Honda City diesel to be unveiled in India late November, launch early next year
What difference does having a diesel engine in your Indian lineup make? Ask Honda. The Japanese car maker soldiered on all these years in the market sans a diesel engine. Even when prices of crude had skyrocketed, Honda stubbornly stuck onto their petrol-only line-up. However, with the launch of the Amaze diesel, the sales figures for Honda have nearly tripled. Now, Honda is bringing in its best-seller, the City, with a diesel heart.
The current Honda in India
Our sources say that the City diesel will be launched in India early next year, while it will be showcased to the media here later this month. The probable date is November 25 but as of now, Honda Car India Limited is yet to confirm the same. The City diesel borrows its 1.5-litre i-DTEC engine from the Amaze. The power output may vary, likely around the 110PS mark, up from the 100PS that the Amaze diesel already makes. This can be attributed to the use of a variable geometry in place of the Amaze's fixed one. These power figures, while nowhere near the Verna's 128PS, are better than the competition (read Vento, SX4, Scala) in the segment. Expect the City diesel to be priced around Rs 80,000 more than its petrol equivalent. Honda has confirmed that it has stopped production of the current-gen City in India as of now and that stocks are being cleared to make way for the new car. If you are in the market for a new car and like the City, expect heavy discounts.
The all-new City will also be one of Honda's stars at the 2014 Auto Expo. This new City will have major styling changes both outside and inside. Honda will also persist with the 118PS 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol with no changes expected in the powertrain. Apart from this, the Mobilio MPV, new Jazz and Urban SUV are expected to be at the Expo.
A source also tells us that the new Honda City will be in showrooms around March-April 2014 and could take the now-vacant place of the Civic saloon as far as pricing is considered.
[Read more about the diesel Honda City]
Starts Rs 10.9 Lakhs
1497cc
Manual
100
145
17.8 Kmpl
