Honda today announced it would begin sales of the all-new Jade RS equipped with a newly-developed 1.5-liter direct injection VTEC Turbo engine, at dealerships across Japan on 28 May 2015. The all-new Jade RS is a new addition to the Jade lineup which has been well-received for its stylish form with the total vehicle height of a sedan, minivan-class occupant comfort and utility and high-quality driving performance.
The all-new 1.5-liter direct injection VTEC Turbo engine realizes powerful and smooth acceleration by generating torque equivalent to that of a 2.4-liter engine in the normal rpm range while at the same time realizing excellent quietness, and achieving smooth and powerful driving even with multiple passengers and on hilly roads. Moreover, the all-new Jade RS realizes excellent fuel economy of 18.0km/liter.
While maintaining the outstanding features of Jade, namely a stylish exterior design with low vehicle height, 3-row seating, and the Honda SENSING advanced driver-assistive system, Jade RS also features a nimble steering feel and sporty and exhilarating driving performance, realized through exclusive chassis and suspension settings and the adoption of Agile Handling Assist (AHA), an electric control system that enhances the dynamic performance of the vehicle through brake control.
In addition, quietness is improved by achieving better control of noise and vibration through various measures such as increasing the rigidity of bearing caps that support the crank/crankshaft which is a typical source of transmitted engine vibration. Honda also developed a new CVT which exploits the full potential of this 1.5-liter VTEC turbo engine.
The thorough pursuit of CVT efficiency enabled the improvement of fuel economy and the realization of smooth driving in urban areas at the same time. Moreover, in order to take advantage of the performance of this torque engine, the paddle shifter (7-speed mode) was adopted. The driver can enjoy the feeling of driving with a manual transmission.
