Honda all set to introduce a vehicle against the likes of Nano and Alto

Honda Motor Company, the Japanese multinational automotive corporation, is planning to launch a new model in the small car segment of India. The new offering from Honda is anticipated to square off against Tata’s well-established Nano and Maruti Suzuki’s bestseller Alto. With a retro look, the car is expected to have a length of 133 inches and 58 inches of width.

Honda all set to introduce a vehicle against the likes of Nano and Alto

 

It is believed that the new car will hold a 660 cc VTEC four-cylinder engine, which will churn out a maximum power of 64 bhp. Since the yet-to-be launched model has compact dimensions and limited output, the Japanese auto maker is believed to capture a remarkable share in the India market. Moreover, the inclination of Indian buyers towards small cars is expected to help the company in the same.

Upcoming model will be based on the Honda N600, which was launched in the global arena in 1969. Even at that time, buyers appreciated the all-alloy engine and considered it as a technologically advanced vehicle. The model had the potential to generate maximum power of 36 to 45 bhp at 9,000 rpm. Honda N600 clocked a top speed at 129.6 kmph, which was quite impressive for that time. The vehicle had a lightweight construction, weighing around 550 kg. Production of N600 was stopped in the year 1972 following the launch of Honda Z600, which was sportier than the former.

Honda showcased a same concept, N Concept 4, in November 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Japanese auto maker is planning to launch the car in Japan before the end of next year and will thereafter, introduce it in India somewhere in 2014.

Following the league, the largest car maker of the country, Maruti Suzuki is also working on the development of a small variant of Alto, the new Alto 800, whose images were unveiled in June 2012. Analysts believe that the car makers understand that Indian buyers prefer small cars and thus, most of them are working on launching the same.