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Honda Airwave

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Honda Airwave
Overview
ManufacturerHonda Motor Company
Also calledHonda Partner
Production2005-2010
AssemblySuzuka, Mie, Japan
Body and chassis
ClassSubcompact car
Body style5-door wagon
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
PlatformGlobal Small
RelatedHonda Fit
Honda Fit Aria/City
Powertrain
Engine1.5L L15A VTEC I4 (Airwave)
1.5L L15A i-DSI I4 (Partner)
TransmissionCVT automatic/ 7-speed CVT (Airwave)
5-speed automatic (Partner)
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,550 mm (100.4 in)
Length4,350 mm (171.3 in)
Width1,695 mm (66.7 in)
Height1,515 mm (59.6 in)
Curb weight1,220 kg (2,689.6 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorHonda Partner/Orthia
SuccessorHonda Fit Shuttle

The Honda Airwave was a subcompact car produced by the Japanese automaker Honda from 2005 to 2010. It was a five-door station wagon version of the first generation City / Fit Aria and Fit/Jazz, which was a sedan and a hatchback respectively. The Airwave was built on the Global Small Car platform; however, unlike the City and Fit, the Airwave was unique to the Japanese market. Honda announced the debut of the Airwave on April 7, 2005.[1]

Production ended in August 2010. Its successor, the Honda Fit Shuttle, went on sale in June 2011.

Models

2006 Honda Airwave 1.5 (Singapore)

The Airwave was sold in two trim lines, the basic "G" model, and the well-equipped "L" model. Each of the trim lines had an optional panoramic glass sunroof that covered a large part of the roof. Each version of the car was available in either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

It was also sold as the Honda Partner (series GJ3/GJ4) panel van between March 10, 2006 and August 2010 in Japan.[2] Essentially a decontented version of the Airwave, the Partner utilized a different 1.5 L engine, the L15A I-DSi (unlike the VTEC engine in the Airwave), mated to a five-speed automatic transmission identical to that found in the North American market Fit.

Drivetrain

L15A (1.5L SOHC VTEC) engine.

The Airwave was powered by the largest version of Honda's L-series engine family, the 1,496 cc 1.5 L VTEC L15A gasoline engine. The engine produced a maximum output of 81 kW (109 hp) at 5800 rpm and a maximum torque of 143 Nm (105 lb·ft) at 4800 rpm.

Two forms of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) were available on the Airwave. The "G" trim line had a standard CVT, while the "L" sported a CVT with seven-speed mode which allowed the driver to choose between the smooth, shiftless acceleration of a standard CVT, or the added option of shifting through seven computer-controlled "gears".

Interior

Fuel economy monitor in a 2006 Airwave

The interior versatility of the Airwave was similar to its smaller sibling, the Fit. By moving the fuel tank underneath the front row of seats, space was freed up in the rear for a flexible seating system. Like the Fit, the Airwave had five different seating modes.

Ultra Seat: The fuel tank and rear suspension layout also allows a multiple-mode seating system, marketed by Honda as Ultra Seat (Asia) and Magic Seat (North America, Oceania), with four seating modes — and a fifth in certain markets:

  • Normal: seats were in their normal position with seating for five.
  • Utility: Either section (or both) of the 60:40 split rear seat sank down into the rear foot well as the rear seat back was lowered forward. This offered a low, perfectly flat surface that increased the cargo area substantially.
  • Long: The rear seat folded down similar to utility mode, but the front passenger seat folded backward, leaving an area that could hold items as long as 2.7 meters (8.9 ft).
  • Tall: Either section (or both) of the rear seat cushion folded up against the rear seat back, allowing for an area of 1.25 meters (4.1 ft) in height.
  • Refresh: With the headrest of the front seats removed, the front seat backs could be folded down to form a lounge-style sitting area.

Sales

Honda Airwave as a grey import in western Europe

The Airwave started its sales from Apr 7th, 2005.

Sales Figures in the Japanese domestic market:

Year Sales in Japan
2005 43,846
2006 32,253
2007 21,175
2008 15,648
2009 9,052

All of them were sold in the Japanese market; however, some of them were exported as parallel imports to some countries (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and New Zealand).

References

  1. ^ "Honda Introduces All-new Airwave Compact Station Wagon". Honda Worldwide. 7 April 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  2. ^ Honda Japan Partner model 2006-1010
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