The European Market 2013 CR-V finally had been revealed in production version after showed off in a prototype four months ago at this year Geneva Motor Show. Being different with the outgoing North American model which was being offered on sale since December last year, the new CR- V European model features some styling changes and more engine choices including a couple of frugal diesel units.
The new CR- V body that was first measured at 4,570 long, 1,650 mm high has been reduced by 5 mm in length and 30 mm height. However, the engineers are still retaining the same interior space and the same width. The engineers had also improved the boot’s load length by 140 mm to 1,570 mm and reduced the load lip by 25 mm. the changes results in as much 589 liters boot capacity or 1,648 liter if the rear seats are folded down. It means that over the previous model, the capacity is increased by 149 liters. Additionally, the car also sports a power tailgate that is claimed by the automaker to be an exclusive feature for the European market buyers.
For the exterior appointment, the CR-V brings some features’ improvements such as a revamped front bumper, front LED daytime running lights and rear LED lights, redesigned mirrors that along with turning signals and a fin-style antenna. On the other hand, the new CR-V seems to not bring any prominent changes for the interior.
As many three powerplants will be offered to empower this fourth generation of Honda’s compact crossover, including a 2.0-liter i-VTEC petrol and a 2.2-liter i-DTEC diesel that also used on the outgoing model completed with a fresh 1.6 liter turbo diesel that returns 118 horses and 300 Nm of peak torque and will be offered starting next year. The 2.0-liter petrol and 1.6-liter turbo diesel engines will be offered with front- wheel drive modes.
As the result, the previous 2.0 liter four- cylinder petrol’s 148 horses or 150 PS gets additional power of 5 ponies more. The peak torque is also increased by 2 Nm to 92 Nm or 142 lb- ft.
It is claimed by the company that although the performance of the car is improved, the CO2 emissions have been reduced by 18 g/km to 174 g/km for the 4×4 manual model. For the 4×4 automatic it returns CO2 emission to 176 g/km from 195 g/km, while the new two- wheel drive version delivers 170g/km CO2 emission.
The same power is produced by the 2.2 liter i-DTEC diesel engine. However it returns reduced CO2 emission by ten percent, from 171 g/km to 153 g/km for the manual gearbox model, while for the five- speed automatic gearbox, the CO2 emission is figured at 175g/km.
the new crossover sports a revamped Honda’s Real Times AWD system that replaces the dual pump system of the third generation model by an electronically activated system that is claimed to be able to offer a faster response when the car detects a loss of traction.
The new CR-V will have its global premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September and available on sale in the following month with some electronic systems, including Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Hill Descent Control (HDC).
