The Honda Concept C which previewed the sedan that will slot between the Honda Civic and the Accord debuted at last year's Beijing Auto Show.
The production version of the car called the Honda Crider leaks just hours before is official premiere at the Auto Shanghai 2013. The name is derived from the words, "Criteria" and "Dream".
The sedan tucks below the Honda Accord but above the Civic. This market segment is booming in the Chinese market and Honda Crider is one of the early entrants. The car will be built by Guangzhou-Honda joint venture, just like the Accord. Though the company hasn't finalized any plans, the export prospects of the car stays alive.
A 1.8 litre petrol engine will do the propulsion duties with help from either a 5-speed manual or automatic gearbox. It is also speculated that there is a 2.0 litre engine in the lineup, but we will be knowing the exact details tomorrow.
The styling of the Honda Crider is a clear carry forward from the Concept C. The prominent chrome cladding on the front grill is not to our tastes but it works in China. The front fascia has a slight resemblance to cars from Honda's flagship brand, Acura. The large headlamps have extensive detailing with blue tinted elements sandwiched between LED strips.
Coming to the profile, the new sedan has a well proportioned appearance but the wheels could have been one size bigger. The roofline swoops down after the B-pillar and the window line has a sharp termination. Majority of the real estate at the rear is occupied by the wraparound taillights which is again a direct import from the Concept C. The interior of the car hasn't been revealed yet.
The Honda Crider is expected to go on sale in China sometime in May or June. Competition would come from the Hyundai's counterpart Mingtu which is also waiting to be unleashed at the Auto Shanghai 2013 tomorrow.
[Source: Carplace.virgula.uol.com.br]
