Honda Brio and minivan assessed for Oz

Honda Australia is still investigating the suitability of the Brio sub-light car for local showrooms, but the study now includes a Brio-based minivan.

The mini peoplemover is the next model on Honda’s agenda for production at its new plant in Indonesia in approximately two years. The Brio hatch (pictured) under consideration for Australia would be sourced from Thailand.

“Currently no such market [mini peoplemover ] exists in Australia but if there’s a trend going on with smaller cars and peoplemover-type demand then, for product planning purposes, we have to think about the future, today,” said Honda Australia MD, Satoshi Matsuzawa during last weekend’s Open House Ceremony in Thailand. “So in this sense, we are taking the opportunity seriously to think about taking the Brio MPV.”

Meanwhile, Matsuzawa-san said we’d most likely have to wait for the next-generation Brio hatch (approximately four years away) but if his team’s study showed demand, and “a specification match could be found, it can be [introduced] earlier” to include the current model.

On Brio’s pricing, unsurprisingly “it would start under Jazz”. Honda Australia repriced Jazz models in June, to start at $14,990, and was forced to source the model from Japan after the flood in north Bangkok.

The brand is also focussed on assessing buyer movement between the Jazz and Civic, and suitability of diesel for the CR-V. Details on the diesel CR-V’s potential timing were unavailable; only that its arrival would be “a few years” away. A Civic diesel model is scheduled for 2013.

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at the carsales mobile site