New HONDA BRIO GOES MPV WITH THE MOBILIO 2013

New HONDA BRIO GOES MPV WITH THE MOBILIO 2013

The little Honda Brio hatchback has spawned a third model at the 2013 Indonesia International Motor Show. Based on the Brio platform and badged as the Mobilio, this new Honda is a seven-seater MPV.

    At first glance the front end of the new Honda Mobilio appears quite familiar to that of the Brio as they share the same headlights, bonnet and bumper design. The Mobilio gets a larger front grille with a more prominent chrome bar running along the centre. The bumper gets a new faux air dam at the bottom while the fog lamps remain the same as those on the Brio.

    The side profile of the Mobilio features aggressive design cues some of which are borrowed from the Brio itself. The kink in the rear window lends a visual break in the window line while the floating D-pillar above the window helps make the MPV look longer. The flared wheel arches also enhance the aggressive design of the Mobilio. The wheelbase of the Mobilio has been stretched over the Brio's to make way for more cabin space and its three rows of seating.

    Around the back, the Mobilio has a curved tailgate with an angular recess for the license plate in the centre. The rear windshield has been designed to give the tailgate a pillar less look. The tail lights have been neatly integrated into the curvature of the body from the rear panel to the tailgate which also sports a section of the tail light.

    Inside, the dashboard is likely to remain the same as that of the brio. A dual tone interior scheme will give the Mobilio's cabin an airy ambience.

    The Honda Mobilio measures in under 4.4 metres in length and when it makes its way into India, it will not be applicable for tax breaks for vehicles shorter than 4 metres in length. This also means that the Mobilio can be powered by the company's 1.5 litre i-VTEC petrol engine in India. The diesel model that will account for the bulk of the sales will undoubtedly be powered by Honda's new 1.5 litre i-DTEC oil burner that develops a healthy 100PS of power and 200Nm of torque.

    In Indonesia, the Mobilio will be available in three variants, S (MT), E (MT) and E (CVT). The top of the line E (CVT) is loaded with features such as a double-DIN stereo with USB and iPod connectivity, power windows, power socket, keyless entry, engine immobiliser, dual airbags at the front and ABS.