Honda Siel to widen portfolio in India

Mohini Bhatnagar
02 December 2002

Valsad: Honda Motor Company's Indian subsidiary Honda Siel is planning to widen its product portfolio in the country.

The year 2003 will see the launch of Honda Civic, the three-box Fit and the CR-V sports utility vehicle. Expected to be priced in the Rs 10-12 lakh range, the Civic will be powered by a 1590-cc petrol engine and 1686-cc diesel engine.

The company is also considering launching the new seventh-generation Accord next year.

Powered by a 160-bhp 2,354-cc petrol engine, the new Accord is likely to priced at Rs 18-19 lakh. Though the company is not forthcoming about the India launch, market sources expect it to come by mid-''03.

Apart from these, the other car likely to be launched by the end of next year is the three-box Fit. To be priced at Rs 6-7 lakh, the Fit will come with options of 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre engines. The CR-V sports utility vehicle, likely to be priced at Rs 20-22 lakh, will be powered by a two-litre engine, with 150 bhp and a torque of 19.5 kgm.

Recently Honda launched a completely revamped model of the City. Close to Civic in styling, the new City, which went on sale late last month in Thailand, could take on newcomers in the C segment like Toyota Corolla if launched here, say industry experts.