87accordlxi
11-21-2013, 03:00 AM
<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/economy/" rel="tag">Budget</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tokyo-motor-show/" rel="tag">Tokyo Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/crossovers-cuvs/" rel="tag">Crossover</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2014-honda-vizil-tokyo-2013/"><img alt="Honda Vezel Hybrid" data-credit="AOL" src="http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/adam/9ea0744e6a79939911375a30edc4d274/honda-vezel-tk13-08-1-opt.jpg" data-mep="32871" /></a><br />
<br />
"Vezel" may sound like the latest miracle cure from Big Pharma, but in truth it's the long-awaited <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/fit/">Fit</a>-based crossover from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a>. Unfortunate name aside, this four-door CUV looks ready for production, because it is.<br />
<br />
Shown here in hybrid guise, the subcompact Vezel looks quite sporty, with boldly upswept sheetmetal contours, an aggressively raked backlight, "hidden" rear doorhandles borrowed from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/14/european-honda-civic-hatchback-revealed/">JDM Civic hatchback</a>, and an expressive face with LED headlamps.<br />
<br />
Honda is presently confirming that the Vezel will go on sale in both hybrid and gas-only guise in Japan, but it isn't offering anything in the way of specifications other than to say that both models will make use of a 1.5-liter direct-injected engine, the "Sport Hybrid i-DCD" powertrain of course getting a "high-output motor" of unspecified power and what could be a dual-clutch transmission. Honda has declined to make clear whether this is the new 1.5-liter turbocharged VTEC engine <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/19/honda-new-turbo-vtec-engines-civic-type-r/">we told you about yesterday</a>, but it's a good bet that it is indeed the same new Earth Dreams powerplant. Critically, there's no mention of whether all-wheel drive will be offered.<br />
<br />
The Vezel will also be launched in Europe sometime in 2015, and we are expecting that a version will come to North America shortly, likely carrying a different name. What do you think, does the Vezel appear to have the makings of a proper rival to entry-level crossovers like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/hyundai/tucson/">Hyundai Tucson</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/juke/">Nissan Juke</a>? Have your say in Comments.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Honda Vezel is the Fit crossover we've been waiting for</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/">Honda Vezel is the Fit crossover we've been waiting for</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20772315/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/)
<br />
"Vezel" may sound like the latest miracle cure from Big Pharma, but in truth it's the long-awaited <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/fit/">Fit</a>-based crossover from <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a>. Unfortunate name aside, this four-door CUV looks ready for production, because it is.<br />
<br />
Shown here in hybrid guise, the subcompact Vezel looks quite sporty, with boldly upswept sheetmetal contours, an aggressively raked backlight, "hidden" rear doorhandles borrowed from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/14/european-honda-civic-hatchback-revealed/">JDM Civic hatchback</a>, and an expressive face with LED headlamps.<br />
<br />
Honda is presently confirming that the Vezel will go on sale in both hybrid and gas-only guise in Japan, but it isn't offering anything in the way of specifications other than to say that both models will make use of a 1.5-liter direct-injected engine, the "Sport Hybrid i-DCD" powertrain of course getting a "high-output motor" of unspecified power and what could be a dual-clutch transmission. Honda has declined to make clear whether this is the new 1.5-liter turbocharged VTEC engine <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/19/honda-new-turbo-vtec-engines-civic-type-r/">we told you about yesterday</a>, but it's a good bet that it is indeed the same new Earth Dreams powerplant. Critically, there's no mention of whether all-wheel drive will be offered.<br />
<br />
The Vezel will also be launched in Europe sometime in 2015, and we are expecting that a version will come to North America shortly, likely carrying a different name. What do you think, does the Vezel appear to have the makings of a proper rival to entry-level crossovers like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/hyundai/tucson/">Hyundai Tucson</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/juke/">Nissan Juke</a>? Have your say in Comments.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Honda Vezel is the Fit crossover we've been waiting for</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/">Honda Vezel is the Fit crossover we've been waiting for</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblog</a> on Wed, 20 Nov 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20772315/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>
More... (http://www.autoblog.com/2013/11/20/honda-vezel-hybrid-fit-CUV-tokyo-2013/)