Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. unveiled the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized vehicle, at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. HSCI also announced plans to begin sales of a new model in 2011 based on this concept model. Can it compete with the $2500 Tata car already in India? If Honda sold this in North America, it would directly compete with the Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper.
For the Honda New Small Concept, a wide platform with a stable center of gravity was adopted to create a highly efficient compact size with seating for five people. With the “Efficient Energetic Exterior” design, the dynamic design of the Honda New Small Concept with front forward fenders highlight the presence of the vehicle. Honda is planning to introduce a new model based on the Honda New Small Concept in 2011, in India and also in Thailand.
No word on the specs or price of this vehicle yet, but we expect this car to carry a hybrid powertrain of a 4-cylinder, 16-valve, single overhead cam engine with i-VTEC that receives additional power from the IMA system’s DC brushless electric motor’; just like the Honda CR-Z. Pricing of this vehicle would hover around at least $17,000 to $19,000.
