All-New Honda HR-V Prototype Unveiled Ahead of Paris Debut

We’ve heard whispers of a revived Honda HR-V compact crossover for a few months now. Today, Honda confirmed those rumors with an official preview of their new HR-V Prototype. In addition to offering pictures of the new SUV, the preview also tells us exactly when we’ll get the full reveal, as well as when we’ll see the revived HR-V on dealership floors.

Looking at the pictures, you can probably guess that this crossover will be Honda’s answer to the Nissan Juke’s European dominance. Slotted right below the Honda CR-V, the HR-V will be built on the same platform as the next-generation Honda Jazz, which is itself coming out later this year. That means it’ll also get the same Honda Magic Seats which can be folded forward to become completely flat, greatly amplifying rear boot space.

Speaking of space, Honda tells us that an expansive and high-quality interior will be one of the revived HR-V’s main selling points. The compact crossover will be a full 160mm longer than the Nissan Juke, making it one of the largest and most spacious models in its class. Honda also says that there will be a heavy emphasis on quality materials inside the cabin, but we don’t have any pictures of the HR-V Prototype’s interior to verify that claim against.

Honda hasn’t released any specific details on the new HR-V’s powertrain options, but we suspect that it will borrow heavily from the Civic and Jazz. Some sources suggest that Honda may offer additional, higher-performance engines not found in the Civic/Jazz, but we won’t hold our breath. Either way, our guess is that the base option will be a 1.5L petrol hybrid paired with a dual-clutch transmission. The European model will likely get a diesel version, but again we’ll have to wait until the official reveal to know for sure.

Honda tells us that we can expect to see the Honda HR-V Prototype at the 2014 Paris Motor Show next month and that the car will likely go on sale in the first half of 2015. Also, keep in mind that while they’re technically pitching this current iteration of the HR-V as a prototype, it’s probably quite close to the production model. Take off the fancy rims and black tinted glass and you’ve got yourself a road car.