The Brio, being the smallest car in Honda India’s lineup may seem to be a love affair easily forgotten. But no, even with a rather subdued sales volume, Honda is getting ready to bring a small midlife facelift. An IndianAutoBlog reader has shared spy pics of the car from a dealership which means that a launch is just around the corner.
If we talk about the powertrain, the engine can be expected to be the same 1.2-litre i-VTEC petrol unit churning out 88 PS at 6,000 rpm and 109 Nm of peak torque at 4,500 rpm. Transmission duties will be overseen by the same 5-speed manual unit while the automatic unit can be replaced with the CVT from the new Amaze.
Showcased for the first time at the recently concluded Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, the changes are mostly cosmetic. Exterior alterations include a new front grille with a chrome Honda logo standing out on a black background. The front bumper and fog lamp enclosure too have been brought under the knife. The rear though remains unchanged.
If we move to the interiors, the car seems to be a clear resemblance of the new Amaze and the BR-V. The dual tone dashboard now gets an all-black treatment which looks more premium. The driver instrumentation too has been restyled for a fresher and easy to read look.
Honda’s overall sales volume have been dropping for a long time now because of the shift in demand for petrol driven cars. The company had centred its focus on diesel versions so it says that it needs time to increase the production of petrol powered cars. The Brio though, does not get a diesel engine but due to stiff competition in the segment, has been losing out. Can this new cosmetic update bring a change the car’s tale?
Expect the Brio facelift to be launched in the next few days.
