To dispel rumors of Honda leaving the Indian market, Honda Cars India has confirmed that they are currently working on the launch of a brand new compact SUV. The Japanese automaker had previously stated that diesel engines would be phased out of their models. Along with that, models such as the Jazz, WR-V, and 4th Generation Honda City would be phased out. The upcoming compact SUV will go up against vehicles such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and the upcoming Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. The upcoming Honda SUV is scheduled to hit the market next year.
Takuya Tsumura, President and CEO of Honda Cars India, told a news agency that the company has had a difficult three years. The reason for this was the brand’s global shift toward electric vehicles, as well as the restructuring of its facilities and operations. Honda hopes to make a comeback in the Indian market with the introduction of a new compact SUV. The manufacturer has confirmed that the upcoming compact SUV’s development phase is complete and that it will soon enter production. They are currently making final product adjustments.
As of now, the manufacturer has not revealed the name of the upcoming SUV. The design of the upcoming Honda SUV is expected to be inspired by the RS SUV Concept, which was shown at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2022. Details about the platform and its features are expected to become public in the near future. Honda has previously introduced SUVs, but they have never been particularly successful. In the premium category, they had BR-V and even CR-V.
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Honda All-New Compact SUV
Honda’s all-new SUV will be produced at the company’s manufacturing facility in Tapukara, Rajasthan. Honda can better utilise the plant’s production capacity with the introduction of the new SUV. Honda has already halted production at its Greater Noida plant. Honda hopes to increase sales with the introduction of the new SUV. The mid-size and compact SUV segments are extremely competitive, which is why the manufacturer has decided to enter this market. Honda will have to tread carefully in many areas, including features, engine options, and even pricing, in order to stand out in this segment.
In terms of engine options, the upcoming Honda SUV is expected to have only a petrol engine. Honda has already stated that diesel engine options may be phased out of all of their offerings beginning next year. The upcoming Honda SUV will most likely be powered by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 121 PS and 145 Nm of peak torque. It is the same engine that is currently available in the current generation Honda City sedan. The SUV will be available with both a manual and a CVT transmission. In addition to the standard gasoline engine, Honda may offer a powerful hybrid version of the upcoming SUV, similar to the Honda City. It would compete with Grand Vitara and toyota hyryder.
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