Honda Fit for America?

While Honda is prepping a brand new Jazz for the Tokyo Motor Show, the status of its American-market twin remains unknown. Many wonder if the Honda Fit will persist in the United States, or simply soldier on in other regions under the Jazz nameplate.

Honda has refused to commit to anything publicly, but hope remains. The automaker released teaser images of the model last week, referencing it as the Jazz, but if you zoom in on the back end you can clearly see it labeled as a Fit.

As much as we’d like to take credit for the spot, CarBuzz beat us to the punch. But we’re curious as to why nobody else seemed to notice, as the badging seems blatantly obvious once it’s been pointed out.

From CarBuzz:

A spokesperson from Honda wouldn’t confirm if the new Fit will be sold in the US but hinted that the Fit and Jazz have historically been the same product, albeit with different drivetrains. Zooming in on Honda’s teaser photo shows a “Fit” badge on the back, which could be another hint that Honda’s new subcompact will come to the US after all. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.

From the teaser photo and prototype spy shots, the new Fit will adopt a sleeker design than the current model, while Honda says it will retain its spacious cabin and versatile seating arrangement. The Euro-spec Honda Jazz will be powered by a new, more efficient two-motor hybrid system and deliver “strong and effortless driving performance.” In the US, the current Honda Fit is powered by a 1.5-liter inline-four producing 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque when paired with a six-speed manual, or 128 hp and 113 lb-ft with the optional CVT.

Unfortunately Fit sales are on the decline, adding validity to rumors that the model may be discontinued in North America. Honda is also considering shifting Fit production out of Mexico and back to Japan so the facility can focus on the HR-V. It’s not like someone at the company accidentally applied a Fit emblem to the model being teased globally. In fact, it looks to be an entirely new logo, making this semi-meaningful. But Japan has been using the Fit name forever, letting the rest of the world have the Jazz, so this could just as easily be nothing.

Even if Honda keeps the Jazz/Fit out of America, we’ll likely see that i-MMD dual-motor hybrid drivetrain placed inside other models. The Jazz debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show later this week. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the Fit at the LA Auto Show in November.

[Images: Honda]