NEW DELHI — The five-passenger Honda New Small Concept, which is positioned above the $2,500 Tata Nano, made its formal debut on Tuesday at the 2010 New Delhi Auto Show. It is aimed at emerging markets, with no plans for a U.S. rollout, Honda told Inside Line.
"No plans for the U.S.," replied Chuck Schifsky, American Honda Motor spokesman, in an e-mailed message to Inside Line on Tuesday when asked about U.S. plans for the New Small Concept.
Honda and its local affiliate, Honda Siel Cars India, are targeting Toyota in the small-entry segment with the New Small Concept. Toyota's answer to the Honda NSC is the Toyota Etios, also unveiled here this week.
Honda said it will begin sales of a new model based on the New Small Concept in 2011, starting in India and Thailand. Details are sketchy about the car, with no word yet on such critical elements as powertrain and pricing. The new Honda is expected to be priced around $7,000. Honda has said its NSC will be smaller than the company's City and Jazz models.
"Honda will strive to provide a new small-size vehicle that is beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda's global parts sourcing network," the company said in a statement.
It said the NSC has a "wide platform with a stable center of gravity." Design cues include "front forward fenders [to] highlight the presence of the vehicle," Honda said.
Inside Line says: Honda's rather muscular small car will not be seen in these parts. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
k55 says:
12:21 PM, 05/30/2010
why oh why oh why do they think something like this wouldn't sell in the USA? I just wonder if it is due more to profit than they truly think it wouldnt sell.