Last Auto news - Revamped CR-V ahead by a nose

Last Auto news - Revamped CR-V ahead by a nose Honda SUV gets new look, i-DTEC diesel as well as launching bold city car at LA show

Check out the face of things to come at Honda, as bosses have released first official details of two new models.

First there’s a facelifted version of the CR-V, followed by news of a mystery city car, called the P-NUT.

The popular SUV gets a refreshed look with a more aggressive grille and updated bumpers. Prices start from £20,175 for a 2.0-litre petrol model, and £22,135 for a new i-DTEC diesel in basic SE guise.

More expensive models get a voice-activated satellite navigation system, panoramic roof, heated seats plus auto headlights and wipers.

The 2.2-litre oil-burner is carried over from the Accord, and offers 150bhp - a rise of 10bhp over the previous i-CTDi. For the first time, this unit can be specified with an auto, too.

With the self-shifter, the i-DTEC returns 38.2mpg and emits 195g/km - compared to 43.5mpg and 171g/km for the manual. Performance is also hampered by the auto - it’s one second slower from 0-60mph, with a time of 9.6 seconds.

Surprisingly, despite Honda’s claim of competitive pricing, the most basic 2.2-litre diesel CR-V is still £1,000 more than its Land Rover Freelander rival, which weighs in at £21,295.

Meanwhile, the maker has also revealed that it will launch a futuristic new concept at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December. The car is called the P-NUT - short for Personal Neo-Urban Transport - and will draw on innovations and designs seen in previous show models from Honda.

The lightweight ‘gel body’ used in the 2007 PUYO concept is expected to feature as part of what bosses describe as an “ultra-compact, aggressively designed coupé”.