Rendered Speculation: Honda to create mini-hatch for emerging markets
Lost in the jeers following Honda's move to cancel the NSX – a car it could probably sell based solely on its ridiculously wonderful exhaust note – is news that the Big H is planning an A-segment car for markets outside of Japan. Now that the microcar segment is what's cooking, and the smart fortwo isn't doing so bad on its American voyage, cars like the Toyota iQ, Volkswagen up!, and Hyundai i10 are getting lots of attention.
To keep the cost down, Honda is expected to stick to traditional materials and probably focus on packaging. The powerplant is rumored to be a 1.4- or 1.5-liter turbodiesel with anywhere from 60 hp to 100 hp. But before you get excited, this car isn't automatically destined for America. Of course, none of this would-be Honda's competitors are headed this way yet either, and until the microcar trend is firmly established in the US – either by smart or another vehicle – we wouldn't advise holding your breath.
[Source: Paul Tan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
blue3874 8:17PM (1/09/2009)
It looks like a bar of soap with the Honda grille.
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P.V. 8:28PM (1/09/2009)
I don't care whether or not this comes to the USA, but BUILD IT!
Whenever I go to India, I am perpetually perplexed by the lack of a microcar from either Honda or Toyota (and lack of subcompact from Toyota: the smallest thing Toyota sells in India is the Corolla, even though smaller cars are more popular (the Corolla is considered larger)). Hopefully this will resolve that issue (vs. Maruti Zen Estilo/Tata Nano/Hyundai i10).
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BOB 10:14PM (1/09/2009)
RE INDIA:
What in the world makes you think the Japanese could sell a microcar for a PROFIT in India, given the local labor costs, import duties, etc??? I could be wrong, but I thought the Indian Government discourages foreign makers.
In a country with India's economic status, isnt a Corolla a premium vehicle, in the way a 3 series BMW would be in a first world country.
I am surprised that there aren't comments so far crying about the NSX, which was so far above regular Hondas and Acuras that it was not a "halo" car used to sell the bread and butter cars -- it was just a show of superiority.
Honda and everyone else now need to be seen as dealing with the real situations in the world, as this article suggests. The show-off thing was so 90s.
tankd0g 1:32AM (1/10/2009)
Don't they sell Daihatsu in India?
Tang 8:59PM (1/09/2009)
Mulally called. He wants the three-bar grille back.
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alex 9:08PM (1/09/2009)
I'd take a chevy beat over this any day
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Torrent 9:42PM (1/09/2009)
nice joke.
behinddawindow 10:09PM (1/09/2009)
Brilliant rendering.. a combination of the Honda Jazz (Fit for the US and other mkts) and the Tata Nano... I'll take the Nano cuz it looks like a "Punkawallah" HAHA
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Theophilus Chin 10:57PM (1/09/2009)
Thanks autoblog, for featuring this chop rendering. I think many of you would know the original car is Pininfarina B0. I gave the B0 the Honda City grille and head lights, along with the Honda Jazz/Fit bumper and wheels, and the number plate from "FIT".
Lastly, a shade of yellow :) I did the rear rendering too.
Well I did other renderings too, and would be glad if you guys could check them out and give some comments at http://www.flickr.com/photos/theophiluschin .
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GOT 7:28AM (1/10/2009)
Nice looking renders!
OOMPH! 9:11AM (1/10/2009)
awsome rendering man!!i like it!
Theophilus Chin 9:59AM (1/10/2009)
I've just uploaded renderings of Peugeot and Citroen's version of Mitsubishi i-MiEV to my flickr site. Please check it out.
And thanks for the compliments and support!
Vyk 10:19AM (1/11/2009)
It's very similar to the Pininfarina B0 (b-zero), check this out:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/03/paris-2008-pininfarina-and-bollore-debut-the-b0-b-zero-produc/
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Martin 8:07AM (1/10/2009)
It's not similar, IT IS a Pininfarina B-Zero with a different grille. Which isn't a bad thing, the B0 is a great design with amazing engineering.
It's just that whoever "rendered" this stole the design and I don't think Honda would do the same.
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Travis 10:28AM (1/10/2009)
It hasn't been confirmed, but rumors are that the Toyota iQ will be heading this way as a Scion in the not-too-distant-future.
And if Honda hasn't at the very least examined what would be necessary to build this car to American standards in case they want to bring it over, they're as stupid as Detroit. Most of Detroit's problems could have been avoided if they had been proactive, designed their cars to a "world standard" so that all of them would pass any of the standards of the various countries, and therefore could shift cars to wherever they were needed/wanted most. Gas prices through the roof? Import small, efficient cars. Shift towards Euro styling? Import European cars (how often have we heard the "we can't bring the Euro Focus over because it wasn't designed to pass US standards?). Toyota's done it with the bB (original xB) and ist? (xA), and I'd be shocked if Honda wasn't doing it as well...
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Mike!!ekiM 10:50AM (1/10/2009)
As the economy tanks, with the help of the Austrian Econ School call to "Do Nothing", these are the cars America will be able to afford.
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robin 4:32PM (1/10/2009)
American Standards, Id like to see these standards, If Hyundai Kia can build cars that sell world wide then everyone else can too, Its nothing but a poor excuse as I see it..
I like this Honda, Its cute and sensible for some people to own.
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JRM 8:05PM (1/10/2009)
The only problem is that they don't go over 100km/h. You can feel the engine working its heart out once you pass 80km/h. In Japan, it's fine, as the regular speed limit is 40-50km/h, as well as other places in the world. In north america, they'd be hard pressed to keep up. Also, when the A/C is on, cars like these can hardly accelerate.
I think it is asking for too much to have these little cars come up to US road expectiations. You'd really have to lower your standards, or the manufacturers would have to come up with a fantastic engine that can fit the car (in terms of size and weight) and get good mileage.