HR-V Delayed, Execs Get Paycut After 5th Honda Fit Recall

Despite a number of objective improvements made to the new for 2014 Honda Fit, the model’s roll-out has been plagued with quality issues. Yesterday, Automotive News reported that Honda- on the heels of a fifth recall for the new Fit less than a year- has cut its executives’ pay by 20% in a bid to get them to take responsibility for the recall-plagued car.

While it’s important to note that this latest recall doesn’t impact the 2014 Honda Fit being sold in the US, it is a widespread recall that has the company reviewing its quality control processes worldwide. That QC review may delay Honda’s product launch schedule, including the intro date of the new for 2015 HR-V compact SUV, which is set to be built alongside the Fit at Honda’s Celaya, Mexico facility.

The Honda Fit recalls are compounded by other, more critical recalls forced by high-profile failures at its airbag supplier, Takata, and, as AN nonsensically puts it, “have bruised its once sterling reputation for quality.”

2015 Honda HR-V Crossover Delayed

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Honda, however, is taking that possibility seriously. Mexican production of the HR-V has been pushed back indefinitely, and Honda “won’t launch (the HR-V) until quality can be assured,” Honda spokeswoman Yuka Abe said. “We are doing very strict check of quality worldwide, and that is why we are taking time to launch models. At each plant worldwide, we will do more detailed checks.”

Honda has appointed longtime employee Koichi Fukuo- who has been overseeing both the Acura brand and Honda’s own development of hydrogen fuel cell powered electric cars- as the company’s newly christened executive in charge of quality reform and vice president of Honda R&D Co., a position which has been vacant since last April. In a prepared statement, Honda said that “(Fukuo) will inject his knowledge in a cross-functional manner and thoroughly evaluate technologies at the timing of each evaluation opportunity.”

So, yeah. Here’s hoping they get it right, because I kinda want one of those manual-transmission, AWD, VTEC HR-Vs, you know?

Source | Images: NHTSA, Bloomberg, via Automotive News.

2015 Honda HR-V Arriving With Six-Speed Manual

Last week at the Paris Auto Show, it was confirmed that the 2015 Honda HR-V compact crossover would come with a 1.5 liter Earth Dreams and, get this, a six-speed manual transmission. I know, right? But don’t get too excited just yet…

So far Honda has only confirmed that the Fit-based HR-V is coming to America, and it will get the new small-displacement motor found in its hatchback predecessor. According toCar & Dirver, Honda also says the HR-V will be available with either a CVT transmission or six-speed manual in Europe, though which of those transmissions make it across the Atlantic is something else entirely. For what it’s worth the 2015 Honda Fit is also available with a six-speed manual, through many Americans have a natural aversion to shifting for themselves. The HR-V will also get a four-cylinder 1.6 liter diesel engine paired with a manual transmission, but that engine almost certainly won’t be available in the U.S.

Honda is also keeping mum on actual power figures, though in the 2015 Honda Fit the 1.5 liter engine is rated at 130 horsepower. Honda may up the output for the heavier crossover, though the HR-V will share many similar features with the Fit, including the flat-fold seats and sportier interior. It’s a handsome car as well, better looking in my opinion than comparable crossovers and deserving of a turbo engine (eventually) to back up the athletic stance.

Look for the 2015 Honda HR-V to go on sale in Europe and the U.S. in the first half of next year, and keep your fingers crossed we get that six-speed manual option as well.

Source: Honda