Baldrick jazzes up Honda mini

In perhaps one of the most interesting matches of product and 'celebrity' of recent times, Honda has enlisted the services of Tony Robinson to help sell its facelifted Jazz small car.

Robinson has had a distinguished career in entertainment but is perhaps best known as Rowan Atkinson's sidekick in the Blackadder comedy series. Playing Blackadder's (Atkinson) putrid manservant/batman, Robinson immortalised the phrase: "I have a cunning plan!"

The new Honda campaign hits Australian televisions to coincide with the launch of the new Thai-built, facelifted 2006 Jazz range this month. Tony Robinson voices the Jazz and other toy cars in the 60-second commercial. The delivery and theme is reminscient of the Thomas the Tank Engine childrens program. (Though without the Fat Co... the Fat Co... the Fat Controller.)

On a more serious note, the move to Thai supply of the Jazz has seen some specification changes. Honda's cunning plan is to now offer air conditioning and keyless entry on the Jazz GLi for $15,990. The outgoing Jazz GLi with air cost $17,390.

Other changes see the Jazz range receive full-size spare wheels and new LED tail and high-mounted rear stop lights.

Changes to Jazz VTi and VTi-S include all of the above, plus:

The 2006 Honda Jazz range kicks off with the manual GLi as noted above at $15,990 including air. Auto transmission is $2000 more on the base model. The Jazz VTi is priced at $17,990 (auto $20,290) with the range-topping VTi-S $20,390 (auto $22,690).