Honda will unveil the global production version of the concept Honda Urban SUV at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in a couple of days. The Honda Urban SUV dubbed as the Honda Vezel will be built in China under the Guangzhou-Honda joint venture and will be launched in China during late 2014. The Honda Urban SUV debuted as a concept car at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The production spec Urban SUV will be launched with a design similar to that on the concept version barring few minor changes like the revised headlamps, different set of rear view mirrors and alloy wheels.
The Honda Vezel once launched will take on the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008 and Fiat 500X in the global market whereas it will compete with the Renault Duster, Ford EcoSport and Mahindra XUV5OO in the Indian market. The Vezel will be longer than 4-metres in length, but definitely smaller than the company’s flagship SUV, the Honda CR-V. The Honda Vezel will be built on the same platform as the Honda Jazz/Fit which is already being produced at Guangzhou-Honda.
The 1.5-litre i-DTEC turbo diesel engine will be the mainstream engine which will be offered on the Honda Vezel. This is the same engine that debuted on the Honda Amaze and the same will be tuned to produce higher power and torque ratings. A 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine will also be offered though it is the diesel engine which is expected to be the more-preferred engine option among the two. A 5-speed gearbox with front-wheel drive set-up will be used.
The production facility at Mexico will cater to the manufacturing of the compact SUV in the North American market. A second production facility in India at Tapukara, Rajasthan with a capacity of 1,20,000 units per year will ensure reduced waiting periods and help increase Honda’s market share and presence in the country. The Honda Vezel will be launched in India in 2015, priced around Rs. 9 lakhs. The Vezel name is the fourth in the CR series which already comprises of the CR-V, CR-Z and CR-X.
