According to a new report from
Headlightmag, the next-gen Honda City could debut by the end of this year, with
Thailand as the first market. Details on the aesthetics of the next-gen Honda City
are scarce at the moment. That said, the design of the new model could have a
similarity with those of the latest Honda Accord and Honda Insight. The company
could even look up to the Honda Insight for some visual inspiration.
The next-gen Honda City should ride on an upgraded
version of the current model’s platform. Reportedly, the Thai-spec model will
be available with a 3-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged VTEC petrol engine. The
new motor, which will have a 12-valve DOHC head, will feature both VTEC and
Dual VTC variable valve systems. It will have a bore x stroke of 73.0 x 78.7 mm
and should output a maximum torque of 200 Nm. Transmission options will include
a 6-speed manual and a CVT unit. The low-displacement petrol motor will be
compatible with E85 petrol-ethanol blend.
A hybrid variant with the i-MMD dual-motor
powertrain comprising a 1.5-litre petrol engine and two electric motors is also
expected. As per a report that surfaced in September 2018, the Indian-spec
model could be available with a mild-hybrid petrol engine. The full-hybrid
setup is unlikely to make it to India owing to cost reasons and the unclarity
on the government's policies for the hybrid vehicles.
