Honda Previews CUV Prototype at Malaysia Auto Show

Honda opened the Malaysia auto show with a surprise preview of its BR-V, a 7-seater CUV prototype.

Honda goes all out, having International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed unveil the CUV at the 4-day show that ended Sunday.

Smaller than the HR-V, the BR-V is powered by a 1.5L i-VTEC engine that provides 120 hp, making its engine output the highest in its segment, the Japanese automaker says.

Honda says Malaysians also can view the prototype BR-V during a series of road shows around the country for the next two months.

The show, organized by the Malaysia Automotive Institute, attracted 150 exhibitors from around the ASEAN region, including automakers and producers and suppliers of aftermarket products and accessories. It was expected to attract 100,000 visitors.

It featured more than 60 newly or recently launched vehicles with a number available for test drives.

Institute CEO Madani Sahari says the show informed the public about automotive technologies of the future, such as electric and autonomous cars.

The institute had a special booth to create awareness of its role in helping make Malaysia a regional base for energy-efficient vehicle production. It is projected that some 85% of vehicles produced in Malaysia will be EEVs by 2020.

“Numerous OEMs (already) have undertaken EEV programs within their production facilities in Malaysia, and to date, more than 180 models and variants have been certified as EEVs,” Sahari says.

Visitors got a look at Malaysia’s first electric car, launched by joint-venture partners BAIC of China and local manufacturer Amber Dual.

Hyundai showed its Ioniq, a C-segment hybrid car that runs on the latest lithium-polymer batteries.