Honda unveils sketches of its new HR-V for North America
Beautiful novelties are expected from Honda in the coming years: the new HR-V, CR-V and Pilot SUVs, as well as the imminent Civic Type R. But it is in a trickle that the Japanese manufacturer is leaving filter information. To excite future buyers, Honda has just unveiled not photos, but sketches, which seem to have come out of an advertisement intended to promote a ski center, to give a taste of its HR-V version 2023, exclusive to the North American market.
With 11,616 units sold last year, the HR-V ranks third behind the CR-V (50,935) and Civic (43,556) in Honda’s domestic sales charts. The new variant of the HR-V, whose official launch in North America is scheduled for spring, is expected to arrive in Canada later this year. Although these are only sketches at the moment, everything seems to indicate that the American version will be very different from the one presented in 2021 which was intended for European countries and Japan.
A silhouette that stands out
At first glance, this 2023 version of the HR-V stands out with its revamped style which gives it a more dynamic silhouette. Its unique face is adorned with a black oval grille and an aggressive bumper with darkened contours reminiscent of the Civic. At the rear, there is a contrasting colored spoiler atop the tailgate, combined with sleek looking lights. The handles on the rear doors are visible and not hidden in the door pillar like the current model. However, it does not seem to share the platform of its European hybrid counterpart. The HR-V could be based on that of the Civic, the current model uses the base of the Fit, hinting at a larger vehicle.
Engines to be confirmed
Specifications as to what’s under the hood are yet to be confirmed. Some believe it will feature the same 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque as the outgoing model, while others hope it will borrow engine options from the Civic, a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 with 158 horsepower, as well as a 180-hp 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder. A hybrid version on the horizon?
The hope of a hybrid engine
Last March, Dave Gardner, Honda’s senior vice-president of national operations for the Americas, declared “the company’s intention to intensify its commitment to hybrid vehicles”, in order to reaffirm “its identity in as a leader”, before adding that “each of the main models of the company will offer a hybrid option as a superior finish”. We can therefore keep hope that Honda will offer a variant equipped with a hybrid powertrain, which combines a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, accumulating a total power of 131 horsepower, such as that found in the European version.
