Confirmed: U.S. market Honda Fit to be dropped after current model year

Well, we just got the official word from Honda: the Fit will be dropped from the U.S. lineup after the current generation.

The Next Honda Fit Debuts in Tokyo

Honda has unveiled its redesigned 2020 Fit at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019. According to Honda, without compromising its spacious cabin and excellent visibility, the fourth-gen Fit was developed with the intention of becoming the globally accepted standard for compact cars suited to this new era.

Quick Drive: 2018 Honda Fit Sport

Ever since its debut in 2007, Honda's Fit has always been fun to drive and super practical. It showcases many of the attributes Honda has become known for—reliability, precision, versatility, engineering know-how, smart packaging—in hatchback form. For me, the last Fit I reviewed back in 2015 wasn't as fun as earlier iterations; I sort of wrote it off. Then I drove one with a six-speed manual ...

Yes, the Fit is still as practical as ever with its multi-folding Magic Seats, it still gets decent gas mileage, and still will likely have rock-solid reliability and high build quality. But the Fit Sport I drove recently came equipped with a six-speed manual instead of the CVT. Frankly, that CVT saps the fun out of this little runabout. But with the 6MT, the Fit goes from being a good little subcompact to an entertaining driver's car.

Much like nearly every single Honda I've driven with a manual transmission, this shifter is fantastic and completely transforms the car's driving experience. I found myself scouting for fun roads; looking for tight off-ramps. The manual transmission makes this cars orders of magnitude more fun. Paired with the free-revving 130 hp 1.5-liter engine, the Fit Sport with that 6MT is a hoot.

Truly, this car made me feel like a 20-something kid again (I'm double that figure nowadays), like when I had a quick-shifting 1998 Honda Civic. It revs quickly, corners sharply, and has great steering. You know that old adage about how driving a "slow car fast" is lots of fun? That's the Fit Sport.

When dressed up in Sport trim, buyers get front, side, and rear underbody spoilers; blacked-out 16" alloy wheels; a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system; fog lights; and a host of other goodies. I'm still not a fan of the Fit's touchscreen, however. Regardless, this car is a fantastic mix of great driving dynamics, small size, and expertly engineered versatility and practicality. 

In case you weren't familiar, all Fits come with a 1.5-liter 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC engine with direct injection making 130 hp and 114 lb/ft of torque with the manual transmission, and 128 hp and 113 lb/ft of torque with the CVT. The suspension is composed of MacPhearson strut front suspension and a torsion-beam rear. Side note: I love the rear bumper's diffuser.

While I'll take the manual transmission option every time its offered in a car, the Fit Sport is one of those instances where the transmission totally changes the driving experience. While CVT-equipped Fits are still very good cars, Fits with the manual are very good, very entertaining cars. I would totally rock one of these. Our tester stickered at $18,390, which included the $890 destination/handling charge.

FYI, I am a fan of the Toyota Yaris SE, too. However, the Fit has more than 20 more horsepower, it's more practical (thanks to those aforementioned Magic Seats), and I can actually buy one with a manual. (The Yaris SE, at least in the Pacific Northwest cannot be ordered with a manual. Plus, the Yaris' manual is a 5MT.) Did I mention the Fit Sport comes in orange? 

While the subcompact hatchback market has cooled down over the years, Honda's Fit Sport is still a great choice for people who want practicality but aren't willing to sacrifice fun. Really, go drive one. It's great. 

Review: 2017 Honda Civic Type R Touring

Just mention the phrase "Type R" and you're bound to set any car enthusiast into a bit of a tizzy. The kind of tizzy depends on how the phrase is used. If used to talk about a real Honda Type R vehicle, you can expect passionate praise and respect. If you're talking about putting a Type R badge on the back of anything other than a real Type R, then you can expect vitriol and jest at the very least. However, if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then the Type R gets a lot of flattery.

Video Review: 2016 Honda Civic 1.5T 2D Touring

Not too long ago, Scott reviewed the 2016 Honda Civic Touring Sedan, complete with the all-new 1.5-liter turbocharged, direct-injected Earth Dreams engine. Now, we'll show you the coupe version of Civic Touring model in a retina-burning shade of green. This is our first attempt at a video review, so let's keep the heckling down to a minimum.

THE BASICS: 2016 Honda Civic Sedan Touring 1.5T 2D Touring
MSRP As Tested:	$26,960
Engine:	1.5-liter DOHC turbocharged 4 cyl.
Transmission:	CVT
Horsepower:	174
Torque:s	162 lb/ft
Curb Weight:	2,888 lbs.
Wheelbase:	106.3
Overall Length:	176.9"
Suspension:	F: MacPherson Struts R: Multilink
Brakes:	F: Disc w/ABS R: Disc w/ABS
Wheels:	17" alloys
Tires:	215/50/17
Fuel Economy (MPG):	31 city, 35 combined, 41 highway
Fuel Type:	Regular 87 octane

Review: 2016 Honda Civic Sedan Touring

By Scott Araujo

So I get a call from Andy.  "I've got the 2016 Civic Touring with the 1.5 turbo engine.  Have you got time to review it?" No. Not at all. Not even a little bit. But I'm certainly not going to turn it down.  Who would do that?

As you may remember, I purchased a brand new 1997 Honda Civic CX hatchback and drove it for over seventeen years and 217,000 miles. It was basic, simple, and just fun to drive. Just the other day I had my wife's 2012 Civic LX sedan for the whole day by myself which doesn't happen too often. It was like putting on my favorite old sweater, familiar and comfortable. That feeling was still fresh in my mind when Andy called.

Review: 2016 Honda Civic EX

By Andy Lilienthal

The omnipresent Honda Civic’s last major overhaul was for the 2012 model year, and if you remember, many didn’t like the redesign. In fact, Honda made an emergency update for MY2013 to make it more appealing, and yet another update in 2014. We assume Honda wanted to avoid such shenanigans for its next redesign, and thus appears the all-new 2016 Honda Civic.

Stop Making Small Cars Bigger!

They grow up so fast. A '16 MINI Clubman is 168.3-inches long. An '08 Clubman was 155-inches long.

I was just taking my lunchtime browse through Autoblog, and read that the new Ford Focus is getting longer and wider. The article starts out saying, "The next Ford Focus is going to get even bigger. We know that, not because new cars are almost always bigger than those they replace, but because we actually have a round of spy photos supporting it."

This got me to thinking: Why is it new cars are, indeed, almost always bigger than the ones they replace? I want to know: Are people demanding bigger small cars? (How's that for an oxymoron?) Are buyers constantly wishing they had more room? Do automakers assume people simply want larger cars? How much does the Empire State Building weigh? Baby carrots are simply large carrots cut down? WTF carrots!

I say stop making small cars bigger. Some people actually like the size of their vehicles the way they are. If I want a bigger car, I'll buy a bigger car. Some might say this is a growing problem ...

2016 Honda HR-V EX-L NAVI: The Introverted Subcompact CUV

The HR-V is a bit of an introvert. It's got AWD capability, it's comfortable, and it's solidly built. But it just doesn't say much. You're at the school dance and there's that guy/gal sitting down who is smart, moderately attractive, but just doesn't seem to have much of a personality—that's the HR-V.

To put it in more automotive terms, if the Jeep Renegade Trailhawk is on one side of the subcompact CUV spectrum (the extrovert and rugged off-road type), and the Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring is on the other side of the spectrum (a smooth, edgy on-road handler), the Honda HR-V is pretty much in the middle. In other words, it's not something you'd necessarily want to flog off the pavement, and isn't the one you'd want at the autocross. The HR-V, which is based on the subcompact Fit chassis, is essentially an AWD Fit—complete with Honda's Magic Seats—but with a softer suspension and more power. It is, perhaps, the Goldilocks of the group, which resides in the middle of the subcompact CUV personality spectrum.

Honda Adventure Scooter Concept Coming to Production

By Scott Araujo

So a little while back Jalopnik reported that Honda had a concept adventure scooter.  More recently they reported that the bike is going into production for 2017.  Awesome!  Wait, what exactly is an adventure scooter?

What's Up With the Slow Honda Fit Sales?

If you pay attention to our monthly subcompact sales posts, you may have noticed that the Honda Fit seems to have taken a nosedive off the sales cliff the last couple of months. Sales were down more than 80% in October and September, and down more than 50% in August when compared to last year's sales at this time. So what's the deal? People opting for other subcompacts? Is the bottom falling out?

Rather than simply speculating, we went right to the source: Honda. We asked the company's Automotive Public Relations person, Chris Martin, what was going on, and he said this:

The same new factory that was building the Fit for the last two years in Celaya, Mexico earlier this year began producing the all-new HR-V as well. As we worked to build up HR-V inventory for the U.S., Fit production suffered a bit. To add complication, the HR-V then went on sale in Canada and Europe shortly after the U.S. on sale, and those markets are also supplied from Celaya. Typically at introduction, we try to build up a significant amount of inventory in each market to help get the model off the ground. In this case, that meant reducing Fit production for an extended period of time. Since HR-V has been a run away hit, we are now taking steps to build additional Fit units in Japan, and the first of those units from Japan are beginning to arrive now. It may take a few months for things to settle back into a "normal" pattern, but we expect both Fit and HR-V to continue to grow sales over the next year.

So there you have it. It's been a supply issue, and Honda is tapping its Japanese factories to remedy it. For what it's worth, I've heard from a few Subcompact Culture readers that when the Fit first came out, dealers had scads of them on lots. However, now you're hard-pressed to find one on any of the lots, and now you know why. The good news is that if you want a Fit, the cars should become more readily available soon.

Top 5 Coolest Subcompact Vehicles You Can Now Import Into the U.S. (And One Larger One)

By Andy Lilienthal

You may be well aware of the United States' "25 year import rule" for cars/trucks. A car that was not actually imported into the U.S. for sale has to be at least 25 years old before it can be legally imported. That means that we can now bring in cars made in 1990 and older. Here are five of the coolest non-U.S.-market vehicles you can buy now:

1990 Suzuki Alto Works

For $7,500, you can own this turbocharged kei car. It's got 54,000 miles on it, cold A/C, and an automatic transmission. Located in Iowa of all places.
Source: Omaha Craigslist

1989 Nissan S-Cargo

These little things have always piqued my interest. This kei-sized delivery van is located in Vancouver, Canada and has 84,000 kilometers on the clock. It's powered by a three-cylinder engine mated to an automatic transmission (unfortunately). This little delivery car can be had for $6,000 CAD.
Source: Vancouver Craigslist 

1989 Nissan Pao

The retro Nissan Pao has a turbocharged 1.0-liter engine mated to, yes, an automatic trans. This one has 52,000 miles on it and is going for $11,900. Other goodies include retractable roof, aftermarket steering wheels (more than one?), and a front strut tower bar. This puppy is located in Japan.
Source: RightDriveUSA

1985 Honda City Turbo II

The Honda City Turbo II was the company's hot-hatch version of its more pedestrian City. Affedctionaly nicknamed the "bull dog," some City models even came with a stowable moped. No lie. This one does not, but it only has 65,000 kilometers on it. It doesn't get much more classic 1980s Japanese kei car than this. This one is for sale for $9,500 and is located in Richmond, VA. 
Source: Japanese Classics

1967 Mazda R360

How cool is this little thing? Believe it or not, this was Mazda's first four-wheeled passenger vehicle. It's got a four-stroke V-engine, two-tone pain, and awesome vintage style. Price? This little guy is $20,917—big bucks for a small car. Plus, it's still in Japan.

Source: Trade Car View
 
BONUS: 1985 VAZ Lada 2105 (A Bit Bigger)

OK, this one isn't a subcompact, but it's crazy. Also known as the Lada Riva, the 2105 was built in places including Russia, Ukraine, Egypt,, West Germany, and Kazakhstan. This 1985 model is located in the Seattle area and allegedly has a 650 hp turbocharged V6. Yeah, you read that right. The seller is asking a cool $27,000 for this thing. I'd love to see more pictures of this. 
Source: Seattle Craigslist

Review: 2015 Honda Fit EX-L Navi

Words by Andy Lilienthal, photos by Mercedes Lilienthal


“So what color do you think it’ll be?” I asked Mercedes as we headed to pick up the car from SeaTac Airport in Washington. “I hope it’s the yellow color.”
“I think it’ll be red or silver,” she said.

Upon arriving at the Park ‘N Fly at SeaTac International Airport (Seattle), we pulled up to an extremely bright Mystic Yellow Pearl Honda Fit. You couldn't miss it.

Usually when we get a car to review, it is dropped off at our house or work. This time, we were flying back from Minnesota and were picking the car up at the airport, then would drive it 170 miles south to Portland. Plus, this would give us a good first impression of Honda’s recently redesigned subcompact hatchback. And although Mercedes had been to the car’s launch last April, I hadn’t had a chance to drive one yet.

Review: 2014 Honda Civic Si Coupe

The ninth generation Honda Civic, including the high-performance Si model, has been a constantly evolving affair. There have been numerous interior and exterior updates each year since the car was redesigned in 2012—something fairly unheard of in the auto industry these days. We’ve driven the 2012 Civic Si and 2013 Civic Si, so when the 2014 Si came up for review, I initially wondered if there’d be any difference. Well, sure enough, Honda made yet another round of changes to the Civic Si for ’14, and luckily, they’re all good moves.

The ’14 model has a different, more aggressive front and rear fascia. Our tester also included $1,300+ worth of optional front lip, rear valence, and side skirts. Also different: Orange Fire Pearl paint. This orange hue actually makes the car look pretty sporty and I dig it. The combination of body kit bits, revised front end, and orange finish help the car look less long and awkward, too. I’ve previously said the Civic coupe almost has a fish-like look to it. These body add-ons help reduce that, and I think the car looks best in brighter shades. I still, however, am not a fan of the 18" wheels, which look like they were pulled directly off a Hot Wheels car. However, the overall look is more aggressive, more sporty, and better looking than any other ninth-gen Civic Si to date. Still not lusty, but at least it’s making an effort.

A Fond Farewell to my 1997 Honda Civic CX

By Scott Araujo

About a week ago I did something I thought I might never do: I sold my Honda Civic. I really thought I might drive this car into the ground. You may remember this car from a posting Andy made some time ago showing the odometer at 200,000 miles. I thought I would at least get to 250, but it wasn't in the cards.

Flash back to a rainy October day in 1996 in New York. My air-cooled VW bug has just dropped a valve into the engine. I get on the phone to my buddy Ed, he has a spare motor for $50, I had gotten a transmission from him that summer for $25. I call my usual parts place and start checking on all the little parts I'll need. And then something happens and I just say, "Y'know what Billy, skip it." and I hang up. In that moment I had decided to buy a new car because I didn't want to spend a whole weekend in a rainy driveway shivering and fixing my car. 

Driven: The All-New 2015 Honda Fit

Honda manufactures automobiles that are smartly designed, thoughtfully executed and built, and are solid as a rock. Between my husband Andy and me, we have owned seven of them. Honda has been in our families for a long time. I first learned about Honda when I was a child, as my father had a Honda lawn mower that ran for eternity, partly due to its quality but also due to him taking care of it like it was his baby, even waxing it each year. So, it is only natural we were excited to take part in the redesigned 2015 Honda Fit launch in San Diego, CA.

The 2015 Fit is the third generation of Honda’s five-door B-segment subcompact. Introduced in the U.S. in 2007, Honda brought the Fit over from Japan to compete in the newly exploding North American subcompact market. Well known for its versatility, fuel economy, driving dynamics, and small exterior but living-large interior, the Fit would become a front-runner in its class.

2015 Honda Fit Launch

We're in San Diego for the 2015 Honda Fit launch. We can't really talk about it much yet, but we can show you pics. Be sure to check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for pics from the launch event. More on the '15 Fit in several days. Stay tuned.

Small Car Highlights From the 2014 Portland International Auto Show

2015 BMW i3

The 2014 Portland International Auto Show will be held February 6–10 at the Oregon Convention Center. Subcompact Culture attended the press day on February 5 to get a preview of some of the latest rides. And while there were exotics, sports cars, SUVs, pickups, and just about everything else there, we attended for the small cars ... of course.

2015 BMW i3 

One of the most notable and exciting small cars at the show is the 2015 BMW i3, which is an EV with an optional inline two-cylinder 650cc range-extending gas engine. The vehicle makes 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque and will weigh in at about 2,700 lbs. It's estimated the small front-drive BMW (a first for the brand) will get 125 eMPG. By the way, yes, it's got 20" wheels wearing 165/65/20 tires. That's a new one. The interior is simply stunning, to be frank. There's futuristic yet simple design throughout, including a gorgeous wood dash area in front of the passenger, and suicide doors. Made with scads of carbon fiber, the i3 will start out at $42,275.

2015 Subaru  WRX STI

Another highly anticipated vehicle at the Auto Show is the 2015 Subaru WRX STI. The standard '15 WRX isn't slated to go on sale until April, but Oregon is Subaru country, and Subaru was able to bring the hot- rodded WRX STI, which won't go on sale until June, to the Portland show for all to see. Making 305 horsepower out of its 2.5-liter boxer four-cylinder mill and delivering power too all four wheels, the new STI will likely be a beast despite the somewhat toned-down sheet metal. However, the big wing and gold wheels are back, and are likely to appeal to the rally car crowd. Can't wait to drive this one.

2015 Volkswagen Golf

Another popular car here in the Pacific Northwest is the Volkswagen Golf, and this is the new MkVII model. Complete with revised sheet metal, the new Golf also gets a new 1.8-liter turbocharged engine standard (vs. the past 2.5-liter five cylinder), as well as a revised TDI turbochraged diesel. The gas engine will make 170 hp and 184 lbs./ft. of torque. The new TDI makes 150 hp and a whopping 236 lbs./ft. of torque. Expect TDI mileage to be in the low 40s when it's released. By the way, 52% of all VWs sold in Portland, OR are TDIs—far more than any other market in the U.S.

2015 Ford Fiesta ST

Ford's sporty Fiesta ST has been out a few months now, but this was the first I'd seen one in the flesh. wearing stunning Molten Orange Metallic paint, the ST is truly a hot hatch. A turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine making 197 hp and 202 lbs./ft. of torque, a six-speed manual gearbox, unique alloy wheels, and different front and rear fascias make this the Fiesta to get if you're looking for a pocket rocket. This one had the optional and awesome Recaro seats, too. Love this thing, and can't wait to drive one. 

In addition to the above vehicles, there are a host of other new small car—and other cool bits—to check out at the auto show:

Fiat 500 Gucci

Kia Soul

Fiat 500L Trekking

Buick Encore

Folding paper Scion xB

Nissan Versa Note

Will Orders' twin-turbo Toyota GT86 rally car

Classic Volkswagen Bug

Custom Honda CRX

Brazuka Smart ForTwo

New Smart EV Bike

Latest IIHS Small Car Crash Tests: Not So Good

Maybe you've already heard, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed its latest round of crash tests, this time on mini cars. The results were not so good. The organization crashed the Chevrolet Spark, Mazda2, Kia Rio, Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Versa sedan, Toyota Prius c, Hyundai Accent, Fiat 500, and Honda Fit. The cars are ranted either Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor. The only car to get an Acceptable rating? The Chevrolet Spark. Both the Fiat 500 and Honda Fit got Poor ratings. Shortly after these tests results were announced, Consumer Reports magazine, the bastion for all things rated, dropped the Honda Fit's "Recommended" rating.

"Small, lightweight vehicles have an inherent safety disadvantage," says Joe Nolan, IIHS senior vice president for vehicle research. And in other news, fire declared hot; water determined wet. Sky also blue. More at 11:00.

Don't get me wrong: I am all for increasing safety in cars. I think we need to keep pushing the limits because, frankly, I don't think the automakers would do it on their own. But the problem I see with this is it basically says you need to own a big, heavy automobile to be safe. Quick—everyone run to your huge cars, SUVs, and trucks! Your small cars are death traps! But then again, maybe those big "cars" aren't safe enough. Maybe a Peterbilt or Freightliner semi tractor would be better. I mean, they're the biggest thing on the road. And if it's bigger, it's got to be better. Then again, maybe we can all find used armored cars to be really safe. Can we make a tank road legal?

I'm willing to be that today's crop of small cars is orders of magnitude safer than small cars from 10 years ago. And those small cars were likely much safer than cars from 10 years before that. Again, I'm all for increasing safety in vehicles. But Joe Q. Public sees these results and thinks small cars = suicide machines.

Will the IIHS's results have an effect on subcompact sales? I don't think it'll have a negative effect. It might help continue the Chevrolet Spark's unexpected sale success, though. To be honest, I don't think we'll see a blip in sales. Why? I drive a small cars because I want to. But many (most?) people buy them because they're generally less expensive than larger cars, so therefore, those sales will continue as they always have. Some people truly don't have the cash for anything else.

We've made so much progress in terms of safety in the last 20 years, especially when it comes to small cars. It's obvious that smaller cars are at a disadvantage in crashes; it's a liability most of us understand, and many of us live with. Hey, motorcycles are inherently "dangerous" too, right? But that's a risk people are willing to take as well. I'd hate to see small cars decline in sales due to these tests. Hopefully the public will apply some common sense to these tests and realize that even the worst of the ratings these days are still much better than older cars. I'll tell you what: I'm not going to stop buying small cars because of these tests. Sure, I'll take a look at the ratings, but these ratings will not scare me away from driving small. Here's the full ratings chart.

Unobtanium: Seven Hot Hatchbacks that Should Exist

I love the fact that there are some sporty, scrappy subcompacts on the North American market these days. The Fiat 500 Abarth, the Ford Fiesta ST, Nissan Juke Nismo and the MINI Cooper S are all examples. However, here are a few that I wish existed. Most should be pretty feasible to offer by swapping an engine, stiffening up the suspension, offering a limited-slip diff, and adding some aero parts. Or we could just put it this way:

Dear automakers, please build these.

Love,

Andy

Mitsubishi Mirage EVO (pictured above)
Ok, I know the likelihood of this is nearly zero, but I had to throw it in. Take the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage and throw in a tiny turbocharged engine, or perhaps the 2.0-liter engine from the Outlander Sport. You could go with the trademark EVO front end, offer it in AWD, and have a truly interesting Mitsubishi, just like in the days of yore (aka the 1980s and early 1990s). OK, so an EVO version of the newest Mirage is truly just a dream, maybe a Ralliart version with a few more ponies and some suspension goodies could actually happen.

Of course someone has already thought about a customized Mirage, and even rendered it. I found the image from a Thai site at AutoCarNano.com.

MAZDAZPEED2
We've seen the MAZDASPEED3, so a MAZADSPEED2 should fit right in. If this vehicle existed, it could be powered by a small turbocharged powerplant, or perhaps by the existing 2.0-liter SKYACTIVE engine found in other Mazda vehicles. It'd have a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip diff. Knowing how Mazda likes to formulate its lineup, I could see this making anywhere between 130 and 170 hp. This car would be a blast, thanks to its already very good chassis and driving dynamics. Mazda: Make it happen for 2015!

FYI, the car above was a SEMA vehicle from a few years ago that was showcased in the Mazda booth.

Chevrolet Spark RS
Take the tiny Chevrolet Spark and throw in the 1.4-turbo engine out of the Sonic. Boom: instant A-sement hot hatch. While the Sonic with the 1.4-liter turbo already makes 138 hp and 148 lbs/ft of torque and is fun to drive, a Spark with the same engine would be a damn riot. Add a stiff rear sway bar, lower it a few millimeters, liven up the steering ratio, and you've got a super-fun A-segment brawler. Chevy—are you listening?

The car above has been customized by German tuner, KBR Motorsports.

Mugen Honda Fit
The Honda Fit is a world-class subcompact that can be a really fun vehicle to drive thanks to a great chassis, a outstanding five-speed manual transmission, and quick reflexes. So how about a little more power? I know what you're thinking: K24 swap, right? That would be awesome, but highly unlikely from the factory. However, maybe the 143 hp 1.8-liter out of the Civic would be OKed by Honda top brass to create a Mugen Fit for North America? Or perhaps a Fit Si? That 1.8 liter engine likely weighs less (correct me if I'm wrong Hondaphiles of the world). Of course, you'd lower it, put stickier tires on it, and have some great-looking bodywork. People have been asking for this one since the Fit appeared in the U.S. I'd love to see it.

The vehicle pictured above is actually 2014 Mugen Fit for the JDM market. No word as to what's under the hood, but it does feature the body work, LEDs, projector headlamps, and cool wheels that could really up the fun factor on the Fit.

Toyota Yaris XRS
Toyota does offer a sporty trim level for the Yaris, which is the SE package. While it offers bigger wheels, quicker steering, a more tuned suspension, and some different bumpers, it still has the 106 hp 1NZ-FE engine. The easiest fix to this would to put the 128 hp 1.8-liter engine from the Scion xD under the hood (this was the Yaris T-Sport in the last body style). Alternatively, perhaps the new Corolla's 132 hp 1.8-liter powerplant could be shoehorned in. Let's face it: The xD isn't getting any younger, but the Yaris was redesigned not too long ago. Let's add some more juice to the already lightweight Yaris, Toyota!

Above is the Toyota Vitz RS "G's" model. This does exist in Japan, but is powered by the same 1.5-liter the U.S. gets.

Fiat 500L Abarth

Here's another no-brainer for me. Take Fiat's 500L and tune the 1.4-liter turbo to Abarth specs to make one fast four-door Italian. 

I found this image via Google Images, but the watermark goes to AutosBlog.com.ar. Gotta give credit where it's due. Regardless, this little car needs to happen.

Nissan Versa Note NISMO
The latest subcompact from Nissan, the Versa Note, is very practical and offers a good value. And while most NISMO-equipped Nissans get small bumps in power along with other goodies, I'd love to see a Note powered by the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine from the Juke. Plus, it wouldn't look as polarizing as the strangely shaped crossover. Oh yes. This would be awesome.

The car pictured above is actually from Japanese tuner IMPUL, and gives you an idea of the Versa Note's potential. Now with 180 hp, this thing would really scoot.