Honda is teasing its upcoming compact crossover, the WR-V, via a funky and colourful sketch before its planned debut at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show in Brazil next month.
The new all-new production model, which is based upon the Jazz, will occupy the base level in Honda’s compact high-rider line-up beneath the HR-V and all-new CR-V. It’s premiere in South America is telling of its development goals and the market it will be entering.
The Japanese automaker’s goal was to create a product that would do well to fill the needs of urban drivers in that region - an compact, affordable yet durable and economical crossover that is able to carry cargo and family while being nippy enough to thread through narrow city streets.
Like the transition that’s nearly complete with more mature vehicle markets, car owners in South America are more and more looking for the specific utility and practicality the crossover provides. That category of vehicle is quickly growing there, and Honda isn’t wasting any time to capitalise.
We haven’t heard any plans to bring the WR-V to other markets outside South America for now, at least in the near term, much less to Australia where small crossovers haven’t had the success it quite easily experienced elsewhere.
In Brazil, the Jazz is known locally as the Fit and back in 2012 Honda introduced a higher-riding version which was given a mild SUV treatment called the Fit Twist. An unfortunate choice of name.
Not counting the acronym, this new car full moniker reads ‘Winsome Roundabout Vehicle’. Yikes. But to its credit, it is something of a more rounded, fully developed follow up to the Fit Twist of yore and adopts the nomenclature that we’re all used to.
As an aside, the HR-V’s name, minus the acronym, reads ‘Hi-Rider Revolutionary Vehicle’. Odd, considering it’s not very tall. The CR-V, though, actually makes sense as it stands for “Compact Recreational Vehicle”. Fair enough.
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