Honda Vezel to be unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show

Honda is all set to reveal its new SUV – the Honda Vezel aka the Honda HR-V at the 2014 Paris Motor Show scheduled to take place in October. First previewed at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, the Vezel will bear the Honda HR-V nameplate for the European market and select Asian markets such as Indonesia.

This new SUV is 4,295mm long, 1,770mm wide, 1,605mm high and has a large wheelbase of 2,610mm. The Honda HR-V flaunts sharp character lines and carries a sloping roofline of its bigger sibling, the Honda CRV. The rear door handles have been masked with the window sill and the C-pillar to give it a two-door coupe feel.

Reports suggest that the new SUV will be powered by a 1.6-litre diesel engine which also powers the European Honda CR-V and Honda Civic. The petrol models are likely to get Honda’s new VTEC Turbo engines which include 1.0-litre three-cylinder and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit.

Earlier, speculations were rife about Honda considering launching the Honda Vezel in the Indian market. These speculations, however, soon fizzled away as the Japanese carmaker found that its SUV will face hurdles in meeting the cost targets. The Japanese carmaker is now reportedly developing a new SUV for the Indian market based on the Honda Brio platform.

The new Honda HR-V will be pitted against the Nissan Juke and Nissan Qashqai when it is launched in the European market.