At the 2021 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS), Honda has taken the covers off the SUV RS Concept. This signifies the Japanese carmaker’s intention of fielding a contender in the 5-seater small SUV category.
Honda wants to compete in the small crossover category
The rumor mill previously went on overdrive when the concept was teased in September, coinciding with the launch of the Indonesia-spec Honda Civic in 11th-generation guise. Speculation flew that the mystery model would be the production version of the new ZR-V, slated to replace the four-year-old Honda WR-V subcompact crossover in India.
Styling is courtesy of Honda’s Thailand-based Asia Pacific R&D center, with sharp creases on the fascia and sides. A textured front grille provides the backdrop for the Honda logo bordered by chrome trim up top and surrounded by LED headlamps with distinctive wing-shaped daytime running lights. Large triangular openings at the corners of the front bumper look like air vents for cooling and aerodynamics.
The carmaker's Asia Pacific R&D team was responsible for the vehicle's futuristic aesthetic
Conspicuous body cladding is present on the front lip, wheel arches, and rocker panels. The SUV RS Concept is striking with a two-tone body color, comprising blacked-out A-pillars and roof contrasting with the rest of the vehicle rendered in white. Roof rails and a set of black multi-spoke alloy wheels complete the sporty look.
As a concept vehicle, no further information has been disclosed on its inner workings, including the cabin, onboard tech, and powertrain. Still, the presumption is that the SUV RS Concept is at least capable of being equipped with the WR-V’s engine options, one being a 1.2-liter i-VTEC gasoline power plant and the other a 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel mill. A 1.5-liter i-VTEC could also be fielded as with the BR-V, with either a 5-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission.
Could this be the form that the eventual ZR-V will take for the Indian market?
The Honda SUV RS Concept is still expected to form the basis of the ZR-V in India, where both homegrown and Japanese marques dominate the top 10 best-selling brands in the subcompact SUV category. While Honda is already on that list, the unveiling of the SUV RS Concept sends a message that it has higher goals in sight.
Witness more exciting releases that signify the future of cars at Philkotse.com.
Know more about Honda BR-V 2024
The 2023 Honda BR-V is a seven-seater compact MPV. It is now in its 2nd-gen version, and it has four different variants in the local market. There’s the top-spec VX honda Sensing priced at 1,390,000, V CVT priced at Php 1,300,000, the S CVT which has a price tag of Php 1,190,000, and the entry-level S MT priced at Php 1,100,000.
Under the hood of the Honda BR-V is a 1.5-liter gasoline inline-4 engine that’s capable of making up to 119 horsepower and 145 Nm of torque. Sending power to its front wheels is a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Size-wise, the all-new BR-V is 4,490mm long, 1,780mm wide, and 1,685mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,700mm, and a ground clearance of 207mm.
In the local market, the Honda BR-V competes against the Toyota Avanza, Hyundai Staria, Nissan Livina, Mitsubishi Xpander, among others.
₱ 1,058,000 - ₱ 1,390,000
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