How a Car is Conceived

Apr 20 2015

Honda’s all-new HR-V goes on sale soon. During its launch in Miami a few weeks back, I interviewed Hayato Mori, Senior Manager of Product Planning, about how Honda dreamed it up.

I thought the process started with design, throw in a couple features and done – here is a new car that’s never before existed. I was very wrong. Research research research.

Read it online at Autonet.

Favourite line:

By now my eyes are rolling out of my head, “Hayato this is unreasonable! How can something be luxury inside, but for the lowest possible price?!” He just smiles, “that’s the game, Keri.”

Hayato and I.

You’ve met him before, when we talked about the differences between the original Civic and today’s: 1973 – When side mirrors were optional

Above is the presentation slide I’m talking about in the article. I’d have quit after this step, this is a dichotomy! See last line of column.

Below is the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V.

Blog tag = Honda HR-V

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Eat a Honda HR-V, Literally

Apr 8 2015

Spotted at the Miami launch of Honda’s all-new subcompact crossover.

This has been a rare, car-themed BloggingAboutFood.com post.

See also – Eat this Engine

Blog tag = Honda HR-V

Introducing Honda’s All-new Crossover – the HR-V

Apr 6 2015

Introducing Honda’s all-new subcompact crossover, the HR-V (non car-nerds: all-new means this car has never before existed, more here)

In Honda’s lineup, this HR-V is larger than the Fit, but smaller than the CRV.

Honda invited my blog to test it out in Miami, FL (more about that here.)

2016 Honda HR-V

1.8L 4-cyl CVT engine
141 hp
127 lb.ft of torque
Transmissions: 6-spd manual and AWD
Starting at: low $20,000s

Manual! Nice one Honda.

I tested both, and while driving impressions are embargoed until April 30th, what I will say is: it drives like a Honda, that is a compliment.

Clockwise from top left:

– steering wheel controls, and a clean instrument cluster
– driver’s door controls
– good-looking elongated vents eh
– a minimal centre console

Before beginning the design process, Honda conducted extensive research and found buyers wanted the styling of a coupe, with the utility of an SUV. I’d have given up at that point, that’s a total dichotomy.

But Honda pulled it off. For more on how, I interviewed Hayato Mori, Honda’s senior Product Planning Manager, read it on Autonet.

A dedicated phone area – storage, and all the outlets.

Here comes the one bad thing… can you spot it?

Missing is a hard button for volume control. There’s one on the steering wheel, but nothing replaces a knob to quickly decrease the stereo’s volume.

But if that’s my biggest complaint, that’s nothing.

Plus the rear seats more than make up for it, and are a big part of what will separate this HR-V from its competitors: Honda’s Magic Seats.

Same seats found in the Fit.

They fold down practically flat (a rarity), and when in the up position, massive cargo will slide inside.

Available in 3 trims – LX, EX, and EX-L

The LX standard list of features is strong: heated front seats and mirrors, , 3 power outlets, body colour handles and mirrors, hill start assist, a backup camera with 3 angles (see animated gif here), Econ mode, and all riding on 17″ alloy wheels.

Bump up to the second trim – EX – for a moonroof, LaneWatch, side mirror turn signals and keyless entry.

The EX-L top trim provides leather-wrapped steering wheel and seating trim, navigation, XM radio and a bunch of en-vogue driving aids I’ll never get behind. Choose the base or mid-level trim, forget this trim.

Prediction: this HR-V is going to dominate the segment. The styling is sharp (look at that aggressive grille), the functionality of the rear seats, it’s a Honda (reliable and fun to drive), and it’s available in manual come ON.

Competitors: Nissan Juke, Kia Soul, Mazda CX-3, Chevrolet Trax, Jeep Renegade

The HR-V goes on sale this spring, with pricing announced then.

Blog tag = Honda HR-V

Spent Last Week in Miami with Honda

Mar 9 2015

Honda invited my blog to South Beach to test their all-new HR-V.

Kind’ve a big deal really, since that’s the same invite as the newspapers and magazines get #proud

Here’s your first look at their all-new vehicle:
the 2016 Honda HR-V Compact Crossover

Ran into a chunk of Team Autonet down there.

Top right middle is Frederic Mercier, the French side of the newspaper’s newest addition.

And bottom left is Eddie; if you prefer to read car reviews in Mandarin, read his.

Close as I ever make it to the beach #HideFromTheSunAlways

Here’s a good shot of the HR-V until I get a proper post built about it.

See those long vents in the dash on the right? Slick eh. As is the open cavern beneath the gear shift where all ports are, that’s good ergonomics.

My driving partner was my editor at the paper, Dan Barron.

You’ve met before, and any clever headline of anything I write is all him.

When you drive an HR-V, this is what happens to your head.

The driving impressions of this vehicle are embargoed until end of April, so until then, I’ll roll out more about the car, then tell you how it handled after that.

(what’s an embargo? Here)

Short review – this car is going to crush it.

Honda managed to design seemingly-opposite features and functions into one vehicle, and I predict this HR-V will take over the compact crossover segment when it arrives this summer 2015.