(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 02, 2012 ) Bow, NH -- The city of Torrance, California recently became the recipient of the first Honda Fit EV, an all-electric car boasting a range of up to 123 city miles between charges. Delivered to the city for testing and feedback prior to its upcoming retail market launch, Honda’s new electric car will be available at Honda dealerships in California and Oregon this summer before reaching six markets on the East Coast in early 2013.

Sporting a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery and a 123-horsepower electric motor that make it more powerful than the gas-powered model, the 2013 Honda Fit EV can recharge in as little as three hours using a 240-volt circuit. While the Fit will be Honda’s first answer to new mass-production EVs like the Nissan Leaf and the upcoming Ford Focus EV, the subcompact electric car emerges from a long history of electric Honda vehicles that date back to EV Plus nearly 15 years ago.

“Honda has been a pioneer in the hybrid and electric car world, and those efforts continue with the Fit EV,” said Joe Dubois, general sales manager of Bow, New Hampshire Honda dealer Grappone Honda. “Taking an award-winning car and giving it the ability to go mile after mile with no emissions or gas costs makes it a very appealing option for city commuters. When it comes to urban maneuverability, you couldn’t ask for a better platform to start with than the Honda Fit.”

With its sprightly handling and versatile interior, the conventional Fit has proven to be a favorite with car buyers and automotive journalists alike. The 2012 model of the Fit recently earned the vehicle its sixth-consecutive place on Car and Driver magazine’s 10Best Cars list, continuing a streak that started in 2007. Nominees for the annual award had to either be a winner from the year prior or be all new or significantly updated, in addition to costing less than $80,000.

Car and Driver editors praised the Fit’s best-in-class passenger and cargo space, including a cargo capacity of 57 cubic-feet, as well as the car’s dynamic handling and slick five-speed manual transmission. The Honda is also available with a five-speed automatic transmission that comes with steering wheel-mounted paddles, giving drivers the option of still shifting for themselves. Powered by a 1.5-liter engine, the gas-only Fit returns up to 35 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg in the city, making it a commuter’s car of choice.

Though its versatility and fuel efficiency may give the Honda Fit a leg up on the competition, its safety helps sets it apart for family-oriented buyers. The Fit received the highest possible rating of “Good” in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, earning it a Top Safety Pick for 2012.

“New Hampshire drivers love the Fit because it does everything really well, from commuting to helping friends move with its surprisingly spacious interior,” Dubois noted. “With the Fit, Honda has really created a car that’s greater than the sum of its parts.”

About Grappone Honda:
When New Hampshire Honda lovers need the best in automotive sales and service, they turn to Grappone Honda. Proud to serve Manchester, Concord and the surrounding communities, Grappone Honda’s knowledgeable staff excels in providing helpful sales advice and expert repairs for their customers. Interested buyers can browse their new and used Honda inventory online at www.grapponehondanh.com, call them at 877-771-7092, or stop by their dealership at 507 Route 3A in Bow, New Hampshire. Facebook users can like the Grappone Automotive Group at www.facebook.com/grapponeauto.

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