Honda Cars Philippines has officially launched the 4th generation of its best selling model – the Honda City, at an event held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
In his welcome remarks, newly appointed Honda Cars president and general manager Toshio Kuwahara said, “the 4th Generation City’s impressive packaging, sleek design and innovative features will surely capture the hearts of many. It promises to offer values that will exceed customers’ expectations and even appeal to an even wider customer range. Proudly made in our Sta. Rosa plant, this All New City boasts of features that were once reserved for higher displacement – push start engine, capacitive integrated display audio system, and impressive space. Talking about the future? Definitely not, because the future is here.”
The all-new City now comes with Honda’s improved 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine that delivers maximum power output of 120 ps at 6600 rpm. The engine is mated to a new 5-speed Manual Transmission and developed under the Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology, new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT with 7-speed paddle shifters).
The all-new City is the first locally available Honda model that bears the brand’s new “Exciting H Design!!!” concept that will be applied to all future Honda global models. The “Exciting H Design!!!” represents three key elements – High Tech (innovative spirit), High Tension (pursuit of a beautiful body structure and layout) and High touch (finely-honed surfacing and texture), that focus on overall pleasing human experience.
Stemmed from the “Exciting H Design!!!” concept, the all-new City sports a sleek front and a dynamic side form. It also features a solid wing face harmonized with low front face, aerodynamic bumper design and clear-cut side panel, giving it a stylish yet sporty look from every angle.
The all-new City retains its compact size yet it has taken Honda’s “man maximum, machine minimum” design philosophy to a higher level. It now boasts of an increased and substantial head, shoulder and knee room, legroom that is comparable to some mid-size sedans and a top class trunk space.
Matching the City’s advanced packaging is the application of the “layered floating cockpit” concept that is expressed through advanced and high quality textures that give a comfortable feeling. It also offers first in class features such as the 7-inch touch screen display audio that enables hands-free telephone (HFT), audio streaming via Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition control. Other amenities include steering wheel mounted controls for audio and Bluetooth HFT, an automatic air-conditioning system that also comes with user-friendly touch panel, an auxiliary, USB, and a new HDMI port. Selected variants come with two accessory ports at the rear for the backseat passengers, and the top spec’d VX+ CVT comes with plush leather seats.
The all-new City now comes with a push start button and a Smart Key that intelligently locks and unlocks doors without even touching the smart key. Honda’s ECO Assist system has also found its way to the all-new City. This system consists of the ECON mode that controls the engine, drive-by-wire, transmission, and air conditioning performance to improve fuel consumption; and the Eco coaching ambient light that tells you when you are driving efficiently.
As standard, the all-new City is equipped with driver and passenger SRS airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). The top of the line variant comes with additional safety features such as side airbags, side curtain airbags, vehicle stability assist (VSA), hill start assist, child seat anchors, 60:40 rear seats, and driver and front passenger seatbelt reminder. Another new safety feature that can be found in the top of the line variant is the Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) that automatically pulsates the brake and hazard lights when it senses an emergency stop normally during heavy braking situations. Certain variants also come equipped with a multi-view reverse camera that is capable of displaying in three views (normal, wide, and top down).
The all-new City is available in the following colors: new golden brown metallic (VX and VX+ only), carnelian red pearl (E CVT and VX only), modern steel metallic, crystal black pearl (all, except VX+) and taffeta white.
The all-new City is priced at PHP 756,000 for the 1.5 E MT, PHP 796,000 for the 1.5 E CVT, PHP 880,000 for the 1.5 VX CVT, and PHP 970,000 for the 1.5 VX+ CVT.
