Dongfeng
Honda Concept D
Honda
and its Chinese joint venture partner Dongfeng have revealed a new crossover
SUV concept at the Auto Shanghai 2015 show today. It's called the Concept D,
and its design is surprisingly refreshing, especially when you compare it to
the plain-ol' CR-V.
It's
easy to be taken in with the design of a concept car and get disappointed by
the production model. But Honda ensures us they will stick to this aggressive
look when the yet unnamed model goes into production.
This
D-segment SUV is going to be individually tailored to the Chinese consumer's
needs. Honda Motor China Investment General Manager Kuraishi Seiji was on stage
and suggested the Concept D will become a value-rich flagship that will change
perception of the brand.
The
front end is dominated by the wing-like design of the metallic grille. On the
top and bottom, an array of LEDs hugs the metal tightly, after which they flow
down to form an air intake.
The
profile of the concept we saw in Shanghai was bulky and masculine, but reminded
us of a sleek wagon like the Accord Crosstour, not a full-on SUV. The mirrors
are tiny, and the door handles fit flush into the body, but that's to be
expected from a concept.
Just
like on the Vezel/HR-V, Honda has aggressively sloped the rear hatch and even
decided to add a spoiler. The large air vents integrated into the bumper don't
make any sense, but they look cool and give a clear indication that this is a
plug-in car (the powertrain was not revealed).
