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Honda Jazz-based WR-V crossover: This is how it could look like

Honda is building a crossover based on the Jazz hatchback, and this vehicle will soon go into production. Dubbed the WR-V, this year’s Sau Paulo Motor Show is when the crossover is likely to be unveiled. Here’s a nice render that shows how this vehicle could look like when it’s production ready.

Honda Jazz-based WR-V crossover: This is how it could look like

The WR-V is India-bound, and here, it’ll rival the likes of the Fiat Avventura and the Hyundai i20 Active. A launch in 2017 is likely. Notably, the i20 Active has been quite successful in terms of sales numbers, and Honda would seek to emulate this best-selling crossover’s success with the WR-V.

Also, the i20 Active has been the first-ever success in the hatchback-based crossover segment, which should inspire other automakers to launch similar cars. Such cars make a lot of sense for Indian roads, where good ground clearance is a must.

Honda Jazz-based WR-V crossover: This is how it could look like

The Jazz hasn’t been going great guns for Honda, what with the hatchback a distant third when compared to the Baleno and i20.  On an average, the Jazz does around 3,000 units, compared to the 8,000-10,000 units that the i20 and Baleno each do. The WR-V could come as a welcome sales booster for the Jazz.

In terms of engines and transmissions, the WR-V is likely to share the 1.2 liter i-VTEC petrol and 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engines with the Jazz. Manual transmissions could be standard with the CVT automatic option offered on the petrol engined model.

Expect the WR-V to be priced at a premium of about 30,000-50,000 rupees over the Jazz. Anything more and Honda risks another flop. The Japanese automaker’s sales growth is at near-standstill, with 2 % being registered in 2015-2016, a far cry from the 41 % sales growth that it experienced a year ago.

The City is now being outsold by the sharper priced Ciaz while the Brio is not even doing 500 units/month. The Amaze has slowed down while the Mobilio MPV is Honda’s biggest recent-flops. The recently launched BR-V is also not doing very well as far as sales numbers go.

Via QuatroRodas

Jayprashanth Mohanram

Jayprashanth, the News Editor at Cartoq.com, has a seasoned history in motoring journalism spanning 15 years. His lifelong passion for cars led him to a career in automotive journalism, offering readers compelling insights. With an engineering background, Jay has crafted pieces that have gained recognition in notable publications such as the New York Times. Prior to his role at Cartoq.com, where he has overseen news operations since 2016, Jay was the founding editor of Indiancarsbikes.com and spent two years as the news editor at Team-bhp. At Cartoq, he ensures the news is timely, accurate, and resonates with the brand's dedicated audience of automotive enthusiasts. (Full bio)