Upcoming launches from Honda in 2014-2015

Honda has been having a good run of the Indian market even in these tough times that other car makers are facing thanks to the Honda Amaze sedan, which has become a hit. Last month, Honda sold over 11,000 vehicles in the Indian market, one of its highest ever in a single month.

The Amaze compact sedan is the current largest-selling car for Honda clocking over 6,000 units monthly, followed by the Honda Brio hatchback and the Honda City sedan. But, with the company’s second plant coming up in Rajasthan, it has plans to aggressively roll out at least four more confirmed vehicles, while another two are being widely speculated as being considered for India as well.

Here’s a look at Honda’s line up for the next two years.

New Honda Jazz

The Honda Jazz was recently discontinued in India, but it will be back in a bigger and bolder avatar and sporting a diesel engine under its bonnet. The upcoming Honda Jazz looks sleeker, is marginally bigger and looks far more aggressive in design. It will come with a 1.2 litre petrol engine and a 1.5 litre diesel engine, with a five-speed manual transmission – and possibly the option of an automatic as well. It will slot in alongside the Honda Amaze, at a slightly lower price point. Also read: Official photos of the new Honda Jazz revealed

 

Honda Mobilio MPV

Honda will be rolling out an MPV next on the Brio platform in late 2014. This vehicle has been unveiled in Indonesia and is called the Honda Mobilio. It is based on the Concept S that was showcased at the Beijing motor show. It is a seven-seater vehicle that will compete with the Maruti Ertiga and the Chevrolet Enjoy. The Mobilio would come with a choice of a 1.2 litre petrol engine and Honda’s 1.5 litre iDtec diesel engine. Also read: Honda plans to launch compact MPV based on Brio

 

Jazz-based compact SUV

Honda has also showcased a concept SUV based on the Honda Jazz, and that vehicle too is headed for India. It too would be launched only late 2014 or early 2015. It will share a lot of its components with the Honda Jazz, but would have a taller driving position and more ground clearance. It will compete with the Ford EcoSport and Renault Duster, and would also offer a petrol and diesel engine choice. Also see: Official images of upcoming Honda SUV leaked!

New Honda City

Honda will be rolling out the next generation Honda City in 2014, and that car will be engineered to take a diesel engine as well.  The photo you see above is only the concept design, while the actual production car won’t look half as radical, but will follow the design lines of this concept. The City is currently the leader in petrol cars in the mid-size segment, and adding a diesel would easily double its sales numbers, threatening the Hyundai Verna for the overall No. 1 spot among mid-size sedans in India. Also read: Can the Honda City CNG take on diesel cars?

 

Speculative cars also likely for India

Honda Crider

The Honda Crider is a car meant for the Chinese market, but according to some reports, is also likely to be considered for India. It is a car that is slightly bigger than the Honda City in size, and would probably fit in below the Honda Civic. It would be a car that would compete with both mid-size sedans at the upper end and with premium mid-size sedans such as the Toyota Altis as well. Honda will also consider bringing back the Civic next year, depending on how the premium mid-size segment fares.

M-01 concept MPV

Honda is also reportedly developing a full-size MPV on the Concept M that it has designed in Japan. This vehicle would be comparable to a Toyota Innova in size and would cater to the premium end of the MPV market. It is planning to introduce this vehicle in Japan next year, while it could also make it to India the following year. It too would have a diesel engine option, with a spacious cabin that can seat seven.

Also read: Honda launches by 2016 to all have diesel engines 

Also watch: Honda Amaze diesel and petrol video review – Amazing twins