A new look for the 2012 Honda CR-V.
Honda’s “cute-ute” is getting a new look. The ever-popular CR-V will take a distinctly different design direction when it makes its debut in the U.S. market by the end of the year, the company has revealed with the first formal shot of the fourth-generation crossover-utility vehicle.
Routinely a best-seller in the compact crossover market, the 2012 Honda CR-V will feature a more buff and sculpted appearance, with less visual emphasis on the cute and more on the ute. Overall, the image suggests a slightly larger vehicle with headlights more smoothly integrated into the fenders and a new take on the three-bar grille.
The higher bumper and built-in skid plate would suggest Honda has integrated some SUV-like off-road capabilities.
Officially declared a “concept,” the photo is expected to be quite close to the look of the actual 2012 Honda CR-V, the third best-selling product line for American Honda, so a critical addition to the line-up. And a much-delayed one, the launch pushed back due to the problems created by the March 11 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The 2012 CR-V was originally expected closer to the launch of the upcoming model-year.
Honda has been hammered by the March disaster and continues to struggle with a shortage of many key products, notably including the 2012 Civic update. Limited availability may be a major reason why sales of the Civic have this year slipped behind those of the Ford Escape – which is shortly due for an update of its own. But Honda’s small crossover continues to outsell the Toyota RAV-4.
“The 2012 CR-V concept introduces the exterior styling for the more sophisticated and dynamic design of the upcoming production model,” John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda, said in a statement.
Beyond that, however, Honda isn’t saying a lot about the new CR-V. But some basics have been leaking out. For one thing, the 2012 crossover will be available in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive powertrain layouts.
The American model is expected to feature a 2.4-liter inline-four making about 180 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque. A 165-hp 2.2-liter turbodiesel is anticipated for Europe.
In an unusual move, Honda is expecting to reveal the new CR-V at the Orange County Auto Show, this autumn, rather than wait for the bigger event to follow in Los Angeles.