DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Honda's new baby SUV

Honda has announced its brand-new baby SUV will go on sale in Japan by the end of this year, “followed by sequential introductions in other countries around the world”, meaning the all-new sub-CR-V city-crossover could also become available in Australia within about 12 months.

Revealed overnight at the Detroit motor show as the Urban SUV Concept, the sleek new Honda compact has also been confirmed to come with petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains, although it remains unclear which drivetrain options will be on offer Down Under.

Measuring 4300mm long overall (230mm shorter than the CR-V), Honda says the five-door, five-seat wagon concept “hints at the styling direction of an all-new small SUV slated to launch in Japan by the end of 2013, followed by the US market in 2014”.

Honda said the “dynamic and youthful” compact crossover underlines its small-car expertise and will expand its SUV model line-up.

“No one has had greater success with small cars than Honda, and this Urban SUV Concept will create new value in the growing small-SUV segment,” said American Honda’s Executive Vice-President of Sales, John Mendel.

“With the continued expansion of our North American manufacturing operations, we expect fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive ‘small’ cars to play a key role in meeting the needs of our customers in the US.”

Honda has confirmed the all-new SUV will be based on the Jazz, priced and positioned below the CR-V, and fitted with a range of technologies, including next-generation telematics and Honda’s configurable Magic Seat system, which offers a number of passenger and cargo options, and a fold-flat mode for maximum cargo capacity.

It said the car’s compact dimensions make it “the ideal size for navigating both crowded city streets and open mountain roads”, while its aspirational design, flexible packaging and next-generation connectivity will appeal to active-lifestyle customers.

Confirming the authenticity of two images leaked onto the internet over the weekend, the Urban SUV Concept is wrapped in a sleek bodyshell featuring dynamic character lines, a coupe-like roofline and hidden rear door-handles.

Apart from Japan, Honda said the new SUV will be built alongside the Fit (Jazz) at its newest North American plant near Celaya in Mexico, from 2014.

Honda says it expects the growth and expansion of its small-car line-up to double worldwide production of vehicles in its Global Compact Series to more than 1.5 million units by the end of 2016, maintaining its position as a global small-car leader.

“Starting with the Global Compact Series, Honda will pursue a transformation of its global operations to promptly respond to the needs of customers around the world and evolve models with the best specifications for each region at affordable prices,” it said.

More news and coverage of the 2013 Detroit Motor Show

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