Honda teases Urban SUV Concept

Honda is teasing a new "Urban SUV" concept for 2013, a sporty compact crossover that will make its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit come January. Details about the concept are sparse to the point of extreme minimalism, with Honda only saying that its new concept will combine "a sporty and dynamic SUV profile with a spacious, functional interior."

Under the sheet metal there's believed to be the same platform as already used for the Honda Fit, and the expectation is that a production version of the concept will be manufactured at the company's work-in-progress plant in Celaya, Mexico. That facility, the subject of an $800m investment by Honda, has already been tagged for producing variants of the Fit.

Powerplant is another mystery, though it's possible that Honda could borrow the Fit EV's all-electric system. That's good for a 118 MPGe efficiency rating, though it comes at a price: roughly double what a standard Fit costs.

The new Urban SUV will slot in under Honda's existing mid-sized CR-V, and presumably tackle the market for those who want the elevated driving position of an all-wheel-drive vehicle but with the smaller footprint of a city runabout. Hopefully it'll be priced accordingly.