The Honda Vezel is a subcompact crossover manufactured by Honda. The vehicle was first introduced to the Japanese market in late 2013, and made its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in April 2014.[1] Sales of the vehicle in the United States began in the spring of 2015, branded under the revived name Honda HR-V. The HR-V nameplate has been carried over to other markets, including Australia and Canada.
The design of Honda Vezel is based on Honda “Urban SUV Concept”. “Vezel” is coined from “bezel”, the oblique faces of a cut gem, with the “V” for “vehicle.”[6]
The vehicle was unveiled in 2013 Tokyo Motor Show.[7] Japan models went on sale on 20 December 2013. The Vezel is available with two powertrains, as a conventional gasoline-powered and as hybrid electric vehicle.[6] In Japan, it is regarded as a luxury vehicle as the width dimension exceeds Japanese Government dimension regulations, and Japanese buyers are liable for yearly taxes as a result. The Japanese road tax obligation is held to a more affordable tax bracket due to the engine displacement being held under the 2.0 L threshold.
The conventional Vezel is equipped with a 1.5-liter direct-injection DOHC i-VTEC inline-four engine coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and it is available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions.
The Vezel hybrid version is equipped with Honda’s next-generation sport hybrid i-DCD system that combines a 97 kW (130 hp), 156 N·m (115 lb·ft) 1.5-liter direct injection engine with a 22 kW (30 hp), 160 N·m (118 lb·ft) motor, Honda’s Real Time AWD, Reactive Force Pedal. The hybrid version fuel economy is 27.0 km/l (76.3 mpg-imp; 63.5 mpg-US) (3.7 L/100 km) in the Japanese JC08 cycle, while the gasoline version has a fuel economy of 20.6 km/l (58.2 mpg-imp; 48.5 mpg-US) (4.9 L/100 km) in the JC08 cycle.[6]
European launch is expected in 2015 and will be sold under the Honda HR-V name.
