Official: 2014 Honda Jazz pictures released

Honda India’s plan to resurrect the Jazz along with the introduction of three other models as part of expansion plans for India was earlier confirmed by Honda officials. Following this news, speculative rendering images of the 2014 Jazz were leaked last month. Honda has now released official pictures of the car that closely resemble the previously revealed renderings.

The new Honda Jazz is expected to be longer than its previous generation sibling as an effort to provide more space and comfort. The overall length of the car is speculated to be 3.96m which is 60mm longer than the old car. The car is also expected to have a class-leading 390-litre boot space and a slightly extended wheelbase of 2.58m. The car will also get improved ride and handling due to revised suspension and a re-calibrated steering.

The new Jazz has gone through a refreshing makeover and now follows a more aggressive design language. It features a completely redesigned facia that follows the pattern on its siblings while flaunting a new grille design. The sides and the bumpers get a chiselled look with well-defined creases wrapping the car. The wedged shaped D-pillar has carried itself from the older generation, while the tail cluster gets a more focus and compact design.

The power plants for the India spec Jazz are expected to be the same as that found in the Amaze with the availability of two fuel options; a 1.2-litre petrol mill and the new 1.5-litre diesel engine. In the current state of tune the engines produce 86PS and 109Nm of torque and 100PS and 200Nm of torque respectively. It is possible that the Honda will detune the Jazz’s diesel engine to the 90PS mark to extract better fuel efficiency from the engine and still be on par with its competitors. The car may also feature the five-speed auto box (petrol only) found on the Amaze and the Brio models.

The global model which is now in its third iteration will be showcased at this year's Tokyo Motor Show, and will go on sale in Japan from August this year. Honda will most definitely start assembly of the Jazz in India next year which will soon be followed by its entry into the Indian market. The car will be a direct rival to the Hyundai i20 and will most likely be priced at Rs 6-8 lakhs and will result in a certain amount of price overlap with its sedan sibling. More details on the feature list and the prices are expected to be released closer to the Japanese Auto Expo in August.