Honda revealed the official design sketches of their crossover-hatchback based on the Jazz. Called the Honda WR-V, the car will make its debut at the upcoming 2016 Sao Paulo International Motor Show scheduled to take place on November 10 to 20.
The WR-V is essentially a Jazz crossover which is a result of research and development at Honda Cars in Brazil, it is expected to make its way to India next year. The car will slot in under the HR-V and CR-V in Honda’s crossover line-up.
WR-V is an acronym for 'Winsome Runabout Vehicle'. The car in the sketches receives some interesting bit of design cues. It wears the ‘Solid Wing Face’ with an aggressive and busy front bumper with skid plate, redesigned headlamps, and a single split grille which runs into the headlamp like the one seen on the Honda BR-V. Moving on to the side, it keeps the Jazz’s shoulder crease running horizontally along the doors, the flared front fenders and prominent body cladding on the wheel arches. Raised ride height, roof rails and special alloy wheels, while at the back a redesigned bumper with skid plates, a different tailgate, and redesigned tail lamps are expected. On the inside, the WR-V will more or less remain similar to the Jazz albeit few changes for the crossover hatch.
Powering the WR-V will be the same unit from the standard Jazz. A 1.2-litre i-VTEC making 87bhp and the new 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel motor putting out 98bhp, both engines mated to either a five-speed or six-speed manual or the CVT automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels.
The WR-V is a replacement for the Honda Fit Twist which was launched in 2012 and was doing service in South America but will be a fresh product everywhere else. No details have been announced for when the Honda WR-V will reach the production line. When arriving in India, the WR-V will gun for cars like the Hyundai i20 Active, Fiat Avventura, Volkswagen Cross Polo and the Toyota Etios Cross.
