Honda Fit wins Japan's Car of the Year award

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co's (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) redesigned Fit subcompact won Japan's Car of the Year award, beating finalists including Nissan Motor Co's (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Skyline and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd's (7270.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Subaru Impreza.

The second-generation Fit, called the Jazz in some markets, garnered more than 20,000 orders in the first two weeks since it went on sale on Oct. 26. Japan's second-biggest automaker has said it aimed to sell an average 12,000 Fits a month at home.

The coveted award, given annually by a 60-member panel consisting primarily of automotive journalists, went to Toyota's Lexus LS sedan last year. Honda has won five of the last 10 Car of the Year awards, including one for the first-generation Fit in 2001. (Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Mike Miller)