It might be small, but it's definitely making a big splash. The Honda Fit seems to have achieved what two younger generations of the Civic apparently failed to do-spike a renewed interest in Honda enthusiasts and tuners alike. It offers very little in comparison to the Civic in terms of performance, yet everywhere I turn, there's another Fit. The streets, at least here in So Cal, are somewhat infested with them, economically carting around drivers of all ages. But even more significant is the enormous amount of renowned tuners tearing apart Honda's newest addition to its family and already offering plenty of quality aftermarket products. The Fit was undoubtedly the center of attention at the SEMA show in Las Vegas as many manufacturers elected the Honda as the platform of choice to showcase the capabilities.
What I find somewhat ironic is that the last surge in enthusiasm of this kind came in the form of high-horsepower, four-wheel-drive and rear-drive platforms such as the EVO, STi and 350Z. These were a new generation of vehicles that gave our industry a necessary lift and broadened the horizon beyond what was primarily limited to front-drive performance, in particular, Hondas. I think it's fair to say the past several years have been dominated by these muscular powerhouses and Honda, it seems, took a back seat, offering little comparison and becoming 'one of the brands' instead of what was practically, 'the only brand.' Fast forward and it's as if the big H has simply bluffed us all. They have done nothing but watch as the other players laid down some serious hands, keeping us more than entertained, and then, like it was no big deal, stolen the limelight, the big pot, with a puny under-powered, ace-high hand. You have to admit, it's almost reminiscent of what the Civics did to the American drag strip culture many years ago. Don't get me wrong, the Fit is no monster waiting to be unleashed, but it has found a way to shine and in my own twisted mind, I can picture the man at Honda with something of a smug grin across his mug. Or at least I'd like to think he does.
So what does this do for our industry? Will it change things? Time will. A modified-Mustang owner once told me after I'd seriously embarrassed him that "these little cars shouldn't be messin' with real cars." I've often wondered what he's driving now... The Honda may not be the second coming, but it sure is a welcome fit.