Honda had showcased the RS SUV concept at the 2022 GIIAS (Gaikindo Indonesian International Auto Show). The new compact SUV is rumoured to be called the new Honda WR-V and will first go on sale in Indonesia. Honda claims that the roadshow of its camouflaged car to various cities in Indonesia has been completed. Adding to it, the road testing of the SUV has also been ended in early September 2022.
Honda has put a teaser ad shot on display at the toll road area, which suggests that the launch could take place very soon. The SUV was finished in red colour with a black roof, which is similar to the one used in the latest HR-V RS.
The new Honda SUV will measure close to 4.2 meters in length and will have a wheelbase similar to the new City sedan. It is reportedly to be based on the Amaze platform, which is very similar to the City’s platform. The new SUV is expected to be powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that also powers the City sedan.
The production version of the Honda RS SUV will also come with an Atkinson Cycle 1.5L, 4-cylinder engine coupled to two electric motor. The combined usable power and torque stands at 126bhp and 253Nm. Similar to the City hybrid, the RS SUV hybrid could feature a single, fixed gear ratio and offers 3 drive modes – Petrol Only, Electric and Hybrid.
The new Honda RS SUV is likely to share the styling cues from the bigger Honda SUVs including the HR-V. It will be a 5-seater SUV and will sit below the new BR-V in Indonesia. The SUV gets angular wraparound headlamps, chrome bar above the mesh grille, simple bumper with a wide air-dam and a faux skid plate. The new model comes with a coupe SUV like design, featuring a tapering roofline and angular-shaped tailgate design. The SUV gets chunky body cladding, prominent shoulder line and large alloy wheels. At the back, the concept had slim horizontally positioned LED tail-lamp connected by a faux light bar.
Honda SUV For India
Honda has confirmed that the new compact SUV will be launched in our market in 2023. It is expected to be unveiled sometime in January 2023, around Auto Expo. The new model will be based on the Amaze sedan. It is likely to measure under 4 meters in length and will rival the Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Maruti Brezza and others. Honda could bring the RS Concept based SUV in our market; however, Honda engineers will have to make some changes to keep this SUV under 4 meters.
