Honda to make way for BR-V, phase out Mobilio on poor demand: Report

Honda Cars India is all set to launch the BR-V SUV, which is touted to be out in May-end of this year. The compact SUV is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 6 lakh to Rs 11 lakh. Honda Cars India currently sells the Mobilio MPV in the same price range and that is slow selling compared to the company's other cars. The latest reports say Honda Cars India may pull the plug of the Mobilio to make way for the BR-V.

A report in Carwale indicates Honda might stop the production of the Mobilio MPV soon due to the constant poor sales. The Japanese company sold only 226 units of Mobilio in February 2016 and 441 units in January this year. According the data released by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Honda Car India didn't produce the Mobilio MPV in October 2015 due to poor demand. This is despite the fact that the MPV was launched in 2014.

If Honda goes ahead with the discontinuation of the Mobilo, it will make a clear space in company's product profile that will be ideal for the BR-V. The BR-V was first showcased at the Auto Expo 2016 in India. The BR-V is Honda's first attempt in the compact SUV segment in the country and it will compete with the likes of Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and Maruti Suzuki's newly launched Vitara Brezza.

The BR-V is powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder 16-valve i-VTEC petrol engine that delivers 117bhp at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 145Nm at 4,700 rpm, mated to a six-speed manual transmission. A new continuously variable transmission (CVT) is also available. The India-spec models are expected with diesel engine option. This engine is likely to be the 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine that is employed in most diesel cars offered by Honda in India.