Honda Cars : Honda to set up a new production plant in Thailand | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

For Honda, Thailand is one of the strategic manufacturing bases. The existing Thailand facility serves as a mother plant for cars like the Honda City and Brio.

Currently, Honda Cars India sources majority of its imported components for the City, Jazz and the Brio from Honda’s Thailand factory.

Honda has announced that it will construct a brand new factory in Thailand at Prachinburi province which is located about 120 km to the east of Bangkok. The new production facility is expected to go on stream in 2015 with an estimated annual production capacity of 1,20,000 units.

The new plant will mainly cater to compact vehicles. In addition, Honda is planning to increase the production capacity of the existing plant from 2,40,000 units to 2,80,000 units per annum. There are also reports that the capacity could be further expanded to 3,00,000 units in 2014, so by the time the new plant is operational, the total capacity of Honda in Thailand will be 4,20,000 units.

Honda is also working on a new factory in Indonesia and has announced a plant in Mexico as well to cater to that part of the world. With an ambition of achieving annual sales of 6 million units globally by March 2017, the new plants, which will primarily build the Honda Global Compact Series models (next gen Jazz, City and Urban SUV) are indispensable.


Source;
http://indianautosblog.com/2013/02/honda-to-set-up-a-new-production-plant-in-thailand-62999

Honda Cars : Production Honda Urban SUV rendered | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

The first renderings of the Honda Urban SUV’s production version have recently hit the web and they might provide us with a first glimpse of the future model.

After being officially presented to the public in concept form a few weeks ago during the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the Honda Urban is entering our news once again, this time in its final production version. The two images posted below are renderings of the SUV and they have been posted on carplace.virgula.uol.com.br, revealing how the production variant of the Honda Urban SUV might look like.

The Honda Urban is based on the same platform as the Jazz and the model will go on sale against the Dacia Duster. The Honda Urban SUV will get a 1.8 liter petrol engine under its hood, along with a 1.6 liter i-DTEC diesel unit. The Honda Urban SUV will become a global car and it’s expected to be launched in several markets across Asia, Europe or even the United States. More details on the final production version of the Honda Urban SUV are limited for the moment and will be announced close to its debut.

Source;
http://www.inautonews.com/production-honda-urban-suv-rendered#.UQ_cS_JZPQo

Honda Cars : NEW Honda Urban SUV Concept Video with Interior | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda Cars : Honda "Urban SUV Concept" Makes World Debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

An all-new Honda "Urban SUV Concept" vehicle made its world debut today at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The dynamic and youthful concept hints at the styling direction of an all-new small SUV slated to launch in Japan by the end of 2013, followed by the U.S. market in 2014.

"No one has had greater success with small cars than Honda, and this Urban SUV Concept will create new value in the growing small-SUV segment," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda. "With the continued expansion of our North American manufacturing operations, we expect fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive 'small' cars to play a key role in meeting the needs of our customers in the U.S."

The Urban SUV Concept is intended to provide the basis for a fun-to-drive and fuel-efficient small SUV with aspirational design, flexible packaging and next-generation connectivity targeting active lifestyle customers. The concept showcases clean and sophisticated styling, dynamic character lines and a strong stance, with hidden rear door handles giving the SUV a coupe-like presence. Measuring 169.3 inches long, the Urban SUV Concept is nine inches shorter than the Honda CR-V, making it the ideal size for navigating both crowded city streets and open mountain roads.

The Urban SUV Concept represents the expansion of vehicles based on Honda's Global Compact Series, which includes the Honda Fit subcompact and the Honda City subcompact sedan, a model sold in markets outside the United States.

All-New Small SUV Launching 2014
Coming to the U.S. in 2014, an all-new small SUV based on the Urban SUV Concept will feature fuel-efficient Earth Dreams™ Technology and be priced and positioned below the CR-V within the Honda light-truck lineup. Part of Honda's Global Compact Series, and utilizing the Honda-original center-tank layout featured on the Fit, the model will include Honda's configurable Magic Seat® setup that can provide a host of passenger and cargo options, including a fold-flat mode for maximum cargo capacity. The all-new model will also feature next-generation telematics and a modern interior.

The small SUV will be manufactured along with the Fit at Honda's newest North American plant near Celaya, Mexico, expected to open in the spring of 2014. The growth and expansion of its small-vehicle lineup will help Honda double worldwide production of vehicles in its Global Compact Series to more than 1.5 million units by the end of 2016, and remain a global small-car leader.

About Honda
American Honda offers a complete lineup of Honda cars, trucks and service through a network of over 1,000 Honda dealerships within the United States. In 2012, Honda marked 30 years of producing automobiles in the U.S., which began with the Accord in Marysville, Ohio in November 1982. Having produced over 23 million vehicles in North America, Honda currently operates 14 manufacturing facilities in the region, producing¹ a wide range of Honda automobiles, engines and transmissions.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-urban-suv-concept-makes-world-debut-at-the-2013-north-american-international-auto-show-1/photos/honda-urban-suv-concept-4

Honda Cars : Surprise – First live images from NAIAS 2013 | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Here are the first images from the Detroit Auto Show exclusive to Indian Autos Blog readers. Stay tuned as we bring live updates from the floor. There is an abundance of cars waiting to break cover and you will see all of them first at IndianAutosBlog.com.

Shown here are the Honda’s Urban SUV concept and the NSX waiting to be unveiled. As the event progresses, there is going to be plenty of updates, pictures, news flowing throughout tonight and tomorrow night.

So, are you ready?

Source;

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/01/surprise-first-live-images-form-naias-2013-59884

Honda Cars : NAIAS 2013: LEAKED – Say Hello To The ‘Urban SUV Concept’, Honda’s New Juke | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

by Mark Stevenson of www.truthaboutcars.com

The more they try to stop people from talking, the more people want to talk.

These are the leaked images of the new Honda ‘Urban SUV Concept’. Think of it as what a CR-V used to be, but for a new generation of buyers.


After Nissan’s surprising success with the Joke Puke Juke, Honda is getting into the ‘awkward looking, car-based SUV with a tiny engine’ niche everyone seems to be shopping in these days.

Source;
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/01/naias-2013-leaked-say-hello-to-the-urban-suv-concept-hondas-new-juke/

Honda Cars : Rendering – Honda Jazz-based Urban SUV envisioned | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Honda had recently teased a sketch of the Jazz based compact crossover called the Urban SUV Concept that is set to take center stage at Honda’s stall in the Detroit Auto Show next week.

Meanwhile, Hondayoungtimer.de’s forum member who goes by the name ‘Hondafreak1981′ has come up with this nice rendering of the mini SUV based on the teaser sketch. The yet to be named SUV’s front fascia is expected to take a leaf or two from the design book of the new CR-V.

The profile of the rendering obeys the teaser sketch implicitly and bring us closer to the real car. The upward swooping crease that starts at the front door and culminates at the edge of the rear window is easily the high point of the design.

The compact crossover could be powered by the 1.6 litre i-DTEC Earthdreams diesel engine and the 1.8 litre i-VTEC petrol engine. The power will be sent to the front wheels but an AWD version of the car is also expected.

The Honda Urban SUV Concept is “a global concept model” which means that the production version could eventually reach Indian shores as well.

With people across the globe going bonkers about the mini SUVs, the Urban SUV is just what doctor has prescribed for Honda. It is needless to say that the car will have to fight it out with Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport, Chevrolet Trax, Peugeot 2008 and countless other upcoming crossovers.

Our little crystal ball shows a massive battle waiting to unfold!

Source;

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/01/honda-urban-suv-jazz-based-envisioned-59101

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

Honda Cars : Honda teases “Urban SUV Concept”: Jazz/FIT-based SUV | 2013 New Honda Car Reviews 0

Above is thUrban SUV Concept teaser, below is the Chinese only Li Nian Concept from Beijing in 2008.

Here’s a first teaser sketch of the upcoming Honda Urban SUV Concept which will make its world debut at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) on 14 January 2013. The Honda Urban SUV Concept will preview a B-segment SUV based on the centre-tank layout Honda Jazz platform.

This is not the first time a concept B-segment SUV based on the Honda Jazz has been put forward. But it’s the first time it’s going to have a Honda badge. Previously, Honda and its Chinese partner showcased the Li Nian SUV concept at Beijing 2008, powered by a 1.8 litre engine. Comparing the sketch above and the Li Nian concept, it doesn’t seem to be the same design as the character line on the side is different.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2012/12/12/honda-teases-urban-suv-concept-jazz-based-suv/