Honda has relased images of an apparently production-ready European CR-V ‘prototype’ ahead of its debut at the Geneva show on 6 March. Production for Europe begins later this year at the automaker’s Swindon plant here in England.
A top Honda Europe executive was quoted recently as saying the automaker plans to almost double car production in Europe to reduce reliance on imports from Japan and minimise the effect of the rising yen.
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“This preview model highlights the exterior styling direction of the all-new fourth generation European Honda CR-V, which is set to go on sale in autumn 2012,” Honda said in a statement.
The European ‘prototype’ appears all but identical externally to the US-market version, apart from regulatory lighting details and the European-specification interiors are likely also to differ only in detail.
While US buyers get a 2.4-litre I4 petrol engine and five-speed automatic transmission with the choice of two- or four-wheel drive and three trim levels, the European versions initially will carry over the outgoing generation’s powertrains – two-litre ‘VTEC’ petrol and 2.2-litre ‘DTEC’ turbodiesel engines with standard six-speed manual and optional six- (petrol) or five-speed (diesel) automatic transmissions and standard four-wheel drive. The current UK range has five trim levels.
A few months after launch, Honda Europe will add two-wheel drive versions with its new generation 1.6-litre turbodiesel (also making its European debut at Geneva) which is likely to give the rival Renault-engined 1.5-litre dCi Nissan Qashqai a run for its money in the class-leading low CO2 emissions and fuel economy stakes.
“Compared to the previous generation, this prototype adopts a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward to convey SUV capability while the lower front bumper design now integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics,” Honda said of the redesigned CR-V.
