Honda has revealed the India-spec BR-V at the 2016 Auto Expo. The all-new SUV from Honda shares its platform with the Brio, Amaze and the Mobilio, but gets a more rugged and angular design theme along with a seven-seat layout.
The car on display was loaded up with a lot of chrome, right from the grille to the tailgate, door frames, door handles and even the wheels, which is bound to go down well in India. Also worth noting is that, in the flesh, it does have some proper SUV presence, and doesn’t look like merely a jacked-up version of the Mobilio. Honda, however, has been careful to brand it a ‘crossover utility vehicle’ or CUV, rather than an all-out SUV.
In terms of design, the BR-V gets SUV styling cues that includes butch cladding that runs around the entire car, a rising beltline, pronounced wheel arch flares and roof rails. At 2,660mm, the BR-V's wheelbase is longer than that of Mobilio. The new car's interior features a seven-seat layout and an all-new dashboard design, which is more in line with Honda Jazz and City, unlike the cars it shares its platform with. In terms of engine details, the car is expected to use tweaked versions of Honda’s existing 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines.
The BR-V was not launched at the 2016 Auto Expo, and the company says that will only happen later in 2016. The SUV will be manufactured at Honda's Tapukara facility in Rajasthan with production expected to begin in April this year. It will compete with the likes of the Mahindra Scorpio, Renault Duster, Maruti S-Cross and the popular Hyundai Creta. The carmaker also revealed the new Accord at the Auto Expo. The company’s latest generation of the large sedan is set to arrive on our shores in petrol and petrol-hybrid guise, and will be imported into India as CBUs. Also on display are the Honda Project 2&4 concept, the Jazz racing concept and the McLaren Honda MP4-30 Formula 1 car.
Auto Expo 2016 complete coverage
The car on display was loaded up with a lot of chrome, right from the grille to the tailgate, door frames, door handles and even the wheels, which is bound to go down well in India. Also worth noting is that, in the flesh, it does have some proper SUV presence, and doesn’t look like merely a jacked-up version of the Mobilio. Honda, however, has been careful to brand it a ‘crossover utility vehicle’ or CUV, rather than an all-out SUV.
In terms of design, the BR-V gets SUV styling cues that includes butch cladding that runs around the entire car, a rising beltline, pronounced wheel arch flares and roof rails. At 2,660mm, the BR-V's wheelbase is longer than that of Mobilio. The new car's interior features a seven-seat layout and an all-new dashboard design, which is more in line with Honda Jazz and City, unlike the cars it shares its platform with. In terms of engine details, the car is expected to use tweaked versions of Honda’s existing 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines.
The BR-V was not launched at the 2016 Auto Expo, and the company says that will only happen later in 2016. The SUV will be manufactured at Honda's Tapukara facility in Rajasthan with production expected to begin in April this year. It will compete with the likes of the Mahindra Scorpio, Renault Duster, Maruti S-Cross and the popular Hyundai Creta. The carmaker also revealed the new Accord at the Auto Expo. The company’s latest generation of the large sedan is set to arrive on our shores in petrol and petrol-hybrid guise, and will be imported into India as CBUs. Also on display are the Honda Project 2&4 concept, the Jazz racing concept and the McLaren Honda MP4-30 Formula 1 car.
Auto Expo 2016 complete coverage
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
