Next Generation Honda CR-V to be Unveiled at European Car Showpiece

Next Generation Honda CR-V

We are getting ready for a hotly anticipated arrival to the JT Hughes Honda showrooms at Shrewsbury, Newtown and Telford this Autumn; in the form of the new 2018 Honda CR-V. But before that, the car is set for a grand unveiling at one of the automobile industry’s most prestigious showpiece events – the International Geneva Motor Show.

Attendees at the exhibition, which will take place from Thursday 8th to Sunday 18th March in Switzerland, will be treated to the first public outing of the same European production version which is launching at JT Hughes in late 2018. While nobody outside Honda’s factories may have seen the best selling crossover in all its glory, we can reveal a few details to JT Hughes customers.

Honda CR-V Specs

Building on the popular features which made the vehicle the world’s favourite SUV, Honda has managed enhancements in departments such as interior quality and spaciousness – for those drivers who view space as a prized asset, the new CR-V will deliver, with the option of seven seats on petrol models for the first time ever.

The new CR-V is capable of sweeping its beholders at the Geneva Motor Show off their feet, with a new exterior design which features sharp bonnet contours and muscular wheel arches, as well as the signature headlight graphic which characterises the newest generation of Hondas. Those present in Geneva might also note the thinner A-pillars and sculpted front and rear bumper, which all go towards giving the new CR-V a strikingly advanced appearance and an unprecedented level of aerodynamics.

Inside the new CR-V, while some features might seem familiar, the interior is unmistakably bigger than its predecessors, thanks to the wider stance and longer wheelbase provided by a chassis which Honda has confirmed is the most sophisticated in the CR-V’s history. A wider dashboard is home to two seven inch displays, with a simplified control layout which makes functions such as air conditioning easier than ever to manage. Then further back there is a deeper boot, longer load bay and Hands-Free Action power tailgate.

The new CR-V will make headlines around the world, not just because of its status as ‘the SUV’, but due to the Honda hybrid technology which will be offered for the first time ever in Europe. Two electric motors will complement the 2.0 litre i-VTEC Atkinson cycle petrol engine as part of Honda’s Intelligent Multi Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system which will improve both efficiency and driveability. Transmission will use a single fixed-gear ratio which achieves a smoother transfer of torque and the direct connection of moving components.

The 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine will deliver power via a six-speed manual gearbox, with the option of CVT automatic transmission for a more linear response. Both the new CR-V’s petrol and hybrid models are front-wheel drive and will benefit from Honda’s all-wheel drive technology in the form of the ‘Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control System™’. That means no terrain types should be too much for the new CR-V to handle.

And there is some fantastic functionality to tell you about; such as the programmable tailgate which can avoid obstacles such as low ceilings, and three-mode centre-console storage that increases cabin flexibility.

For many CR-V drivers, before discovering the amazing new technology and performance enhancements, the extra space could be the first new feature which demands attention. 60:40 split-fold second-row seat backs will be conducive to loading with is easier and faster, while in seven seat models, the third row won’t be a squeeze thanks to exceptional leg room and a wide and low step-in aperture.

After Geneva, our eyes will be on the calendar as the Autumn launch date for the new CR-V’s 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine model nears, with the hybrid models anticipated to arrive in early 2019. To register your interest for the new Honda CR-V, call JT Hughes Honda today.