It seems that Honda is already conducting road testing for the next-generation HR-V after a spy photo of a heavily camouflaged vehicle was spotted in Japan, as reported by Japanese car website Creative311. Believed to be the all-new HR-V, or Vezel in Japan, the single spy photo could further support the news that Honda will be launching the next-gen HR-V by 2027.
The spy photo consists only of a single rear image of the camouflaged vehicle, which does not tell that much. However, a closer look at it would give us an idea that Honda could be veering away from the HR-V’s horizontal taillight design that runs like a single light bar, occupying the width of the vehicle’s rear.
Based on the spy shot, the next-gen Honda HR-V could come with a vertical light design that could have a more straightforward finish. It could also come with a revamped rear bumper, while the positioning of the reflector lights is also changed and comes in a different orientation compared to the current Honda HR-V available in the Philippines.
Those are the initial things we can expect from the next-gen HR-V as far as the heavily camouflaged vehicle spotted in Japan is concerned. But reports also state that the next-gen HR-V will be equipped with a new 1.5-liter e:HEV hybrid system. The new hybrid system is said to be an evolution of Honda’s existing e:HEV technology, with improvements aimed at efficiency and driving refinement.
The adoption of a new hybrid system could most likely be the case since it is aligned with Honda’s business direction moving forward. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Director, President and Representative Executive Officer (Global CEO) Toshihiro Mibe previously shared that the car brand will be realigning its business strategy when it comes to the development and production of EVs. Honda noted that there is a “slowdown in the expansion of [EVs]” in the market, which is caused by several factors, including changes in environmental regulations.
With this, the current demand for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) models is high, according to Honda. Therefore, Honda said that it will position its HEVs, mostly next-generation HEV models, to be introduced to the market in 2027 onward. This fits the timeline as to the reports floating around the next-gen HR-V’s debut.
Moreover, the next-gen HR-V would also most likely come with Honda’s new logo since the car brand previously said that the new “H” logo is to be applied to Honda’s next-gen EVs and HEVs that will be introduced to the market in 2027 and beyond.
Autocar’s Take
The spy shot of a camouflaged Honda HR-V on Japanese roads could hint that Honda is already testing the next-generation HR-V. The heavily camouflaged photo suggests that the Honda HR-V will have a revamped exterior, especially at the rear. It moves away from a full-width light bar toward a more upright and simpler taillight layout. While the design changes have yet to be confirmed, we can expect that Honda will be integrating the HR-V with significant design updates. This is expected since Honda will be introducing the HR-V as an all-new or next-generation model, which could happen in 2027, as per reports.
