After a few spyshots including some showing the new CR-V fully undisguised, Honda has put out an official announcement that the car will make it’s debut this month at the 2006 Paris International Motor Show. For now, specifications and official photos from Honda have been released. Let’s take a look at the all-new 2007 Honda CR-V!

[UPDATE: The new 2007 Honda CR-V has been launched in Malaysia! Click here to read my report on the launch!]

[UPDATE #2: Read my 2007 Honda CR-V Test Drive Report!]

The new 2007 Honda CR-V has taken on a somewhat crossover-like body profile with this new model, looking at the side window silhouette which gives the whole roof a slight coupe-ish look to it, even though it doesn’t really slope down like a coupe roof. The SUV has a cabin forward design. The new 2007 Honda CR-V has less ground clearance than before at 185mm unladen weight clearance, perhaps making it less feasible to go offroad now than before with the old CR-V which had 205mm ground clearance. The spare tyre has been moved into the car, while the previous 2nd generation CR-V had the option of putting it in the car or hanging it on the tailgate. The car is more car-like in character now, with a lower (by 35mm) center of gravity, a wider by 30mm track and larger 17 inch wheels, with 18 inch as an option.

The new 2007 Honda CR-V has Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) to help with towing stability, which is up from 1,500kg to 1,600kg on the petrol model, and from 1,500kg to 2,000kg on the turbodiesel model. In addition to TSA, you also have Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA). Passive safety measures include dual SRS front airbags, dual side airbags for front seat passengers, full length curtain airbags, and optional active front headrests. The new 2007 Honda CR-V also has Active Front Lighting (AFS) which turns the low beam High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps in the direction the vehicle is turning, to enhance driver’s view of the road ahead at night. The new 2007 Honda CR-V also includes Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), a radar-controlled cruise control function which maintains a set distance to the vehicle in front and Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which predicts collisions and warns the driver, before applying strong braking and retracting the front seatbelts if the situation becomes critical. Both ACC and CMBS are optional depending on equipment trim level.

The chassis is a monocoque, which rides better as compared to a ladderframe, and now features up to 58% high tensile steel content. Honda estimates a Euro NCAP 5-star rating for occupant protection, 4-stars for child protection and a 3-star pedestrian rating through their own testing, but official tests have not been done yet.

One major change with this new model is the adoption of the new R-series engine instead of the 2nd generation K-series engine. From the B20, to the K20, and now the R20. The R20 engine is also featured in the new 2nd generation Honda Stream, and is basically a long stroke version of the R18 engine that made it’s debut in the 2006 Honda Civic 1.8 litre model. The R20 is a SOHC i-VTEC engine, making 150PS at 6,200 rpm and 190Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. The engine is particularly fuel saving at cruising speeds because of Honda’s use of a drive-by-wire throttle. During low load conditions, the pumping losses caused by the small throttle butterfly opening are avoided by letting the throttle butterfly open wider than it normally would. To offset the larger amount of air coming in, the intake valve timing is delayed. This reduces pumping losses up to 16 percent. More details on the Honda R-Series engines here. There is also a turbodiesel option – a 2.2 litre turbodiesel i-CTDi engine that makes 140PS. Transmission options are either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. There was a CVT option to pair with the R20 engine in the Stream, but it was for front wheel drive applications only.

We’ll get to see the new 2007 Honda CR-V at the 2006 Paris International Motor Show, and sales will begin in January 2007.

Click any of the photos in this post for a larger version.