Honda Car India (HCIL) is all set to move up a gear in India with the introduction of the new products, including SUV and bigger sedans, and add more features in future models to recover lost ground in the Indian market. The SUV in question is expected to be the HR-V SUV which has been linked to India launch for a really long time.
"There is growth in the SUV segment so that's also a big change," ET Auto quoted Yoichiro Ueno, President and CEO of HCIL as saying. When asked whether the SUV model in consideration is the HR-V, he said: "It really depends on customers' voice. If there is a lot of demand or request, then we might look at it."
If HCIL goes ahead with the launch plan of HR-V, it will fill the gap between the BR-V and the CR-V. The HR-V prices can be expected in the range of Rs 15 to 20 lakh and at that price point, it will lock horns against the soon-to-be-launched Hyundai Tucson in India.
Based on the same platform as the Honda Jazz, the HR-V is powered by a 1.8-litre in-line 4 cylinder petrol engine that develops 142bhp and 172Nm of torque mated to either a 6-speed manual or a CVT transmission. For India, HR-V may borrow 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit from the Civic coupe. The diesel option will be the 1.5-litre i-DTEC unit, which is employed in most of the diesel cars of Honda in India. The diesel engine in HR-V is expected to come with higher state of tune.
Apart from HR-V, HCIL may update its SUV portfolio with the new CR-V globally unveiled recently. The facelifted CR-V with turbo-petrol engine is expected to enter India mid-2017.
