The beginning : New small model details revealed by Honda

A few months ago, there were reports that Honda has announced the introduction of 3 new models in the 'Kei' (mini/super-mini) segment. At their JDM cum corporate website, the first of these new models are now showing up as a teaser. 

This new model is a mini-van, and indeed the teaser has indicated that Honda will be reviving their long extinct 'N' name for this new model. Details that Daniel could extract from the Honda website are as follows:

• They are indeed reviving the "N-series", and the important part is the "series" part. The N-Box debuts a whole new K-car (660cc) platform, and will be followed by a family of "N-cars".
• New platform builds on Fit ideas, with an underfloor fuel tank, taking the good old Honda "Man Maximum Machine Minimum" to a extent never seen before.
• A new engine will come along with the new platform, even more compact than before, and introducing a CVT for the first time on a Honda 660cc. It will also be the first non-hybrid Honda to use auto-idle stop

Honda has also opened a new 'UStream' website and has uploaded a video of the launch of the Freed Hybrid, Insight Exclusive and this new model. The url for to watch the video is below:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/18132664


Frame captures by Daniel shows us some details of the new N minivan. It seems it will be a 5-door mini-van with the engine placed right in front and at the bottom of the driver's foot well. All of Daniel's frame grabs are below but do bear in mind that they are screen grabs which is why their resolution and quality are quite low.  

As usual, there is no indications if this will make its way out of Japan. For Malaysia at least, since it will be in direct conflict with the Perodua range of K-cars, the chances seems to be small.

StepWGN is Japan's 2010 best selling van (8 seats)

Honda finally did it and, 3 generations after the original StepWGN redefined the segment in 1996, the new StepWGN has climbed to the top of the sales charts once again.

After a very close battle for the mid-year crown, the gap with the 2nd placed Nissan Serena increased to about 6000 units despite the Serena's November FMC, ending 80.934 vs. 75.040 for 2010. That was good enough for an overall 7th place in the Japanese market (excluding k-cars).

Interestingly, both the new Toyota Voxy and Serena beat the StepWGN's fuel economy (which was best in class when it reached the market in 2009), but it seems that consumers are looking beyond that this time around. I wonder though if it'll be able to retain the lead for a second year (it was the best selling van in December but that was a first since September).

As predicted though, the StepWGN couldn't match its smaller Freed brother, who ended up on a respectable 5th place at 95.123, helped by the recently introduced Spike variant. In my opinion, the rumored hybrid scheduled for this fall could give it the strength to fight for a top4 in 2011.

For those having more interest on Japanese market, here is the rest of the top 5.

• Market leader was of course the Prius by a wide margin (315.669), and having broken Corolla's two decades old record.
• Second was to the Fit (185.439), which is closing on the Prius since the government green cash-back campaign ended in September, but still can't reach Toyota's all mighty rival. Some analysts say that is unlikely to happen until the end of the green tax-incentives that remain in place until 2012.
  
• Third was Toyota's Fit fighter, the Vitz/Yaris (122.248), and fourth was for the fleet-friendly Corolla that sells in so many different variants is difficult to keep track of them (111.265).
  

Sources : Honda PR, Japan Automobile Dealers Association.