She'll be right Honda

Honda North America is reportedly building right-hand-drive versions of the luxury MDX - some of which may be destined for New Zealand, writes ALASTAIR SLOANE.

Will Honda New Zealand piggyback on the success of the four-wheel-drive CR-V and enter the luxury segment with its American-built MDX? The prospect was news to a spokesman at Honda headquarters in South Auckland yesterday, as the company prepared for the bigger and more powerful next-generation CR-V, due early next year.

But reports that Honda North America is getting ready to build right-hand-drive variants of the luxury MDX theoretically put New Zealand in the frame - especially since senior management at Honda Australia have been reported as saying Australia can expect the MDX within two years.

"We have no plans to do anything with the MDX," the Honda New Zealand spokesperson said.

"We haven't heard of right-hand-drive models and we don't know anything about Honda Australia expecting the MDX."

Honda North America launched the permanent four-wheel-drive MDX under its luxury Acura badge two years ago and said it would be built only as a left-hand-drive.

But recent reports in the United States say Honda is getting ready to build right-hand-drive models for export, out of either its Ohio or Alabama plants.

There has been talk in Britain for some weeks that Honda is planning to enter the luxury four-wheel-drive market in 2002 with a facelifted version of the MDX to challenge the Land Rover Discovery, among others.

And speculation that Honda would strengthen its already strong place in the Australian four-wheel-drive market - where its CR-V is the best-selling off-roader overall - was further fuelled by the Honda executives saying they expect an updated version of the vehicle in 2003.

The MDX would likely be priced at about $70,000 in New Zealand, based on the speculative $55,000 to $60,000 price in Australia.

The seven-seater MDX is more car-like than its rival off-roaders and is similar in size to the Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

It is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 175kW at 5300 rpm and 325Nm of pulling power at 3000 rpm and mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox.

The suspension system is independent struts front and rear.

Right-hand-drive development of the luxury MDX would take Honda's four-wheel-drive programme full circle. The line-up starts with the mass-market models the entry-level HR-V and hugely popular CR-V, which will replaced next year.

The new model will be bigger and more powerful than the present CR-V when it is unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

It is expected to come with an all-new 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine offering more refinement and pulling power. It is not known if the Honda CR-V will be equipped with an on-demand four-wheel-drive system similar to the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute.

Meantime, Honda New Zealand has released the facelifted version of the slightly dearer Accord sedan.

Both 2.3-litre four-cylinder and 3-litre six-cylinder models are more refined and have sharper styling. Safety equipment has been boosted, too.

Most of the changes are under the skin, including 20 anti-noise and vibration measures to improve on-road refinement.

Changes to the bumper, grille and bonnet have given the Accord a more aggressive look. Wheel covers have been redesigned on the LXi and the alloy wheels on the VTi-L models are new. Interior upholstery on the LXi is new also, while the VTi-L derivatives continue with ivory leather.