Honda’s new compact SUV based on the Brio platform, the BR-V is being considered for the Indian market launch in the near future.
Honda officials have confirmed about their study on the compact SUV space in India and they believe it is a growing market. This hints us about the launch of the Brio based SUV in the country and we expect the Japanese automaker to reveal the car at the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo. Honda recently released the official sketches of the BR-V compact SUV for the Indonesian market and it is the same car which should be heading to our shores soon.
The current annual market scenario for the compact SUV segment in India is expected to be around 8,000-10,000 units per month and Honda seems to be targeting a big chunk of the pie with the BR-V. The Japanese automaker is investing Rs. 380 crores to ramp up their production capacity at the Rajasthan plant to meet the increasing demand and exports. The company is also mulling their third plant in Gujarat but the timeline is uncertain yet.
The Honda BR-V will compete with the Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster, Hyundai Creta and the likes but unlike rivals, it is expected to be a 7-seater. The BR-V won’t be a sub-4 metre vehicle and will be offered with both diesel and petrol engine options in India. We have seen Honda importing prototype units and engines for the BR-V (codenamed 2SJ). It is likely to get a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol motor with the option of a CVT automatic transmission.
It is a given that the new compact SUV from Honda will get the same 1.5-litre i-DTEC motor that produces 100 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, it comes with the same specifications across the range of their diesel lineup. Honda won’t launch any new cars this year but in 2016 they will come up with the new generation Accord to revive its premium image.
