Honda Jazz is the most appreciated hatchback in India. With this vehicle, the Japanese carmaker filled the long vying gap of its product line. The hatchback market in India is mostly dominated by its very own Maruti Suzuki Swift. In spite of being highly priced, Jazz forayed into the Indian Territory successfully. Honda’s hatchback is also a world renowned moniker which had received overwhelming response from the entire domain wherever it was launched. It is also known as ‘Fit’ in US and some other parts of the world. Taking this one to some notches higher will not justify it to the collection of ‘bad ideas’. Though, this is what the Carmaker had applied in Honda Urban SUV Concept.
Compact SUV is the most sought after segment throughout the world. Not only in US but in India also it is witnessed that many of the four wheelers which plies on road are CUVs. Previously, this type of craze was felt for hatchbacks. It will not be wrong to say that they are now fully grown, and also capable of bullying every other model without an exception to sedans.
Almost everybody in auto industry had revealed their CUVs, it was only Honda who was left behind. By removing the cover from Honda Urban SUV concept in North America International Auto Show (NAIAS), it made an announcement that it is not going to spare anyone.
This new Honda is based on the framework of next generation Jazz. On exteriors, it is sharper and bolder that any other metal in this segment. The all new front grilles are assimilating with futuristic LED headlamps. It also bears the same traditional Honda logo on the boldly chromed strip which brightly connects both of the headlights. Edge cutting lines flow all over the eye soothing candy. Rear door handle is placed near to the C pillar, which was earlier seen as a debut on the Chevrolet Beat in India. Front handle is placed more smartly under the slit of bumper line which flows till the mid of car. Rear is much beautifully designed. Mostly, it is kept simple but a lot is added if viewed from the glasses of a car expert. Rear spoiler adds a much reclining factor to the roof which resembles it to a coupe. Other bits like body colored mirrors with engraved signal lights add some more tweaks to its sophistication persona.
Moving onto the interiors, it is done in such that it envies BMW and other German beauties. Use of chrome can be figured out extensively, but in a descent output. Minute detailing like steering mounted controls are also highlighted with chrome outlines. Two tone leather i.e. dark brown and off white, is used for all the others components. Steering wheel is seen draped in a leash brown leather cover with contrasting white stitches joining both the ends. Doors and dashboard also follow the same. Adding some tech smartness to it, a LCD is placed at the centre which really completes the look alike of a cockpit. The most dominating feature of this smart cabin is foldable second row. One can make lot of space for cargo while heading to a long journey. Two-seater luxury can also be experienced when the rear passenger seat is knocked down. Carmaker also said that they will deploy (and also debuts) ‘telematics’ system on this Jazz based crossover.
Engine specifications are not yet unveiled but we got the confirmation from Honda that Earth Dreams Engine will be bolted in its engine bay. There are no further revelations on this part. We expect this crossover to bolt down the option of 1.6 liter i-DTEC oil burner which will be seen under the hoods of Civic and Amaze as soon as it will hit the Indian shores. It is presently processed in Swindon plant of UK which sweeps out a total lot of 500 in a day. Japanese diesel dwells the carbon print of 94g/km along with 120 PS and a maximum torque of 300 Nm at 2000 RPM. It also employs aluminum metal for its cylinder head and engine block with a (cylinder) wall membrane of 8mm, which in return grips it in the band of lightest oil guise of the class. Thriving for the quality quotient on throttling and driving experience (in which Honda is very famous amongst petrol variants), rotating parts are optimized to nib off the friction and brace up responsiveness.
There are some more exasperating bits which we had saved for the last. Wheels look like the one that will chop off everything which is going to prop in its way. Whenever we tried to look other proportions, our attention got jammed in the macs (mac wheels) only. Urban’s length of 169.3 inches (which is nine inches shorter than CR-V and eight inches longer than Jazz) shelves it as the younger sibling of CR-V.
As it is some Oz lesser than its elder rub-off (CR-V), it may be priced at $22,700 in US. In India we expect this one to cost somewhere near to the upcoming Compact Sport Utilities. Numbers can be termed between 14-16 lakh INR (in CKD form) and more than 2 million INR (in CBU form). There is no hope for CBU here, because Honda boffins are working hard on price reductions. We also got to know that CR-Vs will also follow a CKD route instead of CBU for India.
Japanese also confirmed that the production spec will be approximately similar to the concept model. In other cases it tends to happen that productions go off the conceptualized tracks.
Honda Urban Concept will arrive at the US showrooms in early 2014, so its landing in India is still a long way to go.
