Honda unveiled new small car prototype,arrive shoowroom next
year
Taking a decisive step to move towards the huge chunk of Indian
middle-class segment or what is called the ‘B Plus' segment in auto
parlance, Japanese auto major Honda Motor Co unveiled the prototype
of Honda Brio, the new small-sized vehicle from its stable, at the
Thailand International Motor Expo on Tuesday. The car is
essentially being developed for Indian and Thailand
markets.
The prototype (Thai version) was unveiled by the President and
CEO of Honda Motor, Takanobu Ito, in the presence of the President
and CEO of Asian Honda Motor Company Fumikho Ike and President and
CEO of Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI) Takashi Nagai.
Honda BRIO Prototype is being developed with Honda’s advanced
technologies, while further advancing Honda’s “man maximum, machine
minimum” concept*1. Being developed as a commuter which is
easy-to-use even in urban areas, the Honda BRIO prototype adopts an
easy-to-handle compact body (length 3,610mm x width 1,680mm x
height 1,475 mm) while ensuring enough cabin space achieved by
highly efficient packaging. With this vehicle, Honda thoroughly
pursued the creation of an advanced exterior form, which is compact
while asserting a strong presence.
For the mass-production model, which will be an entry-level car,
for which demand is increasing in newly emerging nations, Honda
will develop unique versions for Thailand and India to reflect
different customer needs in those markets. Moreover, with this
vehicle, Honda will leverage the resources Honda has cultivated
through its motorcycle business and utilize local sourcing of parts
and materials such as sheet steel.
For the Thai model that is scheduled to be introduced in March
2011, the fuel economy of more than 5liters/100km*2 will be
targeted so that the vehicle will qualify as an eco-car by the Thai
government, and a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht will
be targeted as well. For the Indian model that is scheduled to be
introduced within 2011, local customer needs for a small car will
be reflected and local content will be increased to create a model
that achieves a good balance between vehicle performance and
price.
“Honda would like to expand the joy of mobility to more
customers in Thailand, India and other Asian countries through the
introduction of a new small vehicle with compact and highly
efficient packaging by utilizing our own experiences cultivated by
motorcycle business here in Asia,” said Takanobu Ito, President and
CEO of Honda Motor.
Although both production sites will use a common chassis, Brios
made in Thailand will emphasize fuel economy to get tax preferences
under a government eco-car plan, the paper said.the to take on
competitors like i20, Polo, Swift among others.
By procuring more than 90 percent of materials and parts for the
Thai location from Southeast Asia, the automaker will hold down the
starting price to around 400,000 baht, or 1.1 million yen
($13,080), in Thailand, the paper said.
In India, a local procurement ratio of 80 percent will make
possible a starting price of 500,000 rupees, or 900,000 yen
($10,700), the nikkei repored.
Source:http://autoten.com