I guess what I meant to say or would like is to see the torque at a lower RPM. To have it arrive a little earlier without having to wring the engine. Though I know the Honda engines are revving engines, for once, I don't want to give passengers the impression that I'm driving like "a bat outta hell". :-P
one of my reason for not waiting for the '02 CRV is that they might change the "independent wishbone suspension" to a "Mac Strut suspension" like in the new civics. a bit of personal comfort level.
i've accepted that my crv has a PTTR feature (it's not a bug!) ... 'coz when i drove I95 and the car veers right, them "wake up strips" in the road always got me back from snoring... good safety feature... you avoid heading onto incoming traffic
kmh - I hear you. I don't mind the torque curve because I rarely need to go that fast. But when I do, it's awful noisey.
I guess the point I was trying to reinforce was the fact that the peak torque figure is okay. I'm not expecting 160+ ft.lbs from the new buggy. I think a whole lotta people will be dissapointed if they read that there's only a difference of 7-10 ft.lbs between the old and new engines. What they may not see if the fact that the curve is the important improvement.
If the Stream is built off the Civic platform, and it can seat 7 (barely), could the CR-V do the same?
regarding the increase in torque- the big rumor floating around is that the engine will be 160hp and 140lb-ft torque. I hope the torque rumor isn't true...140 seems a bit weak.
The current Forester has 165 HP and torque from its 2.5 boxer engine. The next Forester (due next March) is rumored to have a turbo option, in either a 2.0 (which already exists in other markets) or a 2.5.
I'm guessing that Nissan will be bringing over their new X-Trail shortly-which may get their new 180 HP 2.5 engine (this rumored for the Aussie market, so if they get it, we probably will too).
So, with that in mind I'm hoping the new CRV will offer much improved HP and torque.
upon arriving at a stop light (turned red), is it advisable to put the gear in Neutral while in idle, then in Drive when light is green?
i'm just concerned about wear and tear on the auto tranny. i know that for manual trannys, your pressure plate would have a reduced life if you were a clutch driver.
kinda stupid question but i have been driving manuals for over 10 years and it's my 1st time to own an automatic tranny vehicle. i'm also used to the fact that when a manual stalls, you can use the "push n throttle" method to start the car (n/a on autos)
I always step on the brakes when I'm at a red light.
The only time when I shift to park is when I'm waiting for a train to pass by at a railroad crossing, or when I'm in line at the fast food drive thru.
I've never shifted to neutral when the car's idle, but I don't see any harm that it could cause.
rsholland- The new Forester sounds really good. If they could give those of us who are image-conscious a Forester that doesn't look like a tall wagon, I would seriously consider buying it. Forget a lower center of gravity for superior handling, anyone who's foolish enough to swing an SUV as if it were a sports car deserves to have the thing flip over.
Reviews from the UK say that the X-trail is rather heavy and the 180hp really does it no good.
I was thinking about the lead time that most magazines have and would have thought they'd be reviewing the new CR-V's about now in order to give Honda publicity when they start selling them.
This reminds me of the TV Guide issue a few weeks ago that "scooped" everyone by printing the first shot of the new starship Enterprise for the fall UPN show of the same name.
I would think that a major auto mag or even USA Today would make more of an effort to get spy pics of the new CR-V. Makes you wonder if more people have an interest in seeing what a fictional starship looks like than the next generation of the most popular mini-SUV out there.
Scottdude - I was thinking that the teaser pics released by Honda were kind of cocky. As if they were flaunting their success at keeping the new CR-V under wraps. I'm sure they've seen us posting the fake pics here and there. They're probably laughing at us in Honda HQ. :-)
i wouldn't go as far as shifting into neutral at stop lights unless you plan to stand there for more than 5 minutes. but what i see alot of people do, and it really damages their transmissions is to shift into park when the arrived to where they were going to and not putting the parking brake on before releasing the foot brake. the car either rolls back or forward, and the transmission lock jams. then when they have to leave they simply force the shifter into D. with time this will damage the tranny. I go as far as when i stopped, shift into neutral, apply parking brake, release foot brakes, shift into P. I may sound anal about it. by the way, i just switched to auto form 8 years of driving a 5 spd. and that is what i used to do. but instead of shifitn into park at the end of sequence, put it in reverse, never had a tranny jam on me.
Well I step onto the brake pedal, hold it there, shift into Park, then release the brake pedal, and I still get a backward jerking motion.
I agree varmit, Honda's getting annoying with all this hype over the CR-V. For their sake, it better live up to what they've been putting us through.
I've already seen spy pics of the new Chevy Tracker, and that won't come out for several months. Meanwhile the CR-V is due out in 2 months!
Are they trying to get rid of every single 2001 CR-V on the dealers' lots before bringing in the 2002?? We already know what it's going to look like, might as well let us see it in the flesh.
Honda just does nothing about revealing the specifics of their next generation CR-V, and the anticipation among the loyalists and the car-nut curious builds... Pent-up demand, economists call it. Very smart (non)marketing on their part. And it helps to clear out the old inventory with prospective buyers that do not know (or maybe do not care) that a re-do is very close to market. Again, smart company.
Sure, Chevy Tracker spy pix are available; Chevy probably released them. Unlike Honda, they need to beat the drum a bit.
SuvShopper - Yep. I agree. Honda is doing the smart thing from a bean counter's perspective. If Honda were to release information, they may gain a few sales by getting people to wait for the new CR-V. However, they would lose as many sales, because people wouldn't buy the current model.
It's just a bit frustrating for folks like us. Honda has always been good at hiding their new models, but they've been especially successful with the '02 CR-V. The teaser pics are almost a slap in the face, though. It's like they took pity on us and dangled a carrot out front. :-)
What's even more frustrating is that the latest issue of Car & Driver (or was it Road & Track?) already has some info on the 2004 Acura NSX. 4.0 liter iVtec V-8, 400hp. Read it while waiting in line at the grocery store.
Actually, my wife and I were waiting to repalce our Acura coupe with the CR-V, but got fed up with the complete lack of info on the new CR-V and ordered a base MDX instead. I know not everyone can do this, but I feel Honda is losing sales but not releasing more info or at least a timetable. My brother in law lives in Japan and he hasn't heard anything about it over there!
...about Honda losing sales. I mean, if they were re-inventing the mini SUV market by coming out with something really special, then I might understand the secrecy. The way Honda is hiding the new CR-V, I half expect it to have some kind of anti-gravity hover mode feature.
Of course they are not upset, but what if I bought a Highlander instead, or a RAV4, or a Escape, or countless other "mini" suv's out there. I'm just saying that promoting it might help their sales.
Rihoops - Promoting the next CR-V might gain sales of the new model, but it would also crush the sales of the old model. What has Honda accomplished except spending money on promotions?
Also, sales of the current CR-V is still very good. The CR-V is only outsold by the Ford Escape in its category. It is still a strong seller for Honda, which is why they've been so secretive about the new design. But still, the way they're hiding it really makes you wonder, and expect, what kind of earth shattering feature have they come up with.
I'm also anxiously awaiting for the 2002 CR-V, but some of you appear to be going in to labor over this...patience boys and girls, the water has broken...any minute now. : )
It's with great amusement that I read the speculations everyday over what the 2002 CRV will look like and how it will perform. And than suddenly, I realized that over the last 5 years or so Honda has done nothing but disappoint people with their conservative and borderline characterless design principles. I have a 2000 CRV EX. I love it and am already thinking about purchasing another CRV in 2004....but my friends...witness the Acura line-up, the new RSX... last years "new" Civic. Be realistic, Honda has no big news on the design front for the CRV
I'm not going to use the MDX as an example because I really don't like it, but what about the Acura TL? When Acura redesigned it, there was major hype over it during the design process. The public was rewarded with a stunningly modern and upscale looking sedan (although somewhat bland) with crisp and sharp lines, performance on par with its competition, and a price tag that had 'value' written all over it. It's now Acura's best selling model, and the #1 ranked import sedan in its class.
The same goes for the redesigned Odyssey---the 2 bucket seats in the front that scoots together to form a bench, and the 'magic' disappearing 3rd row bench. Even after 3 years on the market, people are still paying MSRP and waiting on lists to buy one.
I agree, the RSX and Civic were both disappointments. Not big disappointments, but I think I speak for most when I say that we expected a little more from this company.
But I won't let those 2 examples rob away from the mystique of the new CR-V. Based alone on the rumors of the new engine and exterior design, I'm pretty sure the CR-V won't be a disappointment.
I think you understand my point. The end products are certainly not undesireable in any way but the hype and hope that Honda will push the envelope a bit almost always results in a let down. I recently read an interview with the CEO of Honda. They were trying to determine why new Civic sales were down 6%. It's no mystery to me...the car is bland as you pointed out. The CRV has an appeal all its own and I'm sure that will continue. And at least in my mind, The Ford/Mazda, Hyundai and Subaru efforts though interesting in some ways still don't add up to the total CRV experience.
Just a thought: Is it possible that the new CR-V is not yet ready for market, due to unanticipated design and/or production delays, etc? This might have something to do with there being no promotion on it yet.
Plus, I don't know that Honda has announced any official time frame for the release (although a 2002 model generally should be available from any automaker by about September, October at the latest).
And I agree with varmit above; look at all the interest in the new model without Honda yet having to spend a nickel on marketing.
My daughter has a 2001 CRV EX Auto that we will be driving from MN to OR in a few weeks to her grad school. We will be towing a small U Haul (4x8), total weight of roughly 1000 lbs. This is what the manual says is the top limit. Does anyone have any experience with this vehicle and towing. I would like to know if there is anything that should be done before we go. I thought about a trans cooler but a mechanic I know thought that it would just have to be removed once winter hit because it would run too cold. Any thoughts?
I'm not sure I totally agree with that. If your publication has a mission of covering the auto industry, then I wouldn't say it's advertising, any more than the "Future Telling" section of Edmunds is advertising. I would probably agree that it's advertising if it was in USA Today and not in conjunction with, say, auto show coverage.
(On another topic . . . I'm organizing an Owners Meet in Galveston on October 6. I will refer any follow-up messages to the Events discussion under CR-V Owner's Clubs)
Miamicrv - I have to take a different point of view on this. I see where you are going in regard to the blandness of the Civic, but I disagree about Honda design in general.
The Insight and S2K are probably the best examples of "pushing the envelope", but Honda has been busy doing other things as well. With the demise of the Prelude and the redesign of the CR-V, every Honda product line will be rated LEV or better. The new i-VTEC engines provide more low end torque while, at the same time, providing better emmisions, better mpg, and a smaller more compact block. Also, crash protection has jumped considerably. The Civic is a good example. Look at the average-at-best results for the previous Civic and compare it to the best in class ratings for the new one. Every car since the CR-V has earned 5 star crash ratings from the NHTSA. The IIHS scores are improving as well.
Those are the type of changes that Honda has been making. While these may not set the enthusiast world on fire, I think that they have been making strides in more important directions.
Tmc - The CR-V can handle more than the 1,000 lbs limit, but it isn't recommended for legal reasons. Anyway, I think you'll find it capable of hauling the trailer you've described, though the experience may not be one you'd want to replicate on a daily basis.
I just received the current issue of Automotive News ( a dealer publication ), and on page 4 there is a very good photo of the 2002 CRV during testing. The good news: It looks substantialy larger. The bad news: The styling is very bland, and conservative, very similar to the current CRV but plumper. Other notes: 1) Wheels & tires look bigger 2) Rear area behind second seat definitely larger 3) Vehicle is wider by about 3-5 inches 4) Vehicle is taller by about 1-2 inches 5) vehicle is longer by about 6 inches 6) Roof rack is intergrated onto roof design 7) The caption under the photo says Honda will begin sales in the US on Nov 15, 2001, also the caption confirms a larger 4 cylindar engine but does not specify HP. My assessment of the new CRV's dimensions, are only an educated guess, as there is no human visible in photo to guage real dimensions.
I have to agree with miamicrv re: Honda design. As a longtime Honda owner, I take it for granted that Honda will continue to improve every year in emissions, engine, and crash protection technology. But at the same time, I am getting really bored with their evolutionary styling changes. Where's the downside in adding a little more pizzazz?
Please note: I'm making a distinction between superior value/interior design, which Honda always provides, and the visual appeal of vehicles like the Passat(when it appeared in '97) or the 2001 RAV, or the Honda JDM Fit subcompact. I have zero interest in buying another CR-V, if it means the same tired old styling with minor changes, although there will be improvements in emissions, crash protection etc.
I believe it was Edmunds that reviewed the Accord and gave it highest marks for styling. Not because it was the flashiest car in the comparison, but because it would look good ten years from now. That kinda sums up Honda styling for me. I doubt Honda expects it to work for everybody
It's like the lottery payments- cash option or annuity option. Honda chooses the annuity option because, in the long run, it pays more. There is criticism of Honda's styling cues because most people want the cash option (flashy! new! sparkling! NOW!).
The Escape may be out selling the CR-V, but as the Escape ages and goes on the used SUV market it will be intresting which one has the greater re-sale value. My neighbor cringed when I pulled into the driveway with the 01 CR-V. He said I betrayed my american co-worker, by not buying american. He is currently trying to sell his Tahoe,not enven a phone call. (gas hog),I told him to go back into the classified add's and see how many Honda SUV's were for sale V/S his Tahoe,it was like 16 Tahoe's adds V/S 3 Honda's. One CRV three PassPorts. This is a city of approximately 400K. I have always driven american, but I am tired of takeing it in the shorts when its time to sell.
You can tell your neighbor that you're actually doing Ford/Chevy a favor by supporting efficient markets and buying the more competitive vehicle. Car companies compete and operate on a global scale these days. "Buying American" is a very outdated and narrow view.
Remember, buying your Honda supports Honda jobs in the US. It also ups the ante for other American companies to provide more competitive products.
I actually like the looks of the Escape/Tribute. It's the recalls that makes me cautious of these vehicles. But I think the Escape will look outdated once the new CR-V arrives. It's just that clear headlights are all the rave these days and the Escape's frosted lights and obnoxious plastic claddings are passe. The Tribute has a chance of still looking modern in a few years.
Yes, that IS the picture I was referring to! Thanx for posting it. I had trouble figuring out how to attach my scan of it. I would appreciate if someone can advise me..... In reference to the posting by Varmit- this is definitely the new CRV, disappointing as it may be. I have been reading Automotive News for 15 years, and have seen many spy shots published. They have never published any photos that did not turn out to be accurate. They are the Bible of the Automotive industry, and virtually all Auto Execs and Dealership owners read it weekly. No, Varmit, this is not the picture of a disguised CRV, it is barely disguised. You can clearly see the obvious new styling, wheels, and overall appearance. My experience in reading Auto publications for over 40 years tells me that disguised prototypes usually appear in photos in publications at least 6-12 months before product launch. This photo is only 2 1/2 months from product launch. Which brings me to another point- the OFFICIAL CRV intro date is Nov 15, but usual industry practice tells me that 2002 CRV's will start arriving at dealers the 3rd or 4th week in October.
Shellymeister - To post pics, you first need a place to store them. I use www.Webshots.com for mine. Upload your pics to the web site, then you can link to them.
I dunno how much HTML you know, so this is how the linking works...
Copy the URL of the pic (I simply right click on the image, select "properties" and copy the address).
Then create an image tag (this is the HTML part). The tag looks like this:
[img src="url"]
Only in place of using the square brackets, you'd use the angle brackets < > The tag I used for the above pic looks like this (except for the brackets).
How long was it before the release of the MDX that Acura was running around with that 7/8ths size prototype that had no third row seat, wood floors, and a primitive 4X4 systems?
This looks like the best pic we've seen so far, but that doesn't mean it's the production model. For all we know, this vehicle was built last year to test the new suspension and engine.
Furthermore, I like the styling (except for the roof rack). It's just that it looks more like the current model than even I was expecting.
The Racoon posted some information about the trailer it's towing. According to his research, the trailer alone should be about 1,500+lbs with a capacity that would almost double that. Thanks Racoon.
Well, here we have the first photo of the new Honda CR-V, right on schedule. "Spy photos" of the new Civic began to appear at the same point last year, just before the Frankfurt Auto Show.
My guess is that we'll see some more of these over the next few weeks, until it bows at an auto show in September.
As far as the styling goes...Eh, not exactly thrilling, but then again it ain't the S2000. We'll see what happens with the production model.
Bob
Ps- Anyone see a tire off the back window? Hmm, I can't make one out.
They couldn't wait for the car to drive past and then take a shot of the rear as well? I really want to see the rear mounted spare!
I think this is definitely the final product. The headlights look identical to the ones on the picture posted by varmit. If you look closely, there is a thin veil of some sort that's covering the upper half to make it look as if it were a current CR-V.
Those wheels are too small...I hope we get bigger wheels as an option. It looks like a Honda Escape.
Don't ask me how, but I can definitely tell that it's bigger than the current model. And look...there's barely a bumper protruding from the back. So much for improved crash test scores...
The pictures on the Honda site are JAPANESE spec headlights. They probably will be slightly different looking than USA spec vehicles. If you look very closely at the two pics, the shape of the headlights are identical! They are more than close- they are the same. Also, the hood crease is identical and the same distance from the headlights as the Honda site photos. Also, since as I write this I am looking carefully at the actual photo in Automotve News, which, by the way, is quite a bit sharper than the online posting, the rear tailights are just visible to me, and they also match the dimensions in the Honda Site teaser photos. Here is more proof about the accuracy of the photo: I have owned a number of Honda products thru the years, and I always have noticed the similarity of design in all their products. I currently own an Acura MDX and some of the same design cues are apparent in the photo. For example, door handles. These appear to be the same design as the MDX- a single rectangular pull-type handle. The dashboard shape visible thru the window includes a hump in the middle of the dashboard- just like my MDX. This "hump" allows the center A/C vents and radio area to be raised slightly for better accessability and ease of use. The lack of body disguising tricks are further proof that this is a production mule. The trailer towing numbers are only a guess and could be way off- a picture is worth a thousand guesses. I was at the 2000 Detroit auto show where the MDX prototype was shown, and you're right it was about 7/8 scale and not totally true to the eventual production version. But, the actual photos and specs were fully revealed by June & July of 2000, and the vehicle arrived, and I took delivery in October 2000.
Comments
I guess what I meant to say or would like is to see the torque at a lower RPM. To have it arrive a little earlier without having to wring the engine. Though I know the Honda engines are revving engines, for once, I don't want to give passengers the impression that I'm driving like "a bat outta hell". :-P
is that they might change the "independent wishbone
suspension" to a "Mac Strut suspension" like in the
new civics. a bit of personal comfort level.
i've accepted that my crv has a PTTR feature (it's
not a bug!) ... 'coz when i drove I95 and the
car veers right, them "wake up strips" in the
road always got me back from snoring...
good safety feature... you avoid heading onto
incoming traffic
I guess the point I was trying to reinforce was the fact that the peak torque figure is okay. I'm not expecting 160+ ft.lbs from the new buggy. I think a whole lotta people will be dissapointed if they read that there's only a difference of 7-10 ft.lbs between the old and new engines. What they may not see if the fact that the curve is the important improvement.
regarding the increase in torque- the big rumor floating around is that the engine will be 160hp and 140lb-ft torque. I hope the torque rumor isn't true...140 seems a bit weak.
I'm guessing that Nissan will be bringing over their new X-Trail shortly-which may get their new 180 HP 2.5 engine (this rumored for the Aussie market, so if they get it, we probably will too).
So, with that in mind I'm hoping the new CRV will offer much improved HP and torque.
Bob
is it advisable to put the gear in Neutral while
in idle, then in Drive when light is green?
i'm just concerned about wear and tear on the
auto tranny.
i know that for manual trannys, your pressure
plate would have a reduced life if you were a
clutch driver.
kinda stupid question but i have been driving
manuals for over 10 years and it's my 1st time
to own an automatic tranny vehicle. i'm also
used to the fact that when a manual stalls, you
can use the "push n throttle" method to start
the car (n/a on autos)
i may be on the wrong thread but my car is a cr-v
I always step on the brakes when I'm at a red light.
The only time when I shift to park is when I'm waiting for a train to pass by at a railroad crossing, or when I'm in line at the fast food drive thru.
I've never shifted to neutral when the car's idle, but I don't see any harm that it could cause.
rsholland- The new Forester sounds really good. If they could give those of us who are image-conscious a Forester that doesn't look like a tall wagon, I would seriously consider buying it. Forget a lower center of gravity for superior handling, anyone who's foolish enough to swing an SUV as if it were a sports car deserves to have the thing flip over.
Reviews from the UK say that the X-trail is rather heavy and the 180hp really does it no good.
This reminds me of the TV Guide issue a few weeks ago that "scooped" everyone by printing the first shot of the new starship Enterprise for the fall UPN show of the same name.
I would think that a major auto mag or even USA Today would make more of an effort to get spy pics of the new CR-V. Makes you wonder if more people have an interest in seeing what a fictional starship looks like than the next generation of the most popular mini-SUV out there.
I agree varmit, Honda's getting annoying with all this hype over the CR-V. For their sake, it better live up to what they've been putting us through.
I've already seen spy pics of the new Chevy Tracker, and that won't come out for several months. Meanwhile the CR-V is due out in 2 months!
Are they trying to get rid of every single 2001 CR-V on the dealers' lots before bringing in the 2002?? We already know what it's going to look like, might as well let us see it in the flesh.
Very smart (non)marketing on their part. And it helps to clear out the old inventory with prospective buyers that do not know (or maybe do not care) that a re-do is very close to market. Again, smart company.
Sure, Chevy Tracker spy pix are available; Chevy probably released them. Unlike Honda, they need to beat the drum a bit.
It's just a bit frustrating for folks like us. Honda has always been good at hiding their new models, but they've been especially successful with the '02 CR-V. The teaser pics are almost a slap in the face, though. It's like they took pity on us and dangled a carrot out front. :-)
And no info on the new CR-V whatsoever...
Do you think Honda would really be upset (for losing sales) with your ordering an MDX instead of waiting for the CRV??? I think not......
The same goes for the redesigned Odyssey---the 2 bucket seats in the front that scoots together to form a bench, and the 'magic' disappearing 3rd row bench. Even after 3 years on the market, people are still paying MSRP and waiting on lists to buy one.
I agree, the RSX and Civic were both disappointments. Not big disappointments, but I think I speak for most when I say that we expected a little more from this company.
But I won't let those 2 examples rob away from the mystique of the new CR-V. Based alone on the rumors of the new engine and exterior design, I'm pretty sure the CR-V won't be a disappointment.
Plus, I don't know that Honda has announced any official time frame for the release (although a 2002 model generally should be available from any automaker by about September, October at the latest).
And I agree with varmit above; look at all the interest in the new model without Honda yet having to spend a nickel on marketing.
(On another topic . . . I'm organizing an Owners Meet in Galveston on October 6. I will refer any follow-up messages to the Events discussion under CR-V Owner's Clubs)
The Insight and S2K are probably the best examples of "pushing the envelope", but Honda has been busy doing other things as well. With the demise of the Prelude and the redesign of the CR-V, every Honda product line will be rated LEV or better. The new i-VTEC engines provide more low end torque while, at the same time, providing better emmisions, better mpg, and a smaller more compact block. Also, crash protection has jumped considerably. The Civic is a good example. Look at the average-at-best results for the previous Civic and compare it to the best in class ratings for the new one. Every car since the CR-V has earned 5 star crash ratings from the NHTSA. The IIHS scores are improving as well.
Those are the type of changes that Honda has been making. While these may not set the enthusiast world on fire, I think that they have been making strides in more important directions.
Other notes:
1) Wheels & tires look bigger
2) Rear area behind second seat definitely larger
3) Vehicle is wider by about 3-5 inches
4) Vehicle is taller by about 1-2 inches
5) vehicle is longer by about 6 inches
6) Roof rack is intergrated onto roof design
7) The caption under the photo says Honda will begin sales in the US on Nov 15, 2001, also the caption confirms a larger 4 cylindar engine but does not specify HP.
My assessment of the new CRV's dimensions, are only an educated guess, as there is no human visible in photo to guage real dimensions.
Please note: I'm making a distinction between superior value/interior design, which Honda always provides, and the visual appeal of vehicles like the Passat(when it appeared in '97) or the 2001 RAV, or the Honda JDM Fit subcompact. I have zero interest in buying another CR-V, if it means the same tired old styling with minor changes, although there will be improvements in emissions, crash protection etc.
You can tell your neighbor that you're actually doing Ford/Chevy a favor by supporting efficient markets and buying the more competitive vehicle. Car companies compete and operate on a global scale these days. "Buying American" is a very outdated and narrow view.
Remember, buying your Honda supports Honda jobs in the US. It also ups the ante for other American companies to provide more competitive products.
Ken
In reference to the posting by Varmit- this is definitely the new CRV, disappointing as it may be. I have been reading Automotive News for 15 years, and have seen many spy shots published. They have never published any photos that did not turn out to be accurate. They are the Bible of the Automotive industry, and virtually all Auto Execs and Dealership owners read it weekly. No, Varmit, this is not the picture of a disguised CRV, it is barely disguised. You can clearly see the obvious new styling, wheels, and overall appearance. My experience in reading Auto publications for over 40 years tells me that disguised prototypes usually appear in photos in publications at least 6-12 months before product launch. This photo is only 2 1/2 months from product launch. Which brings me to another point- the OFFICIAL CRV intro date is Nov 15, but usual industry practice tells me that 2002 CRV's will start arriving at dealers the 3rd or 4th week in October.
I dunno how much HTML you know, so this is how the linking works...
Copy the URL of the pic (I simply right click on the image, select "properties" and copy the address).
Then create an image tag (this is the HTML part). The tag looks like this:
[img src="url"]
Only in place of using the square brackets, you'd use the angle brackets < > The tag I used for the above pic looks like this (except for the brackets).
[img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~bingsc/temp/2002_crv.jpg"]
This looks like the best pic we've seen so far, but that doesn't mean it's the production model. For all we know, this vehicle was built last year to test the new suspension and engine.
Furthermore, I like the styling (except for the roof rack). It's just that it looks more like the current model than even I was expecting.
The Racoon posted some information about the trailer it's towing. According to his research, the trailer alone should be about 1,500+lbs with a capacity that would almost double that. Thanks Racoon.
My guess is that we'll see some more of these over the next few weeks, until it bows at an auto show in September.
As far as the styling goes...Eh, not exactly thrilling, but then again it ain't the S2000. We'll see what happens with the production model.
Bob
Ps- Anyone see a tire off the back window? Hmm, I can't make one out.
I think this is definitely the final product. The headlights look identical to the ones on the picture posted by varmit. If you look closely, there is a thin veil of some sort that's covering the upper half to make it look as if it were a current CR-V.
Those wheels are too small...I hope we get bigger wheels as an option. It looks like a Honda Escape.
Don't ask me how, but I can definitely tell that it's bigger than the current model. And look...there's barely a bumper protruding from the back. So much for improved crash test scores...
Here is more proof about the accuracy of the photo: I have owned a number of Honda products thru the years, and I always have noticed the similarity of design in all their products. I currently own an Acura MDX and some of the same design cues are apparent in the photo. For example, door handles. These appear to be the same design as the MDX- a single rectangular pull-type handle. The dashboard shape visible thru the window includes a hump in the middle of the dashboard- just like my MDX. This "hump" allows the center A/C vents and radio area to be raised slightly for better accessability and ease of use.
The lack of body disguising tricks are further proof that this is a production mule. The trailer towing numbers are only a guess and could be way off- a picture is worth a thousand guesses.
I was at the 2000 Detroit auto show where the MDX prototype was shown, and you're right it was about 7/8 scale and not totally true to the eventual production version. But, the actual photos and specs were fully revealed by June & July of 2000, and the vehicle arrived, and I took delivery in October 2000.