What's the news?
Honda has launched the long-awaited CR-V Roadster concept which is expected to add some extra sparkle to the range as the CR-V goes head to head with its Japanese rival, the Toyota RAV4 in its quest for the title of the world's best-selling SUV.
As pictured, the launch version of the car will not actually feature a roof whatsoever, making it a no-top rather than a drop-top. This seems to be a subtle nod to Honda's racing heritage, echoing its Formula 1 cars from the 1960s which didn't have a roof either unlike later generations of its Grand Prix cars which did. This innovative design makes it a vehicle purely for sunnier climates and therefore completely useless for the two-day Irish summer which traditionally occurs in May.
The CR-V roadster concept has been created by removing both the B and C pillars of the car to create a sleek flow from front to rear of jagged metal. And while this innovative prototype will definitely turn heads; the designers, namely the PR team and an angle grinder, estimate the structural rigidity of the car has been reduced overall by approximately 100 per cent, currently rendering it completely undriveable, much like the late-1980s Saab 900 convertible, another car renowned for its floppy handling.
According to Mr. Eipurirufūru, Future Opportunity Occupational Lead, at Honda UK: "This is a bold new direction for the CR-V and opens up an entirely new non-existent market. Our sales target is somewhat conservative to start with, at zero cars, but we are confident that once the minor glitches are ironed out, such as the lack of roof and the fact it is totally structurally unsound, the car will fly out of showrooms."
Despite Honda's recent strides in clean diesel engines, the CR-V Roadster will only be launched with a petrol engine.
Anything else?
Prices are expected to start from half the current price of the CR-V as customers are only getting half the car. The car goes on sale on April 1st in Britain and Ireland.