Honda’s next CR-V to come in 2WD

Honda has unveiled the first images of its next CR-V sports-utility vehicle, and revealed that it will be offered in two-wheel-drive form for the first time.

Like previous models the fourth-generation CR-V will be built in the UK at Honda’s Swindon plant.

The all-wheel-drive version will be on UK sale in October, and be joined by the 2WD model from early next year. The model will also get the company’s new small diesel engine, possibly towards the end of 2013.

This 1.6-litre diesel will go first into the new Civic and, like the two cars, will also be made in the UK.

The new CR-V will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September. It will be launched initially with reworked versions of the current 2-litre petrol and 2.2- litre diesel engines with slightly lower emissions.

Honda will be looking for sales of around 17,000 CR-Vs next year, up from 11,200 last year – although 2011 sales were impacted by a shortage of supplies due to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and floods in Thailand.

The best year for the model was 2007 when more than 21,000 were sold in the UK.

With the Jazz, Civic and CR-V all made at Swindon, 95 per cent of Honda’s UK volume will be built in the UK.

According to marketing chief Martin Moll the brand’s main imports are the Accord and its hybrid models; “but these are not great profit generators for us because of the effects of the exchange rate between the pound and the yen. The strength of the yen is making exports from Japan very expensive.”

Words by: Headline Auto