HONDA Australia says a transfer upmarket will impression gross sales of its standard small SUV by as a lot as 50 per cent as the brand new HR-V follows the instance of its Civic sibling by providing a streamlined – and extra premium – line-up.
In contrast with its predecessor, the all-new HR-V, which was launched in Australia this week, is out there in two – as a substitute of 4 trim grades and its greater specification ranges replicate in its variants’ loftier checklist costs.
Chatting with GoAuto on the launch of the second-generation HR-V this week, Honda Australia chief working officer of automotive, Stephen Collins, mentioned the model would proceed to supply high quality over amount and concentrate on the customer-centric enterprise mannequin it debuted simply over 10 months in the past.
“We’re actually happy the place we’re at with the enterprise. It has been 9 or 10 months since we moved into the company mannequin, and though we had just a few months of transition – which coincided with the more durable facet of lockdown – issues are progressing nicely and can proceed to progress as our product line-up is regenerated over the subsequent 12-18 months,” Mr Collins mentioned.
“The Civic and HR-V had been the primary examples of that (regeneration) and, as a longtime participant within the small SUV market, the HR-V is for us an essential mannequin – and one that may assist to stabilise the (company) enterprise mannequin typically.”
Mr Collins mentioned the addition of additional hybrid variants, alongside an all-new Civic Kind R sports activities hatch and fully new SUV providing (because of arrive early in 2023), will additional drive Honda Australia’s push upmarket, regardless of its admittedly decrease gross sales projections.
“The HR-V will probably be joined shortly by the Civic Hybrid, which is able to come by way of within the second half of the yr and assist to fulfil our dedication that each one fashions will include petrol and hybrid variants. That will probably be adopted by the Civic Kind R (because of be launched abroad within the second half of 2022) – it is going to be first off the rank in Australia in 2023,” Mr Collins added.
“However importantly, we’ll additionally see a brand new SUV enter the line-up; a mannequin that may sit between the HR-V and CR-V, and that car will give us a really aggressive SUV secure… It’s a giant a part of our technique going ahead… we should always see it throughout the subsequent 12 months.
“We’re assured the brand new SUV will go well with completely different buyer wants. The HR-V may be very standard with feminine patrons, and youthful patrons, so we predict that the brand new mannequin will slot in between the HR-V and CR-V and go well with family-type patrons.
“And, in fact, the SUV will proceed to draw these sorts of patrons, particularly household patrons who’re on the lookout for one thing slightly bigger,” Mr Collins added.
Honda Australia has offered over 70,000 examples of the HR-V because the mannequin went on sale again in 2015. The brand new-generation mannequin is priced from $36,700 drive-away for the 1.5-litre petrol-powered Vi X, with the hybridised e:HEV L promoting from $45,000 drive-away.
The outgoing HR-V vary was priced from between $31,300 and $41,000 (plus on-road prices).
Mr Collins mentioned the transfer upmarket, and the related worth rise, would sluggish the uptake of the HR-V shifting ahead, however Honda Australia anticipated 5000 models to be offered over the primary 12 months, with nearly all of patrons anticipated to go for petrol-only energy.
“The repositioning (of the HR-V), and a few provide constraints round semiconductors, imply that the 5000 quantity is what we’re planning for.
“It’s early days, however we predict the cut up between petrol and hybrid will probably be round 35 per cent hybrid and 65 per cent petrol. That ratio will improve in favour of the hybrid over time.
“Toyota, for instance, have proven that in the event you get the advertising and marketing round hybrid proper, and have the product to match, that over time the recognition of hybrid will develop, and in metropolitan areas, already, the curiosity in hybrid (HR-V) fashions is especially sturdy.”
