Honda Jazz GE8 modifications: specs and the mods that actually work

The Honda Jazz GE8 responds best to chassis mods: coilovers or a matched spring and damper set, good wheels and tires, and better brake pads. Engine bolt-ons are mostly about sound. K&N's dyno test of its own intake for the 1.5-liter car showed a peak gain of 4.53 hp (K&N).

The GE8 wasn't really born to be extreme, but it's light, cheap and has a huge parts catalog. Here's what you're starting with, and where the money is best spent.

What the GE8 is

GE8 is the chassis code for the 1.5-liter, front-wheel-drive second-generation Jazz, sold as the Fit in Japan and North America. Production ran from October 2007 to 2014 (Wikipedia).

It was built in a lot of places, including Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, China, India, Brazil and the UK (Wikipedia). Indonesia took to it in a big way. Wikipedia counts 24,969 Jazz sales there in 2008 alone, and the Jazz led its segment.

In Japan the 1.5 was reserved for the RS at launch. Honda priced the RS from ¥1,575,000 with a CVT and ¥1,785,000 with the five-speed manual in October 2007 (Honda).

Honda Jazz GE8 specs

The L15A is a simple, revvy single-cam i-VTEC four. It makes its power high up, which is why small intake gains show up near the redline.

Engine and chassis figures are from Honda's 2009 Fit specifications, except the Asian power and torque (Wikipedia, Moladin) and ground clearance (Autofun).

The Jazz RS

The RS is the one to start with if you can find it. It's the factory-modified version.

After the October 2010 facelift, the Japanese Fit RS got a six-speed manual or a CVT with a seven-speed sport mode and paddles (Honda). It also got its own dampers, springs and anti-roll bar, a "performance rod" linking the left and right sides of the chassis, rear disc brakes and stability control. Outside, it had RS aero bumpers, side sills and a tailgate spoiler. It cost ¥1,740,000 with either gearbox.

Indonesia also sold a Jazz RS, with paddle shifters on the automatic (Moladin). Check which market a car came from before assuming it has the six-speed or rear discs.

Intake and exhaust: realistic gains

Intakes and exhausts change the sound much more than the speed. Expect single-digit horsepower.

K&N's 69-1017TTK intake for the 2009 to 2013 Fit gained 4.53 hp and 4.02 lb-ft at 5,900 rpm on K&N's dyno (K&N). Even that comes with a caveat. The stock run was done at 82.6°F and the K&N run at 97.6°F, and the sheet says results will vary.

Exhausts are similar. HKS's Hi-Power Spec-L II muffler for the post-2010 GE8 RS weighs 3.1 kg, 38% less than stock, but HKS makes no power claim for it. It raised the close-range noise reading from 77 to 85 (HKS). HKS also lists a Racing Suction intake for the GE8 L15A, again with no claimed gain.

The one big-power option was Mugen's F154SC supercharged 1.5, shown at the 2008 Tokyo Auto Salon with 150 hp and 184 Nm (Wikipedia). It's rare, and we couldn't confirm a price.

Suspension, wheels and brakes: where the money works

This is where a GE8 gets better to drive. The factory setup is a compromise.

Indonesian owners often report clunks from worn front bushings, ball joint boots and tie rod boots, and a firm ride (Autofun). Fresh suspension fixes both problems. Tein's Street Advance Z coilovers for the 2009 to 2013 Fit cost about $912, with 16-way damping and 168 lb front and 112 lb rear springs (Hybrid Racing). They reuse the factory top mounts.

Go easy on ride height. The RS already sits at 135 mm, and Autofun says low clearance leads to torn side skirts and cracked front bumpers. If you're chasing a flush look, read our guide to stance, fitment and camber before ordering wheels.

Brakes are a cheap win. Non-RS cars have rear drums (Honda), and better pads plus fresh fluid help more than people expect on a light car.

Body kits: Mugen and Modulo

Mugen offered a full catalog for the GE-generation Fit. The table below lists Mugen's Japanese prices from November 2009, when it announced parts for the new 1.3 G Smart Selection and 1.5 X grades (Car Watch).

Those are new prices from 2009. Used parts today sell for whatever condition and demand allow, so check before you budget. Modulo is Honda's own accessory line. Malaysia got a 100-car limited Grade S Modulo edition in June 2009 (Wikipedia).

How to plan a GE8 build

1. Fix the basics first. Check the radiator and cooling fans, since Autofun says some used GE8s run hot when maintenance has been skipped.
2. Do suspension and tires together. A matched coilover or spring and damper set with good 185 or 195 tires changes the car more than any engine part.
3. Upgrade pads and fluid. It's cheap, and it suits the extra grip.
4. Pick wheels for fitment, not size. Keep the ride height sensible so bumpers and side skirts survive speed bumps.
5. Add intake and exhaust last. Choose them for sound and weight, and expect a few horsepower, not a transformation.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Honda Fit (second generation))
• Honda: Honda to begin sales of the all-new Fit in Japan (2007)
• Honda Japan: Fit RS web catalog archive (2010 to 2013)
• Honda News: 2009 Honda Fit specifications and features
• Moladin: Used Honda Jazz 2008 to 2013 prices
• Autofun: 5 reasons not to choose a used Honda Jazz GE8
• K&N: Add 4.53 horsepower to 2009 to 2013 Honda Fit
• K&N: 69-1017 dyno sheet (PDF)
• HKS: Hi-Power Spec-L II for Fit GE8
• HKS USA: Racing Suction GE8 Fit L15A
• Hybrid Racing: Tein Street Advance Z coilovers for 09-13 Honda Fit
• Car Watch: Mugen parts for the Honda Fit (2009)

Featured image: 2010 Honda Fit RS by TTTNIS (CC0). Source