The current Honda Fit is a nice car, offering genuinely spirited driving characteristics in a segment—the subcompact—that's not known for much aside for fuel economy and thrift. But if you thought that it looked a bit dated despite its relatively recent 2007 model-year launch, you'd be correct. Honda actually released the Fit way back in 2001 in Japan but didn't get around to selling it in America until more than five years later.

Meanwhile, Honda quickly released a second-generation version in Japan last year and began selling it immediately, leaving us with prior-generation sloppy seconds. While Car and Driver writes that Americans must wait until March's 2008 New York International Auto Show to see the updated model that will be sold in North America this fall, they're running some photos and information on the new model already available overseas.

The report said that the car is bigger in almost every dimension— width, length, and wheelbase all increase by a few inches, but weight only increases by fewer than 30 pounds. An "optional panoramic roof will let more light in, and a smaller A-pillar is designed to increase visibility." The car's engine remains the same—1.5-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder block—though power and torque bump to 120 and 107, respectively, an increase of 11 horsepower and two pound-feet.

The current Fit reminds me of the 1984 Honda Civic Wagon, and in fact almost matches that car exactly in length, width, and height. That goes to show how much cars have grown over the last 20 years; the current Civic, for example, is roughly the same size as 20-year-old Accords. At any rate, the new Fit should prove to be even better.