Honda HR-V Sport premieres in Europe packed with 1.5L VTEC turbo

KUALA LUMPUR: A much-anticipated update for the 2019 HR-V in Europe is now debuting in the continent. It comes with a new motor option under the hood, in the guise of the Civic‘s 1.5-litre VTEC turbo powertrain.

The HR-V Sport by Honda is driven by a 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine which is mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or CVT unit. The manual version offers a peak power of 182 PS and churns out 240 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. The CVT version, on the other hand, achieves similar power reading but 220 Nm of torque at 6,000 rpm. The current Honda HR-V model available in Malaysia derives its power from a 1.8-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder mill offering 142 PS and delivering a maximum 172 Nm of torque.

The detailed information about the performance figure is unavailable now, but if speculations are to be considered, the vehicle can rush from 0 to 100 kmph in 8 seconds or less.

The HR-V Sport receives a black-colored chrome panel bearing high-gloss touch-ups. Honeycomb finishing touch adorns the front grille and the surrounding area of the fog lamp. The rear bumper now looks more distinctive, the front splitter has been toned-down, and restyled side skirts all feature a black finish for a sportier appearance. Black door mirror caps, LED headlamps, and dual exhaust pipes add to the sporty exterior. It rides on uniquely designed 18-inch alloy wheels. At the rear end, the car has smoked taillights and flaunts black-colored tailgate chrome trim.

The interior of the HR-V Sport welcomes the passengers with leather seats bearing a black and red color scheme. Black roof lining imparts a more sporty look inside. "Performance Damper" technology is incorporated for a more potent driving experience.

The variable-speed electric power steering and adaptive roller bars at the front and back are unique to the new car for better handling and stability. There is no word yet on the complete list of safety specs set to be offered.