Honda is reportedly in talks with Horse Powertrain to source a new 1.2-litre engine for its upcoming compact SUV in India. This engine could be offered with petrol, hybrid and CNG powertrain options. However, the exact details of the engine and the SUV are still under the wraps.
What Is Horse Powertrain?
Horse Powertrain Limited is a UK-based global automotive powertrain technology company, which is currently owned by Renault Group (45%), Geely (45%) and Saudi Aramco (10%). The company develops and manufactures engines and powertrain systems. It supplies powertrain technology to Renault, Geely, Nissan, Volvo Cars, Proton, Mitsubishi and other global manufacturers.
The upcoming Renault Duster hybrid, which is set to launch on October 7, will feature Horse’ 1.8-litre engine. The UK-based company is also considering setting up a local engine manufacturing facility in India.
Why is Honda Considering A New Engine?
Currently, Honda Cars India has two engines for its product lineup – a 1.2-litre and a 1.5-litre petrol. Making these engines compatible with CNG and hybrid systems, while also meeting stricter emission and fuel-efficiency requirements, could be an expensive affair.
Sourcing a new 1.2-litre petrol engine from Horse Powertrain could significantly reduce development costs and give Honda the flexibility to adopt a multi-powertrain strategy. Local production could future help reduce costs.
New Honda Compact SUV – What to Expect?
The upcoming Honda compact SUV could be based on Honda’s existing platform used in Indonesia instead of the PF2 architecture. The model is expected to enter production in late 2028, and could be priced between Rs 9 lakh – Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom).
Once its launched, the new Honda SUV will be positioned against the Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Kia Sonet, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO and Skoda Kylaq. It will be Honda’s next major attempt in the subcompact SUV segment after the discontinuation of the Honda Brio, Jazza and WR-V.