Honda launches Mobilio MPV
Honda is hoping to accelerate sales in Thailand by introducing another new model targeted at the sub-compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) market.
The Mobilio is priced from Bt597,000 to Bt739,000, and Honda plans to sell 10,000 per year. The carmaker has been offering three people carriers in the country – the Odyssey, StepWGN Spada and Freed.
“The all-new Honda Mobilio is the fourth model in Honda’s MPV line-up manufactured to fulfill the market need for an entry-level vehicle with an affordable price, and is the first Honda MPV model produced in Thailand,” said Honda Automobile (Thailand) COO Pitak Pruittisarikorn.
The Mobilio is a regional model developed for Asian markets, featuring three rows of seats. It is powered by a 4-cylinder 1.5-litre engine capable of producing 120 horsepower and 145Nm in addition to a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). It’s safety features include a G-Force Control (G-Con) body, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and dual SRS airbags.
Pitak said the Mobilio is targeted at buyers requiring a vehicle for various lifestyles, “including travelling with the family, various activities of the new generation who need convenience when they travel or need luggage space for sports and recreational equipment, and the business owner who needs cargo capacity for carrying goods”.
The top RS AT model features a 7-inch touchscreen system with a HDMI port for audio and video connection, a multi-function steering wheel, projector headlights and rear air vents, apart from three rows of “One Motion” adjustable seats.
According to Pitak, the Mobilio represents a collaborative effort by a Japanese and Thai development team at the Asia-Pacific Honda Research & Development Centre located in Thailand to satisfy the needs of customers in the kingdom and Asia. It has been developed under Honda’s design principle of “Man Maximum Machine Minimum”, which puts the highest importance on the driver and passengers.
“The exterior styling is sleek, with a distinctive sporty chrome grille, and it is agile to drive – just like a sedan. The ground clearance is 189 millimeters, which makes it easy to load and unload luggage and allows for driving on many different types of roads. The Mobilio has a spacious and comfortable passenger cabin with a second and third row of seats, plus a large cargo capacity suitable for all journeys,” he added.
