Indian Autos blog

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!

Being a Japanese company, the first market on the roster for a global Honda model can’t be Korea or Australia, right? Honda announced the 2012 CR-V for the Japanese market today that would go on sale on the 2nd of December. This is about two weeks ahead of the US market release. The Honda CR-V is among the largest selling Sports Utility Vehicles in USA.

The 2012 CR-V was on view at the Los Angeles Motor Show this month and for the Japanese market, Honda offers the five-seat crossover in two variants – 20G and 24G. The base model is FWD with a 2.0-liter petrol engine producing 150HP/191Nm paired to a CVT. The second model is a 2.4-liter AWD variant with 190HP/222Nm married to a five-speed AT.

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Here’s a video Honda USA released at the showcasing of the 2012 CR-V yesterday in Los Angeles. The redesigned five-seat CR-V is equipped with a 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine generating 185hp and married to a 5-speed AT.

Honda has taken the wraps off the brand new CR-V. IAB readers will not be surprised in any way as we have covered this best selling SUV from Honda right from its testing phase. Honda, despite of the Thailand woes, has finally managed to unveil the CR-V at the Los Angeles Motor Show.

One case easily see the difference in the design language from the previous generations. Where the previous generations were a bit boxy, the 2012 CR-V is very aerodynamic with fluid lines flowing throughout the body.

The fourth gen CR-V has certainly raised its game and is more upmarket. As predicted earlier, the size of the CR-V has surely grown but it is still a 5 seater and not a much wanted 7 seater.

The new CR-V is built grounds up with totally fresh interior styling. On the inside, there are some really cool features such as:

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The new CR-V has been the talk of the town lately. Honda has exposed the CR-V in the concept form and some leaked images suggest that the production version of CR-V is no different.

But thanks to Brenda Priddy, we now have images of the production version of the new CR-V. Oh yes, interiors included.

As one can see the production version is not that different from the concept form. It is a complete departure from the old CR-V. It has grown bigger and broader from the earlier generations. The extended tail suggest that now the CR-V will be a 7 seater. The model caught over here is an AWD model and reportedly Honda has promised a 4X2 as well.

The interiors have also been revamped completely. The new CR-V gets dual color interiors, steering mounted controls, a 6 inch display for entertainment needs and another small screen atop for driver information.

The model caught over here is an automatic one. Manual transmission should also be on cards.

It is common knowledge that the new CR-V will continue to use Honda’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Power and performance figures are still known. In order to know every bit of the new CR-V, do visit us during the next week as we get you live updates of the LA Auto show where the CR-V will be launched.

Meanwhile here in India Honda is tight lipped about a local launch. They told us that an Auto Expo unveiling is ruled out for the CR-V and Civic models that have reached dealers in other parts of the world. Honda has to work out a CKD plan to bring down the cost and provide a diesel engine option if the new CR-V has to make the X1 and Fortuner sweat.

Recently we brought you a story about the 2012 CR-V being affected by Thailand floods. Considering the floods in Thailand have pretty much brought life to a complete halt, the 2012 CR-V was bound to suffer from part shortages. Although most of the CR-V parts are sourced from the US itself, there are a few electrical components which are shipped from Thailand.

However, Honda has sent a memo to all its dealers in the US that despite of the floods, the 2012 CR-V will be launched on time.

John Mendel, executive vice president of sales, Honda North America said,

We have made significant progress in finding alternative manufacturing facilities or new suppliers for parts that are currently sourced from Thailand

The production version will debut next week at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, and it it will be available in showrooms this December.

Back home, Honda has not divulged any plans of launching the 2012 CR-V. However, the current CR-V is getting old now and is in dire need of a replacement.

[Source - AutoNews.com and TheCarConnection.com]

This year hasn’t been kind particularly to the Japanese manufacturers. First came the Japanese tsunami which wreaked havoc on the factories disrupting the production schedules causing shortage of supplies all across the globe. Taking advantage of the situation, Volkswagen and GM hopped over Toyota to be the leaders for this year.

Now, Thailand floods are taking a toll on the supplies for Toyota and Honda to the Asian region. Both manufacturers have huge factories set up in Thailand which supply components to places as far as assembly lines in USA. Toyota brought parts of US production to a halt last weekend due to parts shortages, and the company has fully idled production at three facilities in Thailand itself.

Honda has suffered a hit not only in terms of production but also in terms of launch of their latest and much expected SUV – the 2012 CR-V. Honda has shuttered all of its factories in Thailand, and company representatives say that those plants may not open again for six months. Production at Honda’s six facilities across the U.S. and Canada will be rolled back to 50% of normal output.

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The first official images showing a blue 2012 Honda CR-V is making rounds on the internet. Honda SIEL told IndianAutosBlog.com that both next generation cars CR-V and Civic will miss the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo.

We expect Honda to assemble the new CR-V whenever a release is planned. This is most likely to happen in the second half of 2012. Honda’s new facility in Tapukara, Rajasthan could be utilized to attain this goal.

Honda has not discussed a diesel plan for the CR-V as American and Japanese markets, two of the CR-V’s most-wanted destinations, don’t feel the immediate need for diesel engines. Honda has tested a four-cylinder diesel engine on the current CR-V in India a few years ago but there has been no further development on the same. The purpose of global testing cannot be ruled out.

The new CR-V is a full model change with a rumored 3rd row of seats. The snaking tail light cluster is inspired by the Volvo XC60. Honda has previewed the new CR-V in the form of a concept car and the official unveiling of the market-ready vehicle happens next month at Los Angeles alongside the Jazz EV. A 2.4-liter petrol engine with the choice of AWD with configuration varying market wise is on the cards.