This CRV drawing showed up German automotive website Auto Motor und Sport. Credibility? Who knows. but we should be seeing a new CRV very soon.

http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/d..._detail?skip=0

 

I dear lord I hope not.

 

Lets hope it only remains a concept.

 

X5 body meets Prius front end with S2K lights tacked on. I'm going to call this a no.

 

see also this photochop:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...tml?page=3&c=y

There is some styling resemblance to the Honda Stream.

While I was rummaging around I also noticed that M/T thinks the Lattitude is still coming. This would be a tall wagon to compete with the Matrix. There was some earlier speculation that it would be the stream.

 

RE: Latitude / Stream
I find it really hard to believe that Honda would bother to bring another tall wagon over. They already have the Element. And with the Fit on sale in a matter of months, the Latitude would cannibalize sales from both IMO.

Furthermore, I think it's safe to assume that Toyota will not replace the Matrix; they've got the Scion brand to cover that end of the market at higher sales volume.

RE: Concept CRV
Conceptual drawings aren't all that trustworthy on average.. especially ones that are attributed to people outside of Honda. If we were talking about pictures of a test mule at the 'Ring, then I'd be more convinced.
But until you see it in sheetmetal, skepticism is the best response IMO.

And yes, that "design" is a disaster. :ugh:

 

The Element and the Scion xB are their own funky thing. From the looks of the show cars, the xB could be getting bigger and funkier. The Element is heavy, underpowered and gets poor mileage. IMHO this is a different niche from the matrix, which is a fairly conventional tall wagon. I don't see the Latitude overlapping much with the Element.

We don't have the Scion in Canada, and again, I see the xB and the Matrix as being different niches.

I actually would see more overlap with the more conventional Rav4/CRV, but that spare on the back door and no rear bumper is just silly in an urban environment. It is a deal killer for me.

I could see the next Matrix no longer being a unique N. Am product, but Toyota has a few already existing hatch/tall wagon/van versions of the Corolla. One of those would work next go 'round.

I've seen some speculation that the Matrix _will be_ replaced, and I hope it is true, especially if there is no Latitude. I have a 2003 Matrix, and as much as I obsess about cars, I can't come up with anything that meets my needs better.

 

so you've driven an Element? - don't knock one until you've tested it out as it is quite quick - in fact the 5spd Element with AWD is very quick and can keep up with many v6 model...it handles very well also for being so tall (read the reviews written on it...b/c of its unique and flexible interior most of the time is spent praising the interior overlooking how well it handles and how well the engine responds)

the torque curve in the 2.4 liter i-vtec engine is very flat allowing it to jump off the line and the engine happily revs to the redline

as for gas mileage...for a 3700lb (awd ex 5spd model) that can haul as much as a jeep grand cherokee it gets 24mpg - very decent mileage for how much it can haul

 

A CR-V weighs less and gets a bit better mileage. 24 mpg puts the Element in with the vans, which can haul even more.

But that is not really the point. The point is, that I don't see the Element as being in the same niche as the Matrix/Latitude. And that is probably more down to style than any performance measure.

 

will they keep the k24 in it????