The 2016 Honda BR-V is like a Honda CR-V that was bent and crimped like an origami napkin. Uh, no “Asian market” pun intended. The final form will probably be dialed back a bit, but these renders look like a positive nudge in design direction for the Big H.
This seven-seat SUV will be debuting next month at the Gaikindo Indonesian Auto Show in Tangerang, which answers the question of why we Americans hadn’t heard about it until today, but here are some teasers to get you hyped for the future of practical peoplemoving.
The name stands for [sigh] Bold Runabout Vehicle.
We don’t really have any specifications to go off, but I think this lunar-lander looking thing is actually kinda cool. It’s like they took all the best parts of the Odyssey and Murano, added a dash of Pilot, lifted it, and there you go: BR-V.
Honda says the 1.5 liter engine will provide “sporty performance;” a statement that is obviously every bit as meaningless as it sounds, but whatever. You get better fuel economy at the speed limit anyway. Other sources seem to think there will be a CVT and five-speed manual transmission option but no official word from Honda yet.
If you’re thinking, “I’d buy that! Why is this the first time I’m hearing about it,” that’s because the BR-V was developed by Honda R&D Asia Pacific Co., Ltd. (HRAP) which is apparently its own entity. This car will only be seeing duty in Asia and possibly India, at least at the onset.
That said, this seems like it’d be pretty popular where we like our cars with a lot of seats and ground clearance... perhaps American Honda will read your comments and consider building these in Ohio as well.
Images via Honda, hat tip to Yudi!
Contact the author at andrew@jalopnik.com.