Honda Airwave
Encyclopedia
The Honda Airwave is a subcompact car
produced by the Japanese automaker Honda
since 2005. It is a five-door station wagon
version of the City / Fit Aria
and Fit/Jazz
, which are a sedan and a hatchback
respectively. The Airwave is built on the Global Small Car platform; however, unlike the City and Fit, the Airwave is unique to the Japanese market. Honda announced the debut of the Airwave on April 7, 2005. Production ended in August 2010. Its successor, Fit Shuttle went on sale in June 2011.
or four-wheel drive
.
It was also sold as Honda Partner (series GJ3/GJ4) panel van
between March 10, 2006 and August 2010 in Japan. Essentially a decontented version of the Airwave, Partner utilizes 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.
engine family, the 1496 cc 1.5 L VTEC
L15A gasoline engine. The engine produces 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) are available on the Airwave. The "G" trim line has a standard CVT of five speeds, while the "L" sports a CVT with seven-speed mode. This allows the driver to choose between the smooth, shiftless acceleration of a standard CVT, or the added option of shifting through seven computer-controlled "gears".
The interior versatility of the Airwave is similar to its smaller sibling, the Fit. By moving the fuel tank underneath the front row of seats, space is freed up in the rear for a flexible seating system. Like the Fit, the Airwave has five different seating modes.
Sales in the Japanese domestic market:
2005: 43,846
2006: 32,253
2007: 21,175
2008: 15,648
2009: 7,052
All of them are sold in the Japanese market; however, some of them are exported as parallel imports to some countries (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and New Zealand).
Subcompact car
Subcompact car is a North American term used to describe automobiles whose class size is smaller than that of a compact car, usually not exceeding in length, but larger than a microcar...
produced by the Japanese automaker Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
since 2005. It is a five-door station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
version of the City / Fit Aria
Honda City
The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981. Originally made for the Japanese, European and Australasian markets, the City was retired without replacement in 1994...
and Fit/Jazz
Honda Fit
The Honda Jazz is a five-door hatchback subcompact manufactured by the Honda Motor Company of Japan, first introduced in June 2001 and is now in its second generation. The Jazz shares Honda's Global Small Car Platform with the City/Fit Aria, Airwave/Partner, Mobilio, Mobilio Spike, Freed and Freed...
, which are a sedan and a hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
respectively. The Airwave is built on the Global Small Car platform; however, unlike the City and Fit, the Airwave is unique to the Japanese market. Honda announced the debut of the Airwave on April 7, 2005. Production ended in August 2010. Its successor, Fit Shuttle went on sale in June 2011.
Models
The Airwave is sold in two trim lines, the basic "G" model, and the well-equipped "L" model. Each of the trim lines has an optional panoramic glass sunroof that covers a large part of the roof. Each version of the car is available in either front-wheel driveFront-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
or four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
.
It was also sold as Honda Partner (series GJ3/GJ4) panel van
Panel van
A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows...
between March 10, 2006 and August 2010 in Japan. Essentially a decontented version of the Airwave, Partner utilizes 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
The Airwave is powered by the largest version of Honda's L-seriesHonda L engine
The L-series is a 4-cylinder engine created by Honda and introduced in 2001. It has 1.2, 1.3, and 1.5 L displacement variants, which utilize the names L12A, L13A, and L15A. Depending on the region, these engines are sold throughout the world in the 5-door Fit/Jazz hatchback and the 4-door Fit...
engine family, the 1496 cc 1.5 L VTEC
VTEC
VTEC is a valvetrain system developed by Honda to improve the volumetric efficiency of a four-stroke internal combustion engine. The VTEC system uses two camshaft profiles and electronically selects between the profiles. It was invented by Honda R&D engineer Ikuo Kajitani, and was the first system...
L15A gasoline engine. The engine produces a maximum output of 81 kW (109 hp) at 5800 rpm and a maximum torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
of 143 Nm (105 lb·ft) at 4800 rpm. Two forms of a continuously variable automatic transmission
Continuously variable transmission
A continuously variable transmission is a transmission that can change steplessly through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. This contrasts with other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios...
(CVT) are available on the Airwave. The "G" trim line has a standard CVT of five speeds, while the "L" sports a CVT with seven-speed mode. This allows 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
- Normal: seats are in their normal position with seating for five.
- Utility: Either section (or both) of the 60:40 split rear seat sink down into the rear foot well as the rear seat back is lowered forward. This offers a low, perfectly flat surface that increases the cargo area substantially.
- Long: The rear seat behind the passenger folds down similar to utility mode, but the front passenger seat folds backward, leaving an area that can hold items as long as 2.7 meters (8.9 ft).
- Tall: Either section (or both) of the rear seat cushion fold 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 seat removed, the front seat back can be folded down to form a lounge-style sitting area.
Sales
The Airwave started its sales from Apr 7th, 2005.Sales in the Japanese domestic market:
2005: 43,846
2006: 32,253
2007: 21,175
2008: 15,648
2009: 7,052
All of them are sold in the Japanese market; however, some of them are exported as parallel imports to some countries (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Pakistan and New Zealand).