The fifth-generation Honda City first made
its debut in Thailand in November last year and is set to go on sale in India
soon, according to a report by Autocar India. The posting also includes a
leaked brochure of the model, detailing some of the equipment that will be made
available to customers in the market.
Seen here is the City in the top-spec ZX
variant, which is one of three that will be offered there, with the other two
being the mid-range VX and base V. Based on the brochure, the ZX will come with
full-LED headlamps and taillights, an electric powered sunroof, leather
upholstery, soft-touch materials on the dashboard, and a seven-inch full-colour
multi-info instrument cluster display, which is placed beside an analogue
speedometer.
For infotainment, there’s an eight-inch
touchscreen system that is compatible with Alexa Remote, as well as providing
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The Indian-spec City will also have
app-based connectivity in the form of Honda Connect, which uses a telematics
control unit to remotely share the car status details. On the safety front, the
ZX is equipped with six airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Agile Handling
Assist (AHA), traction control, a tyre pressure monitoring system, Hill Start
Assist (HSA), and a reverse camera.
One interesting bit of kit also listed is
Honda’s LaneWatch system that is present on larger models like the Civic and
Accord. The system features a camera on the passenger-side wing mirror that
relays a feed to the centre screen, providing drivers with a better view of the
left side of the vehicle. However, it looks like the Indian-spec City will have
its camera mounted on the arm of the side mirror, likely to suit the local
traffic environment.
Currently, LaneWatch isn’t offered for the
City sold in Thailand, not even in its range-topping RS variant. However, the
system was mentioned previously in ASEAN NCAP’s safety report for the model, where
it pointed out that the City will be available with a blind spot visualisation
system on selected variants in certain markets.
The brochure did not state what engines
will power the new City in India, but an earlier report revealed that the sedan
will miss out on the 1.0 litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol unit found on
Thailand-spec City models. Instead, the Indian-spec City will be offered with
1.5 litre petrol and diesel mills, the former being an i-VTEC unit with 121 PS
and two transmission options (manual and CVT).
As for the oil burner, it is the familiar
i-DTEC turbodiesel used in the previous-generation City, albeit upgraded to
join the i-VTEC in meeting the BS-VI, or Bharat 6, India’s emissions standard.
It is also said the diesel engine not be paired exclusively with a manual
transmission, and will come with a CVT as an option as well.