A tipper just sent us some pics of what appears to be the next Honda CR-V caught nekkid out in public. While the front end looks like a reasonable update to the current model, the rear, especially the sloping window line aft of the C-pillar, looks like Honda took a page right out of the Ssangyong book of automotive design.
No info was provided along with the pics, so it very well may be the case that what we're looking it is not the next CR-V. Time will tell as the soft-roader should debut with its new duds soon if it's still to be a 2007 model.
Thanks ebm14 for the tip!
Check out the front shot after the jump...
Ford Ranger Max concept debuts at Thailand Motor Show (w/VIDEO)
2009 Mini Cooper Cabrio unveiled! Detroit debut, hits showrooms in March
Mazda3 hatch unveiled, will debut next week
Enter the Rumormill: Harley-Davidson quietly launches XR1200 in US?
BREAKING: More Porsche Panamera pics surface_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
In The Autoblog Garage: BMW X6 XDrive 35i
Event Alert: December Calendar of Automotive Events
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS
Orange you glad Jason Calacanis let us drive his Tesla Roadster?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
David F @ Jun 29th 2006 12:16PM
Wow, that front end is really gross. But my how the CR-V has grown...
Casey S. @ Jun 29th 2006 12:16PM
Way to go Honda, you've officially out-weirded the Koreans - thank God your reputation for reliability is still there.
ku @ Jun 29th 2006 12:17PM
"No info was provided along with the pics, so it very well may be the case that what we're looking it is not the next CR-V."
uhm... it looks exactly like the spy shots that have been circulating... and it says "CR-V" on the back hatch... so you think it might not be the next cr-v?
Paul @ Jun 29th 2006 12:20PM
that front end ran into the ugly tree than is for sure
DJ @ Jun 29th 2006 12:25PM
It's DEFINITELY the new CR-V. One look the "H" on the wheels center cap. Two, look at the shot on this link closely.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/zoom-image.asp?/images/gallery/10908_ZHPHCXYBRRMDO.jpg
The rear quarter window has been disguised to be square, but if you look closer, you'll see the sloping line shown on this photo.
Sid @ Jun 29th 2006 12:32PM
YUK.
I think Honda is trying too hard to out-do Mazda Design.
Funnily enough, the CX-7 and EVEN the RAV4 look better than this.
Jeffrey @ Jun 29th 2006 12:35PM
Rear hatch looks nice, but the profile's rounded window arch with the square-ish D pillar doesn't work for me. And what's with that grille? REALLY busy and has a fat lip.
perry @ Jun 29th 2006 12:45PM
hey guys, don't be too mean, it doesn't look that bad. It is definitely the new CR-V, but the editor say the C-pillar is SSangyong style?! i totally disagree... i call it 'a senstive evolution'...
robbie @ Jun 29th 2006 12:48PM
I saw one in traffic in downtown Vancouver last Friday. It had Cali plates on it and evidently was a pre-production model, as it looked pretty finished and had CR-V badges on it.
salguod @ Jun 29th 2006 12:56PM
Funny, the link witht he disguised square quarter window looks a lot better. I was hoping that big arc on top was the distuise.
And, yeah, the front is bad news.
Whydrive @ Jun 29th 2006 1:09PM
Looks like GM has officially passed the ugly baton to Honda.
dejal @ Jun 29th 2006 1:09PM
The pictures came from here:
http://www.hondasuv.com/stg/viewtopic.php?t=17228
John @ Jun 29th 2006 1:09PM
I agree that the sloped rear side windows look odd with all that squared-up sheet metal above it.
On the plus side, I'm happy to see the rear-mounted tire disappear from the new model. These things never look god - giant pimples on what should be clean body work. Worse, they actually reduce the functionality of the rear opening by forcing the use of side-hinged hatch doors. Personally, the ideal opening is the clamshell style - separate upper and lower openings, with a real drop-down tail gate that you can sit on or use to support long cargo (see Volve XC90, BMW X5, Honda Element, and upcoming Mitsubishi Outlander).
Yes, some will say that real off-roaders need to place the spare tire out back to reduce rear overhang (increase departure angles). I'm not fully convinced of this. But, on the cute-utes, departure angles are not a real worry.
Paco Martinez @ Jun 29th 2006 1:10PM
This is the real thing.
http://thehollywoodextra.blogspot.com/2006/06/2007-honda-crv.html
Jeff Palmer, from www.vtec.net was driving one but he is not allowed to publish the photos until sept. 1st.
Wolf @ Jun 29th 2006 1:15PM
I really wish Honda would stop competing with GM on who can sell the most ugly cars. 2002 was the last year Honda made atractive cars.
Maurício Bento @ Jun 29th 2006 1:18PM
Why would anyone, perfectly sane, buy an SUV that has windows that are coming from a coupé? Can't Honda afford larger windows that match the rest of the car?
Or is this a new crossover that will be called "Supé" or "Cosuv"?
Frankstein looks better...
Heffer @ Jun 29th 2006 1:37PM
This has got to be the most dissappointing release this year.
I am currently in market for a CR-V and was waiting for the '07 remake before deciding.
From a design stand point I'm very dissappointed. It looses its more masculine design while growing a huge underbite on the front, with a round trunk that just doesn't work. The chrome around the side windows screams "Ghetto".
Mike Homeniuk @ Jun 29th 2006 1:49PM
"While the front end looks like a reasonable update"
...yeah, if the designer(s) were on acid or something.
Do we really need 3 different, incoherent grill openings and a fat lip to boot? You've got it backwards, Autoblog...the front looks like it came from the Ssangyong studios (where the designers challenge each other to come up with designs that out-ugly the Aztec).
shane @ Jun 29th 2006 1:51PM
What your really looking at is the new amc pacer.
Shoaib @ Jun 29th 2006 1:55PM
It's the real one because a similar picture was in motortrend i think in the june 2006 issue