Honda Cars : Motortrend: We Hear: Future Honda Civic, Accord, and CR-V May Move to One Platform | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Not sure what to think about this rumour....

Though Honda experienced sales success in 2012 with the Accord, Civic, and CR-V, we hear the automaker may move the three high-volume vehicles to one platform by 2017. The move could help Honda reduce purchasing costs for the three models by about 30 percent in three to four years, a new report suggests, and help the automaker better compete in emerging markets.


In the U.S., the Honda Accord was the second-best-selling midsize sedan in 2012, while the Civic and CR-V topped their respective vehicle segments. Designing all three vehicles on one, flexible platform could help increase the number of shared parts, but that’s not the only way Honda can reduce costs.

Before long, Honda may start asking suppliers to design, develop, and assemble parts after providing the proper specifications, the report suggests, instead of the automaker assembling parts already built by suppliers. Honda also plans to more than double investment in major suppliers capable of supplying parts in emerging markets around the world.

With Honda possibly adopting a similar parts-sharing strategy as the one we’ve seen from Volkswagen, we wonder whether potential cost savings could be invested back into improving lower-volume models like the Honda CR-Z or even help make a business case for a “baby NSX” type car.

Before any of those speculative possibilities happen, though, Honda will debut the Urban SUV concept to the Detroit auto show this month. The concept likely previews a Fit-based crossover coming to the U.S. market.

Source;

http://wot.motortrend.com/we-hear-future-honda-civic-accord-cr-v-may-move-to-one-platform-311203.html#axzz2HObNmuOV