asia, I saw some hopped-up Jazz/Fit and they looked to be a hoot to drive. Some of them had Mugen-sourced superchargers and very some very nice handling kits. They also raced the crap out of them over there. I wish I could have a R-type Fit over here (I'm ready to unload my 2012 GTI and go back to driving Honda products again).