TOKYO — Honda has rolled out a fully redesigned Life in Japan, bringing a fresh look to the long-serving 660cc minicar that has been on the market here since 1971.Honda last revamped the Life back in 2003 and this all-new version is another tiny, funky five-door mini with a three-cylinder engine and a bargain price starting from just $9,519.
The new Life comes in three distinct forms. The Life G is the practical, plain and simple edition. The Life Diva, aimed at the substantial female market, is set up to be "perky and sporty." The third is the "refined, elegant and fashionable" Life Pastel.
Each has its own front-end style, but all have slim pillars and large windows and have been designed to be comfortable and user-friendly Honda's even developed new buzz phrase for this: "daily smile technology."
The new Life is the first mini in Japan to feature an audio system with standard back-up camera (except on the base model). Honda says the Life is the first to feature a driver-side i-SRS airbag system with continually staged inflation.
Under the hood, there's a choice of two carryover i-DSI engines: normally aspirated (51 horsepower) and turbo (63 hp).
Like all minis in Japan, the 134-inch-long Life is strictly regulated on size, power and top speed in return for lower taxes and a break on Japan's formidably expensive parking fees.
The first Life, launched in 1971 when company founder Soichiro Honda was still at the helm, boasted an extraordinary two-cylinder, 360cc engine that produced all of 30 hp yet revved to 8,000 rpm. (Awesome)
Monthly sales target in Japan for the new version is 13,000 units.
Inside Line says: This new Life should give new life to Honda's domestic sales. — Peter Nunn, Correspondent
Source;
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=135409#2
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