Honda XS-1

[tokyodream]

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2014/02/honda-xs-1-spotted-in-india/

Honda XS-1 Spotted In India

Just what are concepts and prototypes there for? Well, if you were to ask this particular question to the likes of Honda, the company would most probably answer your question this way – by shoving the Honda XS-1 in front of your face. The Honda XS-1 was spotted over at the 12th Auto Expo 2014 in India, where it happens to be a creative study model that in reality, makes up part of Honda’s vision for the future of manufacturing. This particular ride happens to be based on Honda’s original M/M (man maximum, machine minimum) concept, where it will fuse together a pair of different values, a styling along the lines of being sporty on the outside as well as amazing spaciousness.

Apart from that, the Honda XS-1 is also based on the Honda design concept, which is the Exciting H Design, representing Honda’s creativity in designing compact vehicles for a market that is growing around the globe. No mass-production plans are in the pipeline at this point in time for this particular model at the moment though. What do you think of the Honda XS-1′s design so far? Has it blown your socks off, or do you figure out that as a company, Honda could have come up with something so much better along the way?

[tokyodream]

http://auto.ndtv.com/news/honda-s-sub-compact-suv-effort-the-vision-xs-1-389123

Honda's Sub-Compact SUV Effort - The Vision XS-1 ?

There's no denying that the sub-compact SUV segment is one of the fastest growing category in the Indian car space today. That's why all the major automakers have fast-tracked their plans to launch their respective products in the segment. Honda Cars India, too, is planning to launch a sub-compact SUV in the market - which was earlier rumoured to be the Vezel - but Honda clearly stated that the Vezel would be an expensive product to develop and would not meet the cost restrictions.

At the 2014 Indian Auto Expo, Honda revealed the Vison XS-1 Concept which further created confusion as Honda stayed tight-lipped on the crucial question - whether this will be the company's sub-compact SUV for India? Our sources tell us that Honda is working on a new product, based on the Brio platform, on which the Amaze and Mobilio, too, are built.

I think the need of the hour is a product that is compact, good looking and affordable. The Vezel, being a more premium product, will cost around Rs. 13-15 lakh, thus will fall in the segment of Duster, Mahindra XUV500 and Terrano, which doesn't have a market space like the sub-compact SUV segment would command. And if we look at all the products launched by Honda in the last one year, most of them are play in the mass-segment sections; also, the Mobilio and the next-gen Jazz will be sub-8 lakh products. (Also Read: Sub-Rs. 10 lakh Sub-Compact SUVs to be Launched in India)

The Vision XS-1 Concept shares its platform with the Brio, Amaze and the upcoming Mobilio. So, developing a product on that will be more economical and will also cut down efforts. This platform will also help Honda in keeping the product under 4-metre in size, which will enable it to enjoy excise duty benefits and also allow Honda to price it competitively.

The XS-1, however, is nowhere close to the production model and the end product will have design inspiration from the Vezel and the CR-V, as seen on the concept. As far as the engine options are concerned, it's only obvious that Honda will use the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel and 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol mills producing close to 100bhp and 85bhp respectively.