Honda Motor Co.'s compact car Fit has been named the 2001 RJC Car of the Year, a group of automobile researchers, critics and journalists said Tuesday.
The selection by the Automotive Researchers & Journalists Conference of Japan follows the presentation of the 2001-2002 Car of the Year Japan award to the same car, announced last Thursday by a separate group of automobile critics and journalists.
It also marks the second straight year Honda has won the RJC award. The 2000 RJC Car of the Year went to the Civic.
The Fit has been popular since it was launched in June. It placed second in a sales ranking of the Japan Automobile Dealers Association in October.
The RJC said it has given its 2001 Car of the Year-Import award to Audi's A4, and its Technology of the Year award to the four-wheel drive hybrid system used in Toyota Motor Corp.'s Estima Hybrid.