Paul Tan: Honda Mobilio Spec's and Pictures

Not for North America....

 

 By Hafriz Shah of www.paultan.org

We now have fresh and full details of the new Honda Mobilio, along with live photos of the vehicle from its world debut earlier today at the Indonesian International Motor Show 2013. The budget seven-seat MPV is an interesting vehicle indeed, especially since it’s aiming to be the cheapest of its kind in Indonesia.

Still labelled as a prototype, the budget MPV will not go into production exactly as it’s seen here, but the changes will be minimal, according to Honda. It looks completely production ready though, so perhaps it won’t be very long before the Mobilia completes its development programme.

It looks rather good in the flesh; much better than most pictures suggest. Its ‘Dual Solid Motion’ design concept is distinctive, if not exactly unique. The character line that runs across the side of the vehicle draws attention away from the thick proportion as well as help improve all-round visibility. Honda calls it the ‘lightning-bolt’ belt line.

While the front is heavily based on the Brio hatchback it’s derived from, the rear end is all new. The lights have a BMW-like notched design, and the D-pillar is partly covered by the rear quarter panel – another move to break up the visual mass. The prototype sits on 15-inch aluminium wheels.

No pictures of the interior yet, as we weren’t allowed in (this is a prototype, after all). Honda claims to have a class-leading “sensation and comfortable” cabin, without saying it’ll be the roomiest small MPV around. It goes on to say that the rear-most seats will have limited space, but makes up for it by having a “comfortable and relaxed atmosphere” back there.

Practicality should be a high point in the Mobilio. The third row seats can be folded 50/50, while the centre row can tumble down in a 60/40 configuration. A necessary feature in all MPVs, the small Honda MPV will feature a double-blower air-conditioning system, with a dedicated multi-vent panel behind the front seats.

Engine-wise, the Honda Mobilio is powered by a 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC unit with 118 PS at 6,600 rpm and 144 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm. There’s either a five-speed manual or a CVT ‘box. That should be sufficient for a vehicle that measures 4,390 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,610 mm tall. The Brio platform has been stretched, here offering a long 2,650 mm wheelbase.

Safety is paramount in a people (often family) carrier, yes? The Mobilio has dual airbags, Honda’s G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) and ABS with EBD. Seatbelts with pretensioners, impact mitigating headrest and integrated pedestrian protection are all standard too.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/19/honda-mobilio-full-details-live-gallery-mpv/

Honda to launch City, Fit and Brio diesels in India

by Anthony Lim of www.paultan.org

A report indicates that Honda is planning to introduce three diesel-based models in India next year in a bid to catch up with competitors such as Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. The automaker has been lagging behind because there are better tax incentives for oil burners in that market, and it only has a single diesel model on sale there at this point.

The Nikkei adds that the diesel engines for the trio will be manufactured at its plant in Uttar Pradesh in northern India, after improvements to the production line for gasoline-powered engines are made. The report doesn’t state the engine displacement, so the question remains if it’ll be the 1.5 litre Earth Dreams i-DTEC turbodiesel as seen on the Brio Amaze sedan.

Honda is also planning to introduce the Brio-based MPV – which is set to make its world debut at the upcoming Indonesian International Motor Show – in India. The seven-seater is set to challenge the Suzuki Ertiga MPV when it arrives there; pricing of the ‘Brio MPV‘ in India is expected to be kept to around RM33,500, equivalent to that for the Ertiga.

The report adds that Honda is slated to increase the number of dealers in India by 60% to 250 in an effort to take total sales to 300,000 units in 2016.

Source;
http://paultan.org/2013/09/02/honda-launch-city-fit-brio-diesel-versions-india/

Honda Brio-based MPV unveiled

Honda has just revealed the sketches of its new mini-MPV (Codename: 2NH) in Indonesia. Known as a ‘low’ MPV or LMPV, the sketch clearly shows a car with a comparatively low-slung roof and an elongated wheelbase. Imagine a Maruti Ertiga with a lower roof and you won’t be too far off the mark.

The styling, however, is far more aggressive. The nose, especially the headlights and the grille, are clearly Brio-like, but the car is sat on a block-like base, put there in an effort to disguise the otherwise odd dimensions. Gaping large inlets are present in the front and rear bumper, the designers have used a kink in the window line to visually reduce the length of the car and big wheel arches have also been used to further accentuate this. The heavily flared wheel arch at the rear, with its central ridgeline, is in fact likely to be the talking point of this car. The sketch also reveals a very interesting ‘floating D pillar’ that hovers above the shoulder line. It however remains to be seen if this feature makes it to production.

Known as Asia’s MPV haven, Indonesia is the home to many MPVs. Toyota’s Innova is produced there, our own Maruti Ertiga is sold in that market and there are a raft of other MPVs on sale there too. Honda’s Low MPV (code: 2NH) will also be produced there first, Indonesia likely to be the launch market. India however will be next.

Details of the interior are sketchy, but the Brio’s dashboard is likely to be carried over. Insiders say there will be plenty of luggage space present even with all three rows being used by passengers.

Where Honda’s mini-MPV is likely to score well too is in the engine department. Unlike Maruti’s Ertiga, that suffers from a bit of turbo lag owing to the small displacement 1248cc diesel engine used, this car will come powered by Honda’s 1500cc 100bhp motor that delivers instant throttle responses and plenty of torque. The 2NH is also likely to use an updated version of the City’s current 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol motor because it is unlikely to be less than four meters long.

With three rows of seats, Honda’s excellent packaging skills, aggressive styling and a strong diesel engine under the hood, Honda’s mini-MPV will surely give the Ertiga a run for its money. Expect to see the car in India first at the Auto Expo in January 2014, with the production version hitting our shores towards the middle of next year.

Source;
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Autos/Latest-News/Honda-Brio-based-MPV-unveiled/Article1-1094847.aspx