Honda's New Small Car for India is Brio

[350Z]

Read this Article : Honda's "Small" Move, Few important excerpts from same:

Honda is readying a new small car. Though it will be sold across all continents, its principal market will be India. And the world’s sixth-largest car maker wants to leave nothing to chance. The fabric on the doors, for example, will be different from the one on the seat, though they will look alike. This is because for over ten months in a year, Indians wear short sleeves. As the elbow touches the door, its lining has to give more comfort to the skin. The air-conditioner will be a notch or two stronger because of the scorching heat in the country.

Though Honda makes the Zest and Life (called Kei cars) in Japan, the need was felt for a brand new car for India. The new car, which was showcased at the recent Auto Expo in New Delhi, is yet to be named. It will be launched towards the end of 2011. To qualify as a small car, and thereby get excise duty concessions, it will be less than 4 metres in length and will have a 1,200-cc engine. It will be the biggest initiative from Honda in India. If it succeeds, the small car could be a game changer. If it doesn’t, it will set Honda back by several years. The stakes are huge. Here’s how Honda has gone about it.

The second learning was that almost every customer looks for value for money in his car. This gets captured in the lifetime cost of acquisition — the price tag, fuel efficiency, cost of service and spare parts, and resale value. Honda has decided to price it below Rs 500,000. “This will be the cheapest Honda anywhere in the world,” says Honda Director (marketing) Tatsuya Natsume. So, it will likely compete with bestsellers like the Maruti Suzuki Swift and Hyundai i20. Fuel efficiency will be high, like with the City.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[cooldhaya]

Seems like Honda has understood the Indian customers well! If they do price it below 5L then it may be successful!!

But do you people wear short sleeves?? I have switched over to full sleeve shirts long back but still a good point noted by Honda!! But we Indians don mind that a lot do we??

 

[Zinam]

Oh!! lot of detailing & pure car made for India by Japanese ?

Good to hear this, If priced below 5 lakhs, they will surely heat the market with over crowded Swift & i10.

 

[cooldhaya]

Maybe but a lack of diesel engine will hurt Honda surely! Swift may win here!

 

[P3T3R]

But styling and other factors like FE and other features are also important in this segment!! Hope honda does well!!

Honda is known to skip out a lot a features and charge a premium.

“The car would be sold in India at a price equivalent to the average annual salary.

And how much would that be?

Yeah i agree! JAZZ has not fared well only because of its pricing!!

And also lack of features.

 

[Aditya]

"This will be the cheapest Honda anywhere in the world"

Some news re the same.

Honda displayed a concept small car at the Auto Expo in January this year and is planning to launch it in India by 2011.

The Japanese car maker is paying lot of attention to detail while designing this car, which is yet unnamed.

Recently, Honda shipped saris to its plant in Japan and the designers and engineers at the plant observed sari clad women getting in and out of a hatchback number of times. The idea was to check how comfortable the car is for Indian women.

Not just this, Honda is also paying attention to the climate of the country before designing the new small car. The small car is expected to have a 1200 cc engine.

Honda had done a survey in 2007 to determine consumer behaviour in the country and the company has used the conclusions drawn from the survey to design the new small car.

For some time now, Honda has begun to move towards the concept of "man maximum, machine minimum" that will be evident in this new product.

 

[Zinam]

Its great that small car is targetted for India mainly.

But 2007 survey will not help in 2010.

Few factors would have changed & attitude of the people towards automobile has changed form 2007 to 2010!

 

[Aditya]

The development of any car from Ground Zero will be a 3~4 year project, for any company which wants to do a good job.
It is imperative that the basic research is done in advance of the project definition, to get the concept right.
As such, it would indicate that the 2007 survey was the correct time for a 2011 launch. With a good concept, modifications to the product based on changing attitudes can always be incorporated.

 

[cooldhaya]

Honda is concentrating hard for the Indian market! First the door fabric , now this for the ladies!!

 

[350Z]

Some news re the same.

Honda displayed a concept small car at the Auto Expo in January this year and is planning to launch it in India by 2011.

The Japanese car maker is paying lot of attention to detail while designing this car, which is yet unnamed.

Recently, Honda shipped saris to its plant in Japan and the designers and engineers at the plant observed sari clad women getting in and out of a hatchback number of times. The idea was to check how comfortable the car is for Indian women.

Not just this, Honda is also paying attention to the climate of the country before designing the new small car. The small car is expected to have a 1200 cc engine.

Honda had done a survey in 2007 to determine consumer behaviour in the country and the company has used the conclusions drawn from the survey to design the new small car.

For some time now, Honda has begun to move towards the concept of "man maximum, machine minimum" that will be evident in this new product.

Remarkable! I’m impressed with the efforts which Honda is putting for its new small car which will be totally made For Indians. The rumors floating around indicate some good and tricky plans by Honda for Indian Market but where this manufacturer usually lags behind is the pricing. Sure, they’ve announced it to be ~ Rs.5 Lakhs but will the product be worth it is yet to be seen.

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[RSM]

Honda Small Car
IAB

The dimensions of the product – approximately 3700*1680*1550 (L*W*H) in dimension. The base petrol engine would be a 3-cylinder 1.0-liter engine for the European market. The 1.2-liter engine is for the Thai market.

 

[cooldhaya]

The front profile is good but the rear looks similar to Ritz and other tall boys from Maruti!!

I guess India will also get the 1.2L engine! But i doubt those alloys and tyres coming here!

 

[RSM]

There are reports Honda small car could be launched much earlier. The plan was for 2011, but it might be launched in Dec 2010 itself.

Seeing the effect of Figo, everybody wants to launch ASAP.

 

[cooldhaya]

But i can see its only a two door , they have never been successful in India and being a Honda they will price it around 5-7Lakhs!!

 

[RSM]

Above is concept car.

I don't think they will price at 5+ for small car, they have learnt lesson from Jazz.