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Honda is introducing a new contender in the compact MPV class that concentrates on interior flexibility. By matching a 3 + 3 seating configuration with intelligent packaging and innovative seat conversion mechanisms, the FR-V has the ability to carry up to 6 people while simultaneously offering good load volume.

In addition to the packaging benefits, in opting for a 3 + 3 configuration, Honda also recognised that family communication, and in particular parent-child communication, is important and this layout lends itself to easy passenger interaction. And what child hasn’t wanted to sit up front with its parents? The FR-V allows just such a possibility, at the same time enabling parents to keep a watchful eye.

The FR-V also breaks with the typically utilitarian look of the cMPV segment, to offer sporty, dynamic styling. Combined with a choice of three engines including Honda’s acclaimed 2.2 litre diesel, a wide track chassis engineered to minimise body roll, excellent ride comfort and class-leading manoeuvrability with a small turning circle, Honda’s newest range is set to bring a new level of expectation to cMPV customers.

Multifunctional front seat converts into table, acts as storage

The multifunctional front centre seat can convert into a table or large armrest. Further versatility comes from a split seat squab, which reveals further storage areas.

The Jazz and Accord Tourer models in particular have amply illustrated Honda’s viewpoint that converting a car from passenger to load carrying capability should be neither time consuming nor hard work.

The FR-V continues in a similar vein, and unlike its competitors, opening up the total luggage area requires only 3 steps in total: No tricky double folding of seats is required, and neither do they need to be removed from the car and somewhere found to store them. What’s more, the seats just disappear into the floor to give a completely flat load floor.

Supreme flexibility

The FR-V then offers a remarkably convenient and flexible interior concept based on six independent seats and as a result there are many seating and loading possibilities: parents in front, grandparents in the rear and two children in the centre seats with front centre slid back; or driver and partner alone with front centre seat in table mode; or three passengers in front and their bikes (with front wheels removed) standing in the rear – the

combinations are endless. And many couples will welcome the fact that they can sit alongside their child, enabling them to more readily share experiences. And no doubt children will welcome the opportunity to ride in front with mum and dad….

Supple ride, minimal body roll

In establishing the FR-V’s ride and handling characteristics, Honda’s chassis engineers set out to overcome the inherent high roll characteristics of cMPVs, while simultaneously ensuring good ride comfort, allied to surefooted handling and good steering response. The result is a relaxing drive with a supple, but flat ride, high stability during cornering and high speed cruising, and top of class ride comfort thanks to low rate springs.

The market background

Although in relative terms the compact MPV market is a recent phenomenon, the sector has shown exceptional growth with annual sales currently around 1.1 million and predicted to rise to 1.2 million by 2006. MPVs generally are on their way to becoming the standard for family cars.

By far the largest market in Europe is France with sales of around 300,000, followed by Germany (235,000), the UK (192,000), Spain (156,000) and Italy (153,000). Around half of sales in the UK, and slightly less in Germany, are diesel powered. However, in France (83 per cent), Spain (79 per cent) and Italy (70 per cent), diesel is dominant, a trend that is likely to be reflected elsewhere as diesel power becomes increasingly popular.

For customers, the c-MPV market is expanding in size and choice. It has meant the leading players in the sector losing market share as new models have shown substantial growth, a reflection of customers’ willingness to consider new products.

MPV customers are 75 per cent male, however, more than three quarters of their partners drive the car almost as often. Customer average age is around 46, but the two main groupings are 30 to 40 year olds and 60 year olds. They fall predominantly into the category of mature family (i.e. over 35 with children), although there is an important element of empty nesters. Their main concerns are the practical features of the car and since it tends to be the main car, and forms an indispensable part of their lifestyle, it needs to be multi-purpose.

In arriving at the final design of the FR-V, Honda’s aims were to create a compact MPV contender that meets the demands of a 3 + 3 seating layout but without resulting in an excessively wide body. The vehicle also needed to be extremely practical, while avoiding a dull, boring traditional cMPV body style.

At 4285 mm in length, the FR-V is just slightly longer than the compact MPV average: longer than the Citroen Picasso, Fiat Multipla, and Renault Scenic, for example, but shorter than Volkswagen Touran, Opel Zafira, and Ford C-Max.

Similarly, FR-V’s width of 1810 mm is very close to the class average and the same as the Renault Scenic. So despite achieving a remarkably spacious cabin that more than fulfils its requirement to sit three people abreast in comfort, both front and rear, it hasn’t required proportions that would have a negative impact on manoeuvrability.

The wheelbase of 2680 mm is actually 60 mm longer than the CR-V’s, with which it shares a platform.

Finally, the FR-V is below average in height, a fact that makes a significant contribution to the car’s dynamic and distinctive styling, and yet still provides excellent headroom and luggage carrying capability.

Styling breaks from the crowd

The trend for vehicles generally to become lower, wider and sportier, has made the appearance of MPVs all the more utilitarian. The FR-V’s ample dimensions without being overly tall, in contrast, mean that it presents a wide, firmly planted stance. This is complemented by a design characterised by a dramatically sweeping nose and headlamps, a theme continued along the length of the body in the form of a steadily rising waistline. The result is a crouching form that delivers a sporty dynamic in marked contrast to the cMPV norm.

The aggressive face of FR-V borrows styling cues from both the Accord and CR-V models. From the prominent grille with its three chrome bars, the nose tapers back, arrow-like, with distinctively shaped, and long, light clusters that sweep upwards into the wing line, and feature lines in the bonnet that flow out from the grille. Beneath is a deep spoiler with a wide central opening flanked by foglamps (standard on Sport models). Both bumper and spoiler wrap round before forming a distinct edge with the clearly delineated wheel arch.

The rising feature line along the side of the body that plays such a key role in the overall appearance of FR-V starts from the top of the front wheel arch and finishes at the leading edge of the taillight. It’s reflected both by the line of the lower edge of the windows and the rub strips which follow the crease on the lower part of the doors. Other notable elements of the side view include large mirrors incorporating indicators, as seen on Accord, small windows located just behind the A-pillar which cut into the door line, and chrome door handles with a ‘spearhead’ motif.

The roofline, rather than stretching the length of the car before simply meeting a tailgate that is more or less vertical, instead stops short at the C-pillar, the tailgate glass then extending back at about 45 degrees, before turning down into the tailgate panel. The effect is a visually arresting one and is complemented by a distinctively shaped window behind the C-pillar whose lower edge turns upwards towards the tailgate. The trailing edge of the roof is extended by a tailgate spoiler containing an additional brake light and a standard ‘bee sting’ aerial is located ahead of this.

Finally, the clean, uncluttered lines of the tailgate are dominated by a wide chrome trim located above the licence plate panel and large rear light clusters that extend forward in a point to meet the rising waistline.

Refinement a priority

Honda’s engineers strived for premium product levels of refinement, and noise reduction measures include a dual door seal, a large rear inner wing panel to cut down road noise, extensive insulating material, optimised rear frame thickness, extensive roof lining insulate, melt sheet applied to the floor, and a front damper base stiffener. The result is exceptional in cabin refinement allowing relaxed conversation.

The FR-V’s aerodynamic qualities are enhanced by a number of detail features including underfloor panels, an A-pillar trim, the rear tailgate spoiler and the specially designed front spoiler and bumper.

A key element in maximising the cabin interior width is the use of high radius door glass in combination with a relatively high window bottom edge: this ensures that the door glass at its lowest point is significantly clear of the protective door beam, allowing a more compact door structure.

Interior versatility matched by ease of conversion

High levels of comfort, flexibility and versatility, and a simplicity in switching from one mode to another, characterise the FR-V’s interior. Six independent seats, across two rows, open up numerous possibilities in terms of passenger/luggage carrying combinations, and even with a full complement of passengers, the FR-V provides good levels of comfort as well as space for their luggage.

The multi-functional aspect of the front centre seat further adds to the interior comfort and enjoyment of the FR-V. Both it and the rear centre seats can slide rearwards to provide passengers with enhanced shoulder room, while their folding seat backs can either serve as table and storage surfaces, or open up further load carrying options. Opening up the full luggage area only requires the dive-down rear seats to be folded into the floor, a simple operation by the standards of the compact MPV class.

Source: Internal