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Automobile Desk: With the arrival of the festive season in the Indian automobile market, vehicle manufacturers have intensified their preparations. In this series, Honda Cars India is also planning to introduce its popular mid-size SUV 'Elevate' in a new and attractive avatar. The company can launch its updated model in the first week of October. The direct objective of this new edition is to boost sales during the festive season and to directly challenge vehicles like Hyundai Creta competing in this segment.

This time the company is mainly focusing on making changes in the exterior design and cabin features of the vehicle, while its mechanical structure will be kept the same as before. Honda hopes that these latest cosmetic changes will again attract the attention of customers in the car market towards this model.

Newness will be visible in the external look

If we look at the design front, many such changes can be seen in the new Honda Elevate which will make it more attractive than before. In the front look of the vehicle, a newly designed front grill and Honda's new 2D logo can be seen. Apart from this, newly styled alloy wheels, updated LED lighting setup and some new color options can also be included in it. Although there will be no major changes in the overall body structure and platform of the vehicle, these small changes will go a long way in giving it a fresh and premium presence on the road.

Advanced features will be available in the cabin

Talking about the features, Honda Elevate already has modern options like 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system (with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), 7-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, rear AC vents and wireless charging.

However, this time the company can fulfill some major shortcomings of this segment keeping in mind the demand of the customers. It is being speculated that the new updated model may have features like panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats and electrically adjustable driver seat, which will make the journey of the passengers more comfortable.

Engine and Performance

There is no possibility of any major changes in the engine department of the vehicle. It is expected to continue with the existing 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which will be mated to 6-speed manual and CVT gearbox options. Even though Honda offers Strong Hybrid (e:HEV) technology in its City sedan, there seems to be little chance of the Elevate getting a hybrid powertrain in this update.

Price and possible increase

If we look at the price point of view, the current ex-showroom price of Honda Elevate starts from around Rs 11.81 lakh and goes up to Rs 16.78 lakh. It is expected that the company will not make much change in the starting price of the base variant, so that new buyers can be attracted. However, due to the new premium features being added and cosmetic updates, the prices of the top and high-end variants may see a slight increase of Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.

Recently, Honda also introduced its sedan City with minor styling updates, new bumpers, 10.1-inch touchscreen, 360-degree camera and ventilated seats. On the same lines, this new edition of Elevate also has the potential to change the dynamics of the mid-size SUV market this festive season.