Honda Canada has released details and a photo of a meaner, more sculpted CR-V Concept that previews what the next-generation CR-V will look like when it arrives in showrooms early next year.

The company also confirmed that the new CR-V will be built at its Alliston, Ont., plant, as will the Honda Civic, which shares the CR-V’s platform. It will also be built at the East Liberty plant in Ohio where the current CR-V is assembled, with Canadian production of CR-Vs coming online early in 2012.

Honda’s recent history of “concept” versions of production cars were little more than the real thing with larger wheels and tires, and darker tinted glass and headlights. If this “concept” CR-V follows that pattern, then the next CR-V certainly takes a more aggressive step forward in the styling department, with a radically upward-angled lower front clip that visually displaces the front bumper. This suggests a more adventurous approach angle to obstacles, though it is likely more a styling nod than a real improvement in off-road capability.

Honda claims it’s a more aerodynamic front face as well; the fuel economy and noise reduction benefits are more likely to place higher on the engineering (and consumer) priority list.

The next CR-V will also feature an all-new interior, says Honda, with “a more accommodating and spacious design.”

The company did not confirm or deny spy shot suggestions that there may be a small third-row available on the CR-V for the first time. Rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Dodge Journey have dabbled with third-row options, but most vehicles in the compact crossover class are strictly five-seaters.

No engine or fuel economy details were forthcoming, but Honda Canada also confirmed that a new Canada-only Touring model will be introduced for 2012. The CR-V seems destined to remain a four-cylinder-only vehicle that emphasizes fuel economy over power, so don’t expect a swift turbo or V-6 version to add extra oomph to what has long been a slow mover but quick seller.

With a record sales year in Canada last year, the CR-V is still proving popular in 2011 – it was the ninth best-selling truck in the market through the first half of this year, fourth-best if you exclude pickups and minivans, according to sales numbers compiled by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants.

This is remarkable, given that the CR-V is definitely grey-haired in engineering terms, yet still sells better than more modern, Canadian-built products such as the Chevrolet Equinox.

On the other hand, the typical Canadian compact crossover buyer is not one that seems to care much about how long before the next redesign, given that the best-selling small SUV through the end of June is still the Ford Escape, selling almost double the CR-V’s numbers. Granted, generous incentives are sweetening the Escape’s sales numbers, as Ford readies its replacement for next year.

But although the Escape was upgraded in 2009 with more powerful engines, a rear anti-roll bar and ditched its four-speed automatic, it’s running on the same platform that came out in 2001. That’s a full decade ago, or about double the age of a typical CR-V life cycle.

That means the 2012 CR-V will be the third different CR-V sold over the lifespan of the current Ford Escape sales leader.

GM leads in fuel-cell patent rankings

With plug-in electric cars and hybrids receiving many of the green car headlines these days, it’s easy to forget that among industry insiders, fuel-cell electric vehicles are still seen as the closest to sustainable mobility utopia: zero tailpipe emissions, and a reasonable driving range within striking distance of conventional gas-powered cars.

The problem is that there’s not much of a government or private industry push to make the compressed hydrogen that most run on widely available, so car makers keep pushing back the release dates on them.

But research into making them more economically feasible continues, as a Japanese fuel cell patent survey shows. The Japanese Patent Result website (patentresult.co.jp) conducted a study that indicates General Motors is just ahead of Honda in the site’s “patent points,” which judge a combination of the overall number as well as quality of fuel-cell technology patents filed from 1980 to the end of May, 2011. The U.S. Department of Energy came in third, with Toyota fourth, even though Toyota had the most number of overall fuel-cell related patents (810) in that 30-year time frame.

Honda is the only company to commercially market a fuel cell with two versions of its limited-availability FCX. Both Toyota and Mercedes-Benz have said they will sell fuel cells in 2015, no doubt hoping to spur the infrastructure necessary to fuel them.

Nissan Canada announces Leaf ordering details

Nissan’s Canadian arm will start taking consumer orders for the Leaf on its website in late August, while the first two Leafs in Canada were to be delivered Thursday to fleet buyer and north Toronto utility PowerStream.

Owned jointly by the cities of Markham, Barrie and Vaughan, the electricity distribution company is the second-largest in Ontario, behind Toronto Hydro, which already has a fleet of Smart fortwo EVs running around the city that are being leased by private individuals.

For Canadian consumers anxious to get their hands on their own Leaf, Nissan Canada announced that it has secured some extra 2011 Leafs, in addition to the 2012s that will arrive later this fall. About 40 2011 models will be available for Canadian buyers, another 60 headed for fleets and utilities. Only 600 Leafs are expected to reach the country for the 2012 model year, so Nissan Canada expects demand will outstrip supply for the foreseeable future.

Folks can register to be on the info list for the Leaf at nissan.ca/leaf, where Nissan will send all reservation details to those living within the vicinity of a Leaf-certified dealer.

A refundable $99 deposit will secure the reservation, after booking a home charging evaluation that will make sure a charger can be installed on the property relatively easily.

From there, potential buyers request a quote from the nearest Leaf dealer, to finish off the sales process.

Nissan Canada obviously wants to ensure that the first few buyers are happy with the vehicle, and will likely screen out those with super-long (60-km-plus) commutes, those with no garage, or perhaps those without a second set of (gas-powered) wheels as well.

It has contracted with AeroVironment to provide the installation of the 240-volt charger before buyers pick up their Leafs. No specific Canadian price has been announced, but in the United States, the price has averaged between $1,500-$2,000.