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Honda will launch its MPV Mobilio (codenamed 2NH) at the Auto Expo 2014; this is the first from the Japanese car maker for developing markets like India and Indonesia among others. This seven-seater MPV from the Japanese manufacturer is an all-new product and will play a key role in the company’s future in India.
The Mobilio is derived from the Brio platform and will be made at Honda’s new plant in Tapukara, Rajasthan. The MPV will share the powertrains with its siblings, this will include the 1.5-litre i-VTEC from the City sedan and recently introduced 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel mill commonly found in the Amaze and the City. The vehicle will be front wheel driven and gets a five-speed manual transmission as standard, there is also a possibility Honda might introduce a petrol version with a CVT automatic transmission.
The Mobilio looks similar to the Brio and the Amaze from the front end and that’s about it. For most parts it looks like it was built ground up to be an MPV, where most MPVs have simple and traditional designs, the Mobilio stands out with its radical design. The rear is the best angle to look at the MPV and it is not just pleasing to the eyes, the large tailgate cuts deep into the rear bumper for convenient loading.
The Mobilio created quite a sensation after its official unveiling in Indonesia last year; it received an overwhelming 4,500 pre-bookings even before production commenced. We can expect a similar reaction in our ‘big car’ crazy country. In India it will compete against the Maruti Ertiga, the soon-to-be-launched Datsun Go+, and the Mahindra Quanto when it goes on sale in the second half of the year.
