Honda had launched the new-generation City sedan in the Indian market earlier this year. The new model has received good response from buyers, as it is currently the best-selling mid-sized in India. The brand is now planning to enter into new segments including affordable SUV segment. It is expected that Honda could launch these 3 new cars in the Indian market in the next couple of years.
Honda City Hybrid
Honda has officially announced to launch an all-new hybrid car in the country in 2021. It is expected that the company will introduce the new City e:HEV strong hybrid, which is on sale in Thailand and Malaysia. The new model will be called the City RS, which is basically the sport variant.
The City e:HEV comes equipped with Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system, which comprises of 108PS/253Nm electric motor that drives the wheels. It features a 1.5L Atkinson-cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine that produces 98PS between 5,600 to 6,400rpm and 127Nm between 4,500 and 5,000rpm, along with an integrated electric motor acting as a generator and a starter.
Honda Compact SUV
Honda will introduce an all-new sub-4 meter SUV in May 2021 in the Japanese market. Rumoured to be called the Honda ZR-V, the new compact SUV is also expected to be launched in our market in the second half of 2021 or early 2022. It is likely to be based on the Amaze platform. The new model will rival the likes of the Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Mahindra XUV300, Maruti Vitara Brezza and others in the category.
The new Honda compact SUV is likely to be powered by a 1.0-litre VTEC turbocharged petrol engine that produces 120bhp and 173Nm of torque. The SUV could also receive the 1.5L NA petrol engine. Similar to the City Hybrid, the new compact SUV could also feature the hybrid powertrain.
Honda Mid-Sized SUV
Honda has started working on an all-new HR-V SUV, which is rumoured to be unveiled in March 2021. The new model is rumoured to grow in size, and will measure around 4.4 meters in length. This will allow Honda to create a new mid-sized SUV between the ZR-V and the HR-V. The new SUV will be based on City platform and will be positioned against the Hyundai Creta and the Kia Seltos.
The new mid-sized is also expected to be launched in India in 2022. Few reports also suggest that Honda is still considering the HR-V nameplate for our market. The new SUV is expected to feature the 1.5L petrol engine, 1.5L petrol with iMMD hybrid system and the 1.0L turbocharged petrol engine.
