Honda releases limited-edition quartet

Japanese importer Honda has announced the arrival of four new 'Limited Edition' vehicles for the Australia market, based on the HR-V, CR-V, Civic sedan and Jazz hatch.

All four models will be offered for a short time only says the company, adding various new features ranging from sporty exterior upgrades to advanced safety systems and convenience features.

The list starts with the top-selling model for the company in 2015, the HR-V compact SUV. Based on the $27,990 VTi-S variant, the HR-V Limited Edition is priced at $31,490 and gains the following kit:

Next up is the Jazz, the company's second best-selling vehicle in 2015. The Jazz Limited Edition is based on the VTi variant and, although it's priced at $18,290, Honda reckons it adds $1600 of extra value via an extended five-year warranty and the following upgrades:

Honda's third-best seller, the CR-V medium SUV, also gets the Limited Edition treatment and, priced at $30,490, brings a claimed $3100 worth of extra value to the VTi variant.

The Honda Civic sedan Limited Edition is based on the VTi-S variant and adds $2160 in extra claimed value. Priced at $24,990, it benefits mainly from the sports body kit, with add-ons as follows:

Honda Australia had a tough year in 2014 with sales well wide of predictions, but sales have rebounded so far in 2015 with sales of the HR-V remaining strong throughout the year.

The Japanese company is now seeking to maintain momentum and get more customers into dealerships with these value-added limited edition vehicles, explained Honda Australia director, Stephen Collins.

"With added specification, it's a great time for customers to get into their local Honda Dealer to take advantage of these great offers," he said.

Sales of the HR-V compact SUV are cruising along nicely, with 7297 vehicles finding owners in the first eight months of 2015. The Honda Jazz light car has experienced a massive boom, the all-new model lifting sales almost 80 per cent compared to 2014, from 3694 to 6604.

Sales of the mid-size CR-V SUV have dipped almost 15 per cent in 2015 so far, from 6463 to 5515, while the Civic small sedan is bleeding out as sales have been almost halved, from 5788 last year to 3019 this year.

But the overall trend is positive for Honda Australia, with sales to August 2015 rising 28.5 per cent from 20,910 to 26,859.

There are other bright spots on the horizon for Honda, with both the NSX supercar and potentially a Toyota 86 rival in the form of the S1000 due here by 2017.

But with the fate of the new Civic Type-R in limbo, the company still has a long way to go return to its halcyon days of the late-2000s.