HPM confirms world premiere for GIIAS 2018, almost certainly next-gen Brio [Update]

Update - Autonetmagz is on the Gaikindo show floor and have presented the world premiere still under a veil. The car is to be unveiled in less than 4 hours.

Aug 1, 2018

Honda Prospect Motor (HPM), the Indonesian subsidiary of Honda, will stage one world premiere at the GIIAS 2018 which starts 2 August, the company's Marketing and After Sales Service Director, Jonfis Fandy confirmed. The premiere in question is highly anticipated to be the next-gen Honda Brio previewed by way of the Honda Small RS concept at the IIMS 2018 in April this year.

While the Brio may not have met its sales targets in India, in markets like Indonesia and Thailand, the Brio is a bread and butter model for Honda Cars division. Not much is known about the second generation Honda Brio aside from its design which is a departure from the current model. The new look brings the small car inline with Honda's global design language and also seems to address a few of the shortcomings of its predecessor. For one, the all-glass tailgate is left behind, and based on the design of the Small RS concept, it appears Honda has increased boot volume.

What will likely continue unchanged is the engine. The 2019 Honda Brio will carry over the 1.2-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol that develops 90 PS and 110 Nm of torque. Select markets like Philippines and Thailand offer a 1.3-liter i-VTEC developing 100 PS and 127 Nm of torque. Expect a 5-speed manual and CVT to be on offer.

Also read: India-bound Honda Civic gets diesel-AT variant for Euro market

For the Indian market, reports suggest Honda could abandon the 'Brio' nameplate owing to the poor brand recall. If considered for a re-launch the second-gen Brio may come only in the next financial year.

[Source - instagram.com]