DETROIT – Honda's little car is getting bigger on the inside and more connected on the outside.
The company showed off its all-new 2015 Fit Monday at the North American International Auto Show. The new version has actually been on sale in Japan for a few months now, but the U.S. version will go on sale here this spring.
On the outside, the car's about an inch and a half shorter than the previous model and less than half an inch wider. However, on the inside, rear legroom is actually up by about 5 inches, and the car has nearly 5 more cubic feet of space inside.
All 2015 Fit models will come with a rearview camera that can show different angles and with Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the driver's smartphone.
Optional equipment will include a smart key for easy entry, a camera to watch the right-hand lane and even leather seats.
Powering the little car is an all-new 1.5-liter direct-injection four-cylinder engine. It generates 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque -- up 13 horsepower and 8 pound-feet over the outgoing model. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual gearbox or an efficient, continuously variable transmission.
The new engine, and a body that weighs 57 pounds less than the outgoing model, help the 2015 Fit reach 33 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.
The new Fit will be built at 10 locations around the world, but most of the models destined for the United States will be made at a new factory in Mexico.