THE subsequent era of Honda’s smallest SUV, the HR-V, has been revealed to be becoming a member of the model’s rising electrified household with the brand new mannequin, also referred to as the Vezel abroad, set to debut on February 18.
Recognized formally because the HR-V e:HEV, the next-gen HR-V will include Honda’s two-motor e:HEV powertrain as normal, nonetheless no mannequin or variant specifics have been launched but.
For the uninitiated, the e:HEV system is predicated across the electrical motors somewhat than an inside combustion engine with the fuel-burning powerplant there purely to assist generate electrical energy for the battery and motors.
This, in response to Honda, ends in the “easy journey and crisp acceleration of an electrical car” with none of the vary nervousness related to a devoted battery-electric car (BEV).
Forming a part of the model’s ‘Electrical Imaginative and prescient’ technique, the HR-V will be a part of the larger CR-V and pint-sized Jazz metropolis automotive as the most recent mannequin to endure an electrified makeover at a worldwide degree – neither the CR-V e:HEV or Jazz e:HEV are provided regionally.
The ‘Electrical Imaginative and prescient’ technique briefly will end result within the electrification of Honda’s mainstream European portfolio by 2022, nonetheless issues in Australia are progressing slightly slower with the native arm’s present plan being to “introduce a hybrid mannequin for each new full mannequin change”.
Regardless of the official reveal nonetheless being a month away, the model has set about teasing a few of the design cues and normal options of the brand new mannequin together with its signature angled tailgate, rear e:HEV badging, chunky two-tone panoramic roof, touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and a few round audio system.
The present mannequin has been a strong performer Down Underneath, netting 8181 gross sales final yr and accounting for 8.4 per cent of the more and more crowded and fashionable sub-$40,000 compact SUV section.
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