Honda Motor Co. is all set to launch the 2009 Honda Fit that will hit the automaker’s dealers on August 26, 2008. Earlier, it was slated to launch on October 1.

The automaker decided to bump up the launch of the subcompact car, as the company is practically sold out of the 2008 model.

“We basically increased supply as much as we could to meet demand, and we were still going to be sold out of the 2008 model,” said Honda spokesman Chris Martin. “We had to do something so that our dealers would not be without the small cars that buyers are seeking,” he added.

In the first seven months of this year, Fit sales in the United States, rose 7.9 percent to 52,053 units. Honda sold 12,226 Fits in July alone which nearly equaled Acura’s total sales for the month. The automaker sold 12,828 units of Acura in July.

Honda builds the subcompact car in its five plants. The Suzuka plant is Japan supplies Fits for the United States. The automaker plans to increase its production in the Suzuka plant as well as in one more plant, if the U.S. demand for the car continues to rise.

The 2009 Honda Fit gets a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine that achieves 35 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg in the city. The price of the base version of the new Fit starts at $15,220, including destination. There has been an increase of $600 over the 2008 model. The prices range up to $19,430 for the high-line Fit Sport Navi.

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