2019 Honda Brio to be produced and exported from Indonesia

MANILA: An official announcement has been made by PT Honda Prospect Motor that the next-gen Biro will be manufactured and exported from Indonesia. The official manufacturer of Honda cars in Indonesia stated that the first half of 2019 would mark the beginning of new Brio exports from Indonesia to other ASEAN countries. The first county to get the second-generation Brio will be Vietnam, with other countries getting their batches thereafter.

The all-new Honda Brio was first showcased as Honda Small RS Concept at the 2018 Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. The production model shares many elements from the concept with the wider grille, much aggressive bumper, and curved headlights inspired from the Mobilio. It is to be noted that the same Honda Small RS Concept that inspires the 2019 Brio was also presented at the 2018 PIMS recently.

Body-color accents in the interior, digital air-conditioning, and a touchscreen entertainment system along with a dashboard that takes cues from the Jazz make up the changes inside the new Brio.

Replacing the wacky glass tailgate at there rear is a conventional metal one. The rear bumper is now much curvier and there are also new C-shaped taillights on the next-gen Brio. With changes and new additions, the rear of the Brio is now bigger and much attractive than before.

The Indonesian variant of the second-generation Brio will be powered by a Low-Cost Green Car (LCGC) program complaint 1.2-litre 4-cylinder i-VTEC petrol-fed motor. This engine can pump out a maximum power of 90 PS and a peak torque of 110 Nm. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual unit or a CVT (continuously variable transmission). However, this engine could possibly be Indonesia exclusive and other countries might get the same old first-generation Brio mill.

The arrival of the next-gen Brio in other ASEAN countries will make it highly likely for the Philippines to get the updated hatchback soon.