Honda has revealed the SUV RS Concept at the 2021 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show, previewing the design of the upcoming ZR-V for Indonesia and other ASEAN markets. Initially, we thought that yesterday’s teaser would be the actual production version however in typical Honda style, it is a thinly disguised concept.
Besides hinting at the new-generation ZR-V, the SUV RS Concept is important because – as the name suggests, it is the brand’s first RS-badged SUV. Sporty variants of high-riding models are not uncommon in our time, but Honda has yet to join the game by spicing up one of its many SUV offerings. The RS is no Type R but it could bring more power and driver-focused settings for the suspension / steering alongside sporty design elements.
The SUV RS Concept incorporates Honda’s latest design language borrowing elements from the HR-V / Vezel. However this one appears to have a smaller footprint and sportier stance thanks to the aggressive LED lights merging with the grille, the slim vertical intakes on the front and rear bumpers, the large-diameter black-painted wheels, the aluminum skid plates, and the darkened taillights connected by an LED strip.
We expect some of the design features to be toned down for the production version of the Honda ZR-V including the lights and the wheel/tire combination. Honda didn’t get into specifics on the underpinnings which could be shared with the larger BR-V. An electrified powertrain is also possible since the Toyota Raize / Daihatsu Rocky competitor models are offering a hybrid option.
Honda Indonesia is already offering RS variants of the Brio, Mobilio, City Hatchback, and Civic so a similar version for the upcoming ZR-V is likely to happen in the near future. Takehiro Watanabe, President Director of PT Honda Prospect Motor said: “SUVs become more sporty by applying the RS character which has been very well received by customers in Indonesia”.
Besides the SUV RS Concept, Honda has a few more aces up its sleeve for the 2021 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. The new-generation Honda BR-V will make its real-life debut following its online premiere in September, while the Honda Brio will get a customization program called Brio Millenials Project #2 allowing visitors to change the suspension, wheels, tires, and livery of the model.
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