Honda Elevate Hybrid SUV Spied Testing
The Japanese automotive giant Honda is working on the development of the new Elevate Hybrid SUV. Recently, a test mule of this model was spotted testing in the Brazilian market. The test vehicle was completely disguised with camouflage. Most likely, the Elevate Hybrid e:HEV will make its way to India as well. At the moment, the official launch timeline for the India launch of this model has not been revealed.
Honda Elevate Hybrid: Details
From the images that have been shared of the Honda Elevate Hybrid, it can be noted that it looks almost exactly the same as the one sold in India. The only major difference we could note is the alloy wheels. Unlike the one sold in India, this test mule was fitted with blacked-out alloy wheels instead of a diamond-cut finish.
Now coming directly to the main highlight of this test mule: it has been reported that this particular model boasts a hybrid powertrain. It comprises a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and two electric motors. The petrol engine alone makes 98 bhp and 126 Nm.
It is the same as the Honda City e:HEV sold in India. In addition to the petrol powerplant, the electric motors generate around 108 bhp and 253 Nm of torque. It has been stated that in this hybrid setup, the petrol motor works as a generator for the electric motors.
Is This Elevate Hybrid Coming To India?
Most likely, Honda will be launching the hybrid variant of the Elevate in India as well. Now the catch is that it might not offer the same hybrid setup as the one for the Brazilian market. For the Indian market, we could potentially see the exact same powertrain as the Honda City e:HEV.
Why Honda Needs To Launch the Elevate Hybrid In India
Many experts believe that Honda needs to bring the Elevate Hybrid to India at the earliest. This is because, over the last few months, the sales of Honda have been very unstable and they have been seeing a gradual decline.
In the last 6 months, the company has been selling an average of 1,700 units a month. This sales figure is very low compared to its primary rivals, which are the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and the Hyundai Creta.
Increasing Demand For Hybrids
Another major reason for Honda to bring the Elevate Hybrid SUV to India is the increasing demand for strong hybrids. In the last few months, the sales of strong hybrid models like the Innova Hycross, Grand Vitara, and Hyryder have been on a steady increase.
So if Honda brings the Elevate Hybrid at the earliest, it will be able to bank on the growing hybrid demand. It could be possible that in the future, strong hybrids could get some incentives from the government as well. Recently, Uttar Pradesh became one of the first state governments in India to waive off the registration tax on strong hybrid cars.
Honda Elevate Hybrid Changes
Apart from the powertrain updates, most likely Honda will not be offering any significant cosmetic or feature upgrades to the Elevate Hybrid. It will continue to be offered with the same exterior and interior design and features.
The list of Elevate’s features includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 7-inch digital instrument gauge cluster, ADAS, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charger, and many others.