Honda Australia wishing for ute and large SUV, may have to settle for seven-seat CR-V

We are not expecting the 3rd row seat CRV to get to North America, even though we expect it to be the same increase in size....

by Matt Campbell of www.driveadvice.com.au

A seven-seat version of the next-generation Honda CR-V could form an important pillar for Honda Australia, as the brand has confirmed it is unable to secure a large SUV or dual-cab utility vehicle in the near future.

At a business meeting this week with media, Honda Australia director Stephen Collins gave the best indication to date that Australians could get the next-generation Honda CR-V – likely due in 2017 – with three rows of seating.

“One of our big projects now that we’re working on is the next-generation CR-V. And I’ve got nothing to give you on that, I’m afraid. But I think trying to keep customers in your brand and having products that they can grow in to, or downsize to, is important.

“I think, in an ideal world, we’d love a large SUV,” he said, but following on from earlier reports by CarAdvice regarding a seven-seat CR-V, it appears clear that there is no viable option for an even bigger SUV to be offered locally.

Collins said a seven-seat CR-V is “under consideration”.

“If we were to be able to provide that sort of option, then I think that would sort of help us in that journey of customers upsizing and also downsizing,” he said. “I think we’re pretty covered on the downsizing front, it’s more the upsizing part.”

While Collins wouldn’t tell the assembled media if we would get that vehicle, he did say that the decision of whether to offer such a model has already been made.

Collins went on to explain how the Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pick-up that are designed for the US market would be on his wish list for Australia, if they were to be made in right-hand drive. But he admitted that there is a long way to go before such models would be viable here.

“In terms of what’s available, probably the two gaps for us in the market as we see it, are a large SUV – you don’t have to be Einstein to work that one out, we know there are certain variants available in the US that are only available for the US market.

“So at this stage there’s nothing on that horizon. But I think we will continue to scour the world for an option in terms of a large SUV,” he said.

“I think there’s no doubt that not having a large SUV makes it more difficult through that journey,” he said of retaining buyers who outgrow their current Honda.

“We’ve certainly made that desire known. The question comes, you know, for right-hand-drive markets, whether we can build a business case. At this point that’s not able to be done. I wish I could sit here and say it is, but it’s not.

“Our Asian office, and the global product planning office, is certainly aware. The numbers show it. The large SUV segment is growing, it’s not going to go anywhere south anytime soon. And nor are commercials,” he said.

The Ridgeline dual-cab pick-up is designed for lifestyle users rather than hardcore tradies, something that Hyundai is likely targeting with the production version of the Santa Cruz ute.

“We don’t have a pick-up available. There is one in the US. But again the prospect of a pick-up becoming available in the short term is not an option for us,” Collins said.

“So we’re going to concentrate on what our core business is, and what our core business is is selling SUVs and passenger cars.”

Source;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/425221/honda-australia-wishing-for-ute-and-large-suv-may-have-to-settle-for-seven-seat-cr-v/

Honda CR-V diesel arriving January (Not for North America)

Honda has confirmed the addition of a second diesel engine to its Australian line-up, with a new CR-V model joining the diesel Civic Hatch that landed in April.

Unlike the 88kW/300Nm 1.6 litre Civic, the new diesel CR-V will get Honda's larger 2.2 litre engine, producing 110kW and 350Nm of torque.

The new model will be offered in four-wheel-drive form, matched to either a six-speed manual or five-speed auto transmission. Hill Descent Control will also feature as standard.

In manual form, Honda promises a 5.8 l/100km fuel consumption figure.

Honda Australia's current CR-V range features both two- and four-wheel-drive options, but all are powered by 2.0 and 2.4 litre petrol engines only.

The 2.0 litre engine produces 114kW and 190Nm, returning 7.8 l/100km with the manual transmission.

In 2.4 litre form, available only with an auto transmission, power grows to 140kW and 222Nm. Fuel use is listed at 8.7 l/100km.

“This fourth-generation model has been a strong, consistent performer since it was first launched in December 2012 and we expect to see a boost in sales with a diesel option,” Honda Australia Director Stephen Collins said.
“This year, we’ve sold just shy of 10,000 units, making the CR-V second only to the much-loved Civic range.”

Pricing for the CR-V range currently kicks off at $27,490 plus on-roads for the 2WD manual, rounding out at $42,290 plus on-roads for the range-topping VTi-L 4WD automatic.

The new Honda CR-V diesel is due to arrive in local showrooms in January, with pricing available closer to launch.

Source;
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/57591/honda-to-add-diesel-option-to-cr-v-range-in-first-quarter-2014

Honda Australia: Honda's Civic Hatch Diesel Has Arrived

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – April 16, 2013: Honda Australia has today launched its Earth Dreams Technology series with the all-new 1.6 litre diesel engine for the Civic Hatch range.

The 1.6-litre i-DTEC combines the practical solutions and spacious interior of the Civic Hatch with the first engine for Australia from Honda’s new Earth Dreams Technology series.

The new 1.6-litre i-DTEC engine combines competitive power, with 88kW and 300Nm of torque and CO2 emissions of just 105 grams per kilometre, offering an impressive balance between fuel economy and performance.

Rising fuel prices around the world and increasingly stringent environmental performance targets led Honda to work towards introducing Earth Dreams Technology, a new generation of powertrains that achieve advanced driving performance combined with low emissions at an affordable cost.

Key features of the DTi-S include:

1.6-litre i-DTEC engine

Fuel economy of 4L/100 kms and CO2 emissions of 105g/km

Six-speed manual transmission

Five-star ANCAP safety rating

ECON mode, Eco Assist function and Auto Stop mode

Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) System

Hill Start Assist (HSA)

Auto on/off halogen headlights

Daytime running lights and fog lights

Automatic rain-sensing front wipers

Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID)

Cruise control and adjustable speed limiter

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Honda’s ‘Magic Seat’ system

Reversing camera

17 inch alloy wheels

Source;
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2013/04/16/072568-hondas-civic-hatch-diesel-has-arrived.html

Honda: diesel an ‘opportunity we couldn’t miss’ (Australia)

by Alborz Fallah of www.caradvice.com.au

Honda Australia has confirmed that diesel engines will now make up an important part of its strategy going forward.

Honda, which has been primarily focused on its hybrid drivetrains, has changed its strategy to bring about a range of diesel engines as it seeks to further expand marketshare in Australia and around the world.

The Honda Civic hatch will be the first vehicle to get a diesel engine in April this year with the CR-V SUV to follow very late this year or early 2014.

Honda Australia’s director and head of sales and marketing, Stephen Collins, told CarAdvice that diesel was an opportunity too big to miss.

“We took a decision about a year and half ago that the diesel market was continuing to grow and it was an opportunity that we couldn’t miss.” Collins said.

He admitted that it had taken Honda some time to get its first diesel here (Honda has been selling diesels in Europe for some time) but that it’s likely to be part of its ongoing strategy in the future.

“I think our strategy up until a year and half ago was more hybrid but now it’s a combination of diesel and hybrid.”

Given that Australia’s hybrid market makes up just 1.5 percent of annual sales (of which a great deal are the locally produced Camry Hybrids), while sales of diesel passenger and SUV vehicles have rapidly increased, the shift in Honda’s strategy isn’t unexpected.

Last year more than a third of SUV buyers purchased a diesel. In 2012, 57,435 private buyers decided on a diesel SUV, a 50.6 per cent increase over 2011 and more than double the growth of petrol SUVs.

Meanwhile 45,133 diesel passenger cars were sold last year, compare with just 13,231 hybrids.

More than a third of SUV buyers purchased a diesel last year. In 2012, 57,435 private buyers decided on a diesel SUV, a 50.6 per cent increase over 2011 – more than double the growth of petrol SUVs.

Source;
http://www.caradvice.com.au/216735/honda-diesel-opportunity-couldnt-miss/

Honda launches limited editions of Jazz Vibe, Vibe-S in Australia

Japan-based automobile manufacturer Honda has launched the limited editions of the Jazz Vibe and Vibe-S models with added features in Australia.

The Jazz Vibe is powered by the 1.3L engine that can be paired either to a manual or an automatic transmission and will feature 15inch alloy wheels.

Features added to the vehicle include, cruise control, aero tailgate spoiler, climate-controlled air conditioning, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, power retractable door mirrors, with leather steering wheel, gear knob and paddle shifts.

The Jazz Vibe-S will be powered by the 1.5L engine mated to an automatic transmission and comes with 16inch alloy wheels, sports cloth trim as well as an aero tailgate spoiler.

The Vibe-S has all the added features of the Jazz Vibe, while the extra features include the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts and power retractable door mirrors with integrated side indicator.

Both the vehicles are available in Crystal Black, Alabaster Silver, Polished Metal, Azure Blue, Taffeta White, Milano Red and the signature Fresh Lime Green colors.

Source;
http://manufacturing.automotive-business-review.com/news/honda-launches-limited-editions-of-jazz-vibe-vibe-s-in-australia-120213 

All-New Honda CR-V - "Anything you can do" TV Commercial

UK/Australia Honda details next-generation CR-V SUV

Honda has released the updated details and images of its new British-built CR-V, ahead of the vehicle's UK launch this October.

The SUV is to be made available in both two- and four-wheel drive variants with a 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine, Honda has confirmed, while the other engines in the range have been engineered for a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Compared to the previous generation CR-V, the new model takes on a more aerodynamic stance with a bolder nose section, while the front bumper is joined by a horizontal three-bar grille and deep-set headlights. The CR-V's signature vertical rear brake lights, which debuted on the original model, remain but introduce a more three-dimensional style.

The European-specific CR-V design, which differs to the same generation design for the rest of the world, includes exterior refinements not seen elsewhere including a revised front bumper and front LED daytime running lights with rear LED lightings as standard.

The length and height of the new CR-V have been reduced by 5mm and 30mm respectively, but Honda claims that hasn't come at the cost of interior space: the new-generation CR-V increases its boot capacity by 148 litres over the outgoing model for a total of 1,640 litres, although this drops to 589 litres with the rear seats folded up. The load length is increased by 140mm to 1,570mm, while the height of the load lip has been reduced by 25mm to make loading heaving or awkward items easier.

Internally, Honda promises a spacious cabin with high-quality finish and improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) reductions over the outgoing models. A new front seat design incorporates whiplash-mitigation technology, while the rear seats feature a single-motion easy-fold system for increasing the luggage area.

Full UK specifications have yet to be released, but Honda is preliminarily claiming that the new body results in a 6.5 percent reduction in drag coefficient for improved fuel economy and efficiency. The 150PS i-DTEC, as an example, drops its carbon dioxide emissions from 171g per kilometre driven on the outgoing model to 153g/km, while the power output of the 2.0-litre i-VTEC rises to 155PS from 150PS despite a drop in carbon dioxide emissions from 192g/km to 174g/km in the manual edition.

Full UK pricing and specifications are expected to be detailed later this year, ahead of its planned launch in October.

Source;
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/car-tech/1293565/honda-details-next-generation-cr-v-suv

The All-New 2012 Honda Civic. Symphony in Motion.

Honda Jazz G2 ARC Race Car Teased In New Artwork

Honda Australia has released new teaser artwork for the upcoming Jazz G2 racing car, ahead of its debut in next year's Australian Rally Championship.

The carmaker's local arm will field two Jazz cars in the series, designed to the championionship's two-wheel-drive G2 specification.

Power for the Jazz ARC cars will be provided by Mugen-prepared 2.0 litre four-cylinder engines, delivering 183kW at 9000rpm and 193Nm of torque.

In its regular road-going guise, the Australian-delivered Jazz offers 88kW in 1.5 litre form, and 73kW with the entry-level 1.3 litre engine.

The first of the two cars will be driven by Eli Evans and Glen Weston, with the second pairing to be announced early in 2012.

“The Honda Civic Type R that Eli Evans and Glen Weston campaigned over the past two years has become a crowd favourite at rallies around the country, because of how exciting it looks on the stages and the great sound it makes," ARC boss Scott Pedder said.

“The renderings of the new Honda Jazz G2 are very exciting and give a strong indication of how the new generation of two-wheel drive rally cars will look. I am sure they will fire the imagination of rally enthusiasts,” Pedder said.

The six-round 2012 ARC series will kick off in March with a 'Rally Showcase' at Calder Park in Victoria.

Source;

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/52966/honda-jazz-arc-race-race-revealed