Indian Autos blog

If you have been following the Indian Automotive scene quite closely, you would understand the importance of the new diesel engine from Honda. This diesel engine is as important for Honda as the small block was for Chevy.

After heavily bleeding its market share to its competitors, Honda finally announced that it will be producing a smaller capacity diesel for hatchbacks and small sedans.

The technology powering this new diesel engine is quite innovatively titled – Earth Dreams.

Honda may have struck gold by reducing the prices of the City and the Jazz, but that was short lived as the ecological disaster in Thailand derailed all plans of the company.

Many important components were supposed to be shipped from Thailand to India for the production. However, due to the floods, most Honda plants were shut for several months. It did not show new editions of the Civic and CR-V or make announcements at the Auto Expo as if to say it is consolidating and directing its efforts on areas that need immediate attention.

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Based on the Accord Coupe Concept Honda’s showing at the Detroit Motor Show that previews the next generation model, Shoeb R Kalania rendered a four-door version sporting wheels and bumpers that are much closer to reality. Similar to the Civic and CR-V, Honda’s showing a near-production model before releasing the showroom model. The new Accord reaches dealerships in America this September and should make it to India next year.

The next generation Accord is another important model for Honda in India as that segment is seeing a model flood. Dust sheets came off Hyundai’s, Toyota’s and Peugeot’s rival vehicles (Sonata, new Camry and 508) at the Auto Expo last week. Nissan has updated the Teana and Volkswagen is making people take notice of the fuel-saving BlueMotion technology on the Passat. Ford’s next generation Mondeo, which we’re told is India bound, is on view at the same venue as Honda’s concept.

Honda has confirmed three engines for the new Accord – A 2.4 liter four-cylinder making 181hp/240 Nm mated to either a six-speed manual or a CVT, the 2.0 liter producing 161 HP “helped” by an electric motor and a 6 kWh lithium-ion battery, with an electric CVT and finally the 3.5-liter V6 for the power junkie with 301hp/359Nm bolted to a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

Japanese auto magazine Mag-X is carrying an interesting article on a future member of the Jazz family. The company has used Jazz parts on the Brio, Fit Shuttle and the City sedan. Next in line is rumored to be a small crossover/SUV to compete with the likes of Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster.

We’re not entirely confident about the authenticity of this article as the next generation Jazz is scheduled for a late 2013 debut. If the underpinnings of the Jazz change, the addition is not going to use the outgoing model’s parts.

The Mag-X report citing inside sources claims the new model breaks cover in August 2014 and production is planned in China, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and Japan.

Companies have identified a huge potential untapped in the Indian market for mini SUVs/Crossovers. Companies are either presenting concept cars or production models at the Auto Expo this week. We’d be interested in understanding what Honda makes of this situation. The immediate focus will be to fill up gaps in the sub 10 lakh rupee segments – a sedan between the Brio and Jazz (Dzire rival), a mini crossover between the Jazz and City (Duster, EcoSport rival) and perhaps a 7 seat MPV above the City (Ertiga and Innova competitor) will go a long way in helping Honda widen its footprint in India.

It usually takes manufacturers 3-4 years to introduce a facelift from the time of launch. The facelift is developed around changing customer preference, availability of new technology, premiering of a new design direction or merely to improve the car to keep it on par with fresh arrivals.

However the Honda Civic facelift launching by late 2012 is not because of the aforementioned reasons. Since its launch in early 2011, there has been a stream of complaints on the car’s handling, brakes and material choices. The previous generation Civic raised the bar on many fronts, the interiors especially were mesmerizing at the time of launch.

Honda’s said to have taken a low-cost approach with the new Civic and that has kicked off a rage among disappointed Honda enthusiasts, especially in the American market. Honda is working on an update to rectify some of these so-called problems for a late 2012 launch. At this time it is not clear if cosmetic changes are part of the upgrades.

Honda is tight-lipped about the new Civic’s Indian chapter. At some point in 2012, we see Honda introducing the successor. Like many other car manufacturers have done recently, the Civic’s launch strategy could start with petrol variants followed by diesel models in 2013 when it is available.

Although, Honda Siel is not interested in discussing about the 2012 Honda CR-V’s Indian launch, we are pretty sure that it is coming next year through the CKD route (duh!).

But Honda has already launched the new CR-V in USA with a lot of enthusiasm and marketing dollars. In this commercial, they are promoting a new concept called a ‘Leap-List’.

Don’t know what it is? Have a look to find out!

By Gaurav Malik and Shakti Budhiraja

The Honda City facelift was launched in New Delhi today. The facelifted version receives a handful of tweaks and each and every one of them are based on results of customer study. Bookings of the new City have begun but deliveries start only in mid-January.

After the natural calamities in Japan earlier this year production at the Noida facility slipped to 50% only to be upset again by the Thai floods. Honda then had to stop production of Jazz and Brio due to supply constraints. Honda says production of these two models will resume in February next year.

The City is not affected by the situation and components have been sourced from China and Japan to meet demand. Besides, Honda has reached a better localization level to continue production.

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Lovers of the king of the C-Segment, the Honda City, have reason to cheer as Honda SIEL today afternoon unveiled a revised version in New Delhi. Make no mistake, there are no changes under the skin and the operation is purely cosmetic.

Honda City facelift exterior additions

• New chrome grille
• Restyled front & rear bumper
• New tail lights
• 10 spoke alloys
• Improved ground clearance, now stands at 165 mm

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