Honda Cars India is having a great time in the domestic car market of India with record growth in sales. Currently the third largest car maker in India (in terms of monthly sales in July, 2014), Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) has much bigger dreams and wishes to bring down India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki sometime in the future. The Japanese car major is working very hard in that direction as well.
Honda India is launching new car models all pointed that damaging the high popularity of some of the bestselling car models of Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai India (the second largest car maker). Honda’s all new City sedan has been successful in overthrowing the segment leader Hyundai Verna, and the newly launched Mobilio MPV is also expected to outshine the high selling Maruti Ertiga pretty soon. Honda also has the all new Jazz premium up its sleeves which will compete with the likes of Maruti Swift and all new Hyundai Elite i20 post its market launch.
The Japanese premium car major Honda having accomplished on the more expensive segments, is now eyeing the mini, cost effective hatchback segment in India. No matter how developed and matured the Indian car market has become, it still is the heaven for small, fuel efficient and affordable cars, and Honda wants to cash in this lucrative segment and give the small car king Maruti Suzuki a tough fight.
In its attempt to beat Maruti and Hyundai in the small car race, Honda India is reportedly busy working on a new entry level cheap hatchback model to sit below the Honda Brio. The Brio is Honda’s current entry level hatch and by far the cheapest in the portfolio. The new small hatchback model is aimed to be cheaper, more fuel efficient and low maintenance to suite the Indian mass market.
The new upcoming Honda mini car is speculated to be powered by a new 1.0 liter petrol engine that is under development. According to the reports of a reputed Indian journal the new Honda petrol motor would be available in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions.
The naturally aspirated version of the under development petrol mill is expected to power the upcoming Honda mini hatchback which is expected to launch in 2017. It is expected to be a 3-cylinder offshoot of the Brio’s 1.2 liter 4-cylinder i-VTEC mill, imitating Maruti Suzuki’s K-Series petrol engine range.
The sources of the report also say that the 1 liter petrol engine will be aiming to set a new petrol fuel efficiency record in India.
This fuel efficiency record setting aim is but natural for Honda. The Japanese car major’s 1.5 liter i-DTEC diesel engine is the current most fuel efficient diesel mill in India. Now, Honda India wishes similar record in petrol cars as well in order to cast further charm over the Indian car buyers.
Post launch the new Honda mini hatch would compete with Maruti Alto, Hyundai Eon, and Maruti Wagon R.
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I have been writing content for auto blogs for quite a long time now. My passion lies in this field and I love to picture cars as well.
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