Japanese car maker Honda is reportedly planning to launch three new vehicles in India to turn around sales. One of the three products will be a compact SUV and it is expected to rival Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
"The growth in the category (mini SUV) is significant, and we believe that it will continue. Honda is now considering how to capture the SUV segment," Yoichiro Uen, president and CEO of Honda Cars India told to TOI.
The spike in demand for compact SUV and success of Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza and Hyundai Creta seems to have prompted Honda to focus on SUV space. Honda's latest SUV, the BR-V currently cloaks over 3000 units of monthly sales. The response to BR-V is also a reason for new compact SUV proposal.
Other models in the pipeline are Accord hybrid sedan and the Civic. The Accord hybrid sedan is expected to be launched by the end of this year while Civic is expected by the mid-2017.
The ninth generation of the Accord in hybrid avatar is powered by 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle i-VTEC four-cylinder engine coupled with two electric motors. The powertrain is mated to an E-CVT transmission and a 1.3 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Combined output of the mill stands at 213bhp and it returns an overall fuel efficiency of 23.8kmpl. Honda is expected to launch a non-hybrid version of the sedan as well.
Honda Civic will sit between the City and Accord sedans. It will take on the likes of Chevrolet Cruze, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta. If all goes well, Honda is also said to be willing to work on the localisation of these models.
