Compact SUV Honda BR-V design sketch unveiled

The Japanese automaker Honda has unveiled a sketch of the BR-V today. Based on the Brio platform, the concept will turn into a compact SUV for suitable markets. India remains the most important market for the vehicle and some of the popular cues have been designed keeping the Indian audience in mind. Since it will be powered by the engines already powering the Honda City, undercutting the competition in terms of pricing will be easier. The BR-V which stands for Bold Runabout Vehicle will debut in concept form at the Gaikindo Indonesian International Auto Show to be held in August 2015.

Although it is based on the same platform as the Brio, Amaze and Mobilio, it doesn’t share any exterior element with those cars. Sporting an aggressive SUV style nose, the vehicle gets a thick chrome grille which is split into two parts much like the CR-V and the lower part of the bumper gets a silver skid plate. Body cladding all around gives it that SUVish look which Indian customers like. It also gets some elements from the Mobilio like the side lines, tail lamp and boot-lid. The wheels look beefy and would most likely be 16-inchers. Chrome door handles add a bit of zing to the side profile.

Coming to the engines, the Honda BR-V will be getting the 1.5-litre petrol unit which pumps out 117 BHP of power and the 1.5-litre diesel engine giving out 98.6 BHP. Given the increasing popularity of automatic cars in India, an automatic version of the compact SUV is very likely to be introduced. Since the wheelbase will be similar to the Mobilio, interior space is expected to be top notch and add Honda’s ‘Man Maximum Machine Minimum’ philosophy to that and it can have class leading cabin room.