Japanese auto major Honda has officially unveiled the seven-seater Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) Mobilio at the Indonesian Motor Show 2013. With its new model, the auto maker has full plans to compete strongly against the leader of passenger car segment, Maruti Suzuki. It must be noted that the launch of Honda Amaze had hit the sales of Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, while this upcoming model would square off against the likes of company’s yet another successful model, Ertiga. Besides these, Chevrolet Enjoy would also face some strong competition from Honda Mobilio.
In India, Mobilio would be available in both, petrol as well as diesel versions. The petrol version will come equipped with either 1.5 litre i-VTEC engine while the diesel variant will feature Amaze sourced immensely fuel efficient 1.5 litre i-DTEC engine. Options available in transmission system would include a five-speed manual and a CVT automatic setup.
Like always, Honda has offered excellent interiors that find inspiration from Amaze and Brio. The cabin is spacious with sufficient legroom and boot. With a wheelbase of 250 mm, this MPV would have more space than Brio with three rows of seating. Sharing its exteriors with Brio, the latest MPV by Honda is 4.4 metre in length. The headlights, fog lamps, bumper design and bonnet remain intact whereas a few changes are found in the wheel, grille and rear window, which makes it look a little longer. The front grille is larger than Brio with a notable chrome bar that runs along the centre. It is expected to come with safety features like dual airbags and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
Besides Honda Mobilio, the company would also bring in three new models namely the next generation Honda Jazz, New Honda City and a compact crossover based on Jazz. Three out of these are expected to have an official launching in India at the Auto Expo 2014. The compact crossover is anticipated to be launched by 2015, whereas the rest of them would be out in the market by next year. The new Jazz is anticipated to be equipped with a 1.2 litre petrol engine and the Jazz based crossover will get either a 1.5-litre or 1.2-litre i-VTEC engine. Honda City sedan would get the tried and tested 1.5-litre i-VTEC engine that generates 116 bhp of power, which will similar to the one installed in Mobilio.
Honda has recently set up a plant in Rajasthan where manufacturing is scheduled to begin by next year. The company has plans to double the production after work begins in the new facility from the present figure of 150,000 units per year. The latest MPV is expected to be aggressively priced so as to make a space for itself in the domestic market, at somewhere between Rs. 8.4 lakh and Rs 10.1 lakh. Industry experts are of a view that Mobilio will mark its entry into the Indian automobile industry by mid next year. Honda has researched extensively about taking over the Indian market which is quite visible in the company's latest launch of Amaze.
