Auto Expo 2018: Honda’s Expected Lineup

2017 was a good year for Honda. The Honda City facelift took the fight to the Maruti Ciaz and the Hyundai Verna while the Honda WR-V took its segment by storm. The company would hope to carry this momentum into the new year and what better way to build some hype around its future lineup than showcasing it at the upcoming Auto Expo.

Next-Gen Honda Amaze

• Expected price: Rs 5.5-8.5 lakh, ex-showroom
• Rivals: Maruti Dzire, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Aspire

Honda will take the opportunity of being at the 2018 Auto Expo to showcase the next generation Amaze. Since we expect it to be still under development, there could be a pre-production concept of the Amaze and not the final production car at the expo. We expect it to lose its similarities to the Brio and look more like the City because that's the sort of design that has been working for Honda. What platform underpins the 2018 Amaze is still unclear but it will remain a sub-four-metre sedan. Engine options too will remain the same: a 1.2-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel, through a retune is possible. We are also expecting a lot of changes to the interiors but it's hard to say whether we will get to see them at the expo. What we know for sure is that Honda will launch it later in the year. 

Honda Civic

• Expected Price: Rs 18-20 lakh, ex-showroom
• Rivals: Toyota Corolla Altis, Hyundai Elantra and Skoda Octavia

Ever since the Civic was discontinued in India in 2012, people have been hankering for its return. And with the latest generation looking the way it does, it could be an ideal car for City owners to upgrade to, given that the Accord now costs close to Rs 50 lakh in most cities. The Civic might not come to India this year, but the facelift of this generation is expect to be launched next year and that's when we expect it to arrive in India. If we had to speculate, Honda might offer the Civic in India with the globally available 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with an automatic CVT transmission. Nevertheless, the car could be present at the 2018 Auto Expo and if it does, is sure to turn a lot of heads. 

CR-V

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• Expected price: Rs 18-25 lakh, ex-showroom
• Rivals: Isuzu mu-X, Hyundai Tucson

The Honda CR-V was one of the first cars the company launched in India and was instrumental in making Honda popular amongst Indian buyers as a manufacturer of high-quality cars. Today, the Honda CR-V is the oldest SUV in its segment but the biggest chink in its armour is the unavailability of a diesel engine.

The all-new 5th-gen Honda CR-V will be launched in the country in 2018 and will be a part of the Honda pavilion at the India Expo Centre in Noida. The new CR-V is based on an all-new platform and is a 7-seater, unlike the outgoing model.

Also Read: The new Honda CR-V - what's new?

The biggest news though is the addition of a new 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine. This engine develops 160PS/350Nm, paired with an innovative shift-by-wire nine-speed transmission (essentially, the gear-lever is replaced by buttons) and is available in either 2WD or 4WD configuration. The 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine will be carried over with minor modifications for better performance and efficiency.

Jazz facelift

Expected price: Rs 5-9 lakh, ex-showroom

Rivals: Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai Elite i20, Ford Figo

The Honda Jazz is struggling in its fiercely competitive segment in India. While it is one of the larger and more practical hatchbacks in its segment, the Jazz falters because of its uninspiring interior design and lower value-for-money proposition it offers currently. The situation will hopefully change with the Jazz facelift which was showcased for international markets in May 2017.

Also Read: Spot the difference - the new Honda Jazz

The facelift brings the Jazz in line with the new exciting design trend which began with the City facelift launched in India earlier in 2017. All-LED headlamps, LED fog lamps, LED taillamps, an aggressive front bumper design and a new rear spoiler are the highlights on the outside. Inside, the interior design has been spruced up with the use of leather upholstery. The centre console gets a new Android Auto compatible 7.0-inch Digipad touchscreen-based infotainment system. The engine and transmission options are expected to remain the same as before. The more powerful and better handling Jazz Dynamic variant, showcased for European markets does look attractive, but may not be introduced in a market where hot hatches have not been able to make much of an impact.

Electric Concepts

Honda could also showcase some of its electric concepts, including the beautiful Sports EV. Another one we expect to see at the expo is the Urban EV. The beautifully minimalistic hatchback concept is in fact pegged to be on the roads in Europe within two years! The company is already considering setting up a battery plant for powering its EVs following a statement by the Transport Minister of the Government of India to have only all-electric cars by 2030. Showcasing their electric vehicle technological prowess and some potential products for the Indian market could help the company gauge people’s response and plan their next moves.

Also Read: Honda Urban EV Concept is a retro modern car we like