Honda City i-VTEC launched

Honda has launched their third generation Honda City in India. The new model is a massive improvement over the earlier version of the City, though slightly pricier.

Photo: New Honda City - sharp!

Photo: New Honda City - sharp!

The new Honda City comes with a 1500 cc i-VTEC engine, with both automatic and manual transmissions and comes at a price of rs Rs 7.7 lakh and Rs 8.9 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). Honda hopes that the new City would help the company arrest the ongoing sales decline in the Indian car market and improve sales.

Which is a better car? The All New Honda City or the Fiat Linea? Here is a ready reckoner – Honda City vs Fiat linea

Diwali and the festive season is approaching, and this is the right time to launch cars in India as purchases go up – and Honda wants to cash in on whatever is possible at this time.
Great new interiors in the new Honda City

Great new interiors in the new Honda City

There are three trim levels for the new City, as well as six colours – and a nice 2-year warranty. Honda, of course, really does not even need to actively sell the car in India. Honda is a highly respected brand in India for its very reliable cars.

Bookings for the new Honda City -VTEC will begin today, even though car deliveries would start only in November 2008.
New Honda City – Design
New Honda City i-VTEC: Smart rear end!

New Honda City i-VTEC: Smart rear end!

The earlier Hodna City was not to everyone’s liking – some called it space-age, but any thought it was just odd. With the new Honda City, you would not have any such complaints. This truly is a space-age dsign from the front, and evokes images of the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car as well as the new Accord or Acura, while from the side, it is quite like a Honda Civic.

The headlights are sharp and angular, there is a lot of steel on the grill, rear combination lights look sharp and snazzy. Flanks are neat and clean. Honda calls the design of the new City an ‘arrow shot form’.

The new Honda City is longer, wider and sturdier, says Honda. It is 4420 mm long – 5 mm longer than the old City, it is wider by 5 mm (1695 mm) and 15mm shorter while still giving you the same ground clearance and headspace. Wheelbase is now longer by 100 mm.
Integrated audio, and Civic steering wheel in the new City!

Integrated audio, and Civic steering wheel in the new City!

Interiors are much improved and smarter with a steering wheel that is borrowed from the Civic (but with added steeign wheel controls – aargh! – I don’t have that even in my Civic!), 5 Speed Automatic Transmission with a Paddle Shift option like in the Civic (as I said earlier, a first in its class), dual tone interiors, integrated audio system, great looking meters and dials. The interior design matches or even beats the Honda Civic.
New Honda City – i-VTEC engine

The 1500 cc i-VTEC engine in the new Honda City produces 118 PS – I think that is somewhat close to 115 or so bhp. Everyone, stand up and bow to the new mid-size emperor.
New Honda City – safety
Sleek - does the new Honda City look a bit like the Civic?

Sleek - does the new Honda City look a bit like the Civic?

All your complaints about the old Honda City are now over. There is a bunch of active and passive safety features such as the ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with Brake Assist (BA), Dual SRS airbags, pre-tensioner seat belts and G-CON (G-Force Control Technology) body with a crush-proof survival zone. Nothing much to complain about there.
Entertainment options

The new integrated audio system in the new City is even better than the Civic. You can plug in a pile of gadgets such as an iPOD, MP3player, USB Memory or cell phone with MP3 Player.

There is even a fuel consumption indicator to ensure you get the best possible mileage.
Competition for the New City
New fuel and mileage meters

New fuel and mileage meters

Maruti SX4. But the launch of the new City is going to raise expectations to a much higher level. If the car can put on the road, all that it promises on paper, Honda will maintain and strengthen its hold on the mid-size sedan market in India.

The upcoming Fiat Linea could offer some substantial competition to the new Honda City – but the details and trim levels of that car remain to be seen. And in pure brand name stakes, FIAT does not hold a candle to Honda in the Indian market.

Overall the new Honda City is a great car, priced well, well-specified and launched at the right time to tempt those who were considering an SX4, or even those who were eyeing the recently launched Corolla Altis.

Now all we have to do is to wait for the first few road tests of the new City -VTEC. I think we won’t be disappointed there.