



Honda Concept C – Not Quite An Accord, Concept S – Quite A Stream
WRITTEN BY HANS CHEONG, PUBLISHED ON APRIL 24, 2012, ONE COMMENT
TAGGED WITH: ,ACCORD, BEIJING, CHINA, HONDA, STREAM
After seeing the Concept S and Concept C in real sheet metal, and some poking around, it seems that the Concept C is not quite an Accord after all.
When asked about overseas market availability of a production version of the Concept C, a Honda executive did not reveal much but said the Concept C is focused specifically for the Chinese market. The choice of name is telling enough, C here represents "Cool," "Challenge," and "China."
According to Honda, the Concept C is a middle-class sedan. Middle class here does not refer to the socioeconomic hierarchy but a specific vehicle segment, meaning a C-segment car like the Civic. The C-segment is the largest car segment in China.
Although there were no dimensions given and the concept car shown seems a lot bigger than a typical C-segment model. But in China, the C-segment market is quite wide. The Peugeot 408 for example, sits in the C-premium segment, and is about 100 mm longer than most C-sedans.
In short, the Concept C may turn out to be a baby-Accord, about the size of smaller Accord Spirior (Accord Euro). The Spirior is 210 mm shorter than the Accord. However it is still not an Accord Euro because the selling rights to this model belongs to Dongfeng Honda, while the Concept C will be made by Guangqi Honda.
The Concept will into series production in 2013 by Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.
Like many big name manufacturers, Honda has multiple joint ventures with different partners. Honda's retail operations in China is split between Dongfeng Honda and Guangqi Honda.
Currently Guangqi Honda sells the Accord Crosstour, Accord sedan, Odyssey, City and Fit.
The Accord Crosstour is currently assembled in China by Guangqi Honda but the model has been a slow seller, which is also the case in USA. The future of the Accord Crosstour is in doubt when the model expires. Will the Concept C plug the gap? We can only confirm next year.
Meanwhile, the Honda confirms that Concept S will be produced by 2013 by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd. This rules out our earlier speculation that the the Concept C is a preview to the next generation Odyssey. The Honda Odyssey is sold by Guangqi Honda.
Dongfeng Honda sells the Spirior (Accord Euro), CR-V and Civic (including Civic Hybrid) and starting from today, the Ciimo. More on that later.
Dongfeng Honda is moving into the MPV segment, starting with the Elyssion, which will be assembled in China. Honda describes the Concept S as a "value passenger mover," meaning it will be slotted below Dongfeng Honda's Elyssion.
The Concept S has a very low slung passenger car like silhouette. Leaving out the Stepwgn, and Freed. The Wave is a five-seater and is an estate rather than a people mover. Leaving only the Stream. Honda says the Concept S has a hybrid powertrain but yet boasts of a very spacious cabin. The S in the name stands for "Stylish," "Smart" and "Surprise."
Unlike the Concept C, the Concept S will be sold overseas, but China will be the first country to launch it.


Lastly, about Ciimo. The Chinese car market is so big that manufacturers can afford to create an entirely new brand for the market. China is still at its infancy of motorization, for many people, they are buying their first car. This is especially true in the inner, less developed regions, often referred to as Tier-3 or Tier-4 cities.
There is a huge market potential for manufacturers to continue selling their outgoing models, sometimes with a different outer appearance, at a much lower price than their current brand position cannot go low enough to reach. The solution is to create budget brands.
GM has Baojun, Guangqi Honda has the Li Nian, selling the previous generation City as the Li Nian S1. Ciimo is Dongfeng Honda's equivalent to Li Nian.
The first Ciimo model is the outgoing eighth generation Civic, available in 1.8-litre with an automatic or manual transmission. So the next time you Civic owners get smug about your car on the road, remember that in China, it is sold as a budget car.
The Ciimo sell in China for 111,800 RMB, about RM56,000. The new ninth generation Civic sells in China with a starting price of RMB 131,800 (about RM 65,900).