New Honda CR-V: First new CR-V photos appear on Honda’s Japan site

Firts photo of the 2012 Honda CR-V

We first got a proper look at the new Honda CR-V (the 2012 model) in concept form back in  July, and at the time Honda told us that they were planning a US release by the end of 2011, but no European release until Autumn of 2012.

So the seemingly unheralded reveal of the new CR-V on Honda’s website in Japan is a bit of a surprise. The photo has suddenly appeared in a gallery of teaser photos of the new CR-V on Honda’s website and as far as we can see Honda has done nothing to trail it.

Still, it does give us an early look at the production version of the CR-V and, as expected, it’s the concept CR-V less a few fripperies.

But Honda’s idea of fripperies for concept car – particularly one as conservative as the CR-V – are modest. So as far as we can tell from the photo all that appears to have changed is a smaller and less glitzy set of alloys, matt black replacing the gloss black on the sills and under bumper, and the loss of the skid plate at the front.

So the new CR-V is still recognisable as the concept CR-V we saw earlier in the year, and as a CR-V that follows on in an evolutionary way from the current model.

The CR-V has a conservative place in the market, and there appears nothing that will frighten-off customers looking for more of the same in the latest CR-V as they’ve enjoyed in the past.

That means a decent-sized, high-riding SUV with no real pretensions. No pretensions to be a lifestyle car or even a proper off-roader, just a beautifully built car that delivers what it promises and never breaks.

Honda hasn’t told us what engines the new CR-V will get, but you won’t be far wrong if you think much the same as the current CR-V. That means a 2.0 i-VTEC and a 2.2 litre i-DTEC.

The North American market will probably get a tweaked and fettled version of the engine in the current US CR-V – a 2.4 litre petrol four-pot – and it will get its CR-V long before the UK and Europe – by the end of this year, according to Honda.

We’re expecting the new CR-V to arrive on the Honda stand at the Tokyo Motor Show next month, when we should learn more.

By Cars UK