No Accord & CR-V diesels for the Indian market says, Honda’s Jnaneswar Sen

For quite some time now, Honda has been selling diesel engined variants of the Honda Accord sedan and the CR-V crossover in the European market. The engine in question is a 2.2 liter, four cylinder turbo diesel unit, which in different states of tune, has been powering the Accord and the CR-V. In India though, Honda has been steadfastly avoiding the option of offering the Accord and the CR-V with the diesel engine stating that this engine is not suitable for the Indian market due to the quality of diesel available in India not matching European standards, to which this engine is said to be designed.

Here’s what Honda SIEL Cars India’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, Jnaneswar Sen has had to say about why Honda will not launch a diesel engined Accord or CR-V,
While it is technically possible to downgrade both these engines, the low volumes of the Accord and CR-V (in India) do not justify it. Also the engines for the European market have been developed taking into account the low sulphur content in the diesel there, unlike in India.
That said, the prescribed standard for ultra low sulphur diesel for most of the European Union confirming to Euro V emission norms is 10 ppm(parts per million), the ultra low sulphur available in India from 2010 confirms to 15 ppm, which is very close to the EU figure. All in all, this news would come as a dampener to many prospective Accord and CR-V buyers, who for long have been hoping for diesel engined variants of these cars. One factor however, could work in favor of the Accord and CR-V in the future.

Honda is said to be developing a more powerful version of the 1.6 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engine with EarthDreams technology, that was recently showcased at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The more powerful version of this engine, pumping out 160 Bhp and 349 Nm is said to be aimed at replacing the current 2.2 Liter diesel engine. If that happens, Honda’s bad Indian diesel talk might not be a valid reason anymore in case the 1.6 Liter i-DTEC engine powers the 2012 Honda Civic in India as well.

For now though, Honda’s current focus seems to be on small capacity diesel engines that could power the likes of the Brio and the Jazz in the Indian market, and more importantly these cars would bring in the much needed volumes for the car maker. However, it remains to be seen how well Honda manages to adapt the under-development diesel engines to work with Indian diesel, for that would make or break the brand, highly renowned for its engine technology globally, in the Indian car market.

Source;
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-accord-cr-v-2012-diesel-india-57299/

No Honda City diesel sedan launch in 2012, confirms top Honda official: ICB Exclusive!

Ahead of the 2012 Geneva Motor Show that will happen very soon, there has been fresh speculation about Honda launching a diesel variant of its flagship City sedan in the Indian market, as early as this year. We got very interested in this seemingly big development and immediately got in touch with a top Honda official to confirm this story. Yet again, the Honda diesel bubble stands pricked as the Honda official clearly told us that Honda SIEL Cars India(HSCI) has no plans whatsoever of launching the diesel variant of the Honda City sedan in 2012. Therefore, the rumors of a City Diesel being launched in 2012 remain just that, mere rumors.

We also have gathered that Honda has no plans of launching any diesel engine car in India during 2012 from the HSCI official we got in touch with, consonant with the previous report we carried a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, it seems like the Civic Diesel too will take some time to arrive onto the Indian car market. Honda is the only mass market carmaker in India to not have even a single diesel engined variant in its portfolio and this hasn’t done the brand any good at the hustings, even as the Indian car market has shown a dramatic shift in preference towards diesel cars over the past few years. Honda though, does have plans of launching diesel engined cars in the future and a brand new line of diesel engines are being developed by Honda engineers.

In fact, Honda has deputed ex-Formula1 engineers on the job and the first diesel engine to emerge from this operation is the recently unveiled 1.6 Liter i-DTEC turbo diesel unit, which generates 120 Bhp of peak power and a superb peak torque output of 300 Nm. This engine will debut on the 2012 Honda Civic sedan. Honda is also said to be developing smaller, downsized variants of the 1.6 Liter i-DTEC engine which may power cars like the Jazz and Brio hatchbacks in the future. There is also some buzz about Honda unveiling another small capacity engine at the fast approaching 2012 Geneva Motor Show, which is said to be one of the most prestigious amongst auto shows. Watch this space.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-city-diesel-sedan-launch-2012-confirms-top-honda-official-icb-exclusive-56370/

Honda India: Honda City: A breezy performer

This is not for the North American market, but for those that are interested in what this is, think of a smaller Civic or a Honda FIT/Jazz sedan....
The Honda City belongs to a league of its own because it's not a Maruti and yet has been a runaway success since its 1997 launch. Fifteen years on, the City has got a makeover that has transformed the car into a better looker and greater performer.

The new look starts with the new front grille that looks less of an egg crate and more muscular and dynamic. The 10-spoke alloy wheels (in the upper-end models) complement the new exterior look; the front and rear bumpers also have been redesigned, the latter sporting smart reflectors. We can see that the rear lights have been made more contemporary with 'clear' lines that add to the premium look of the car. And you'll be delighted to know that halogen headlamps now come as a standard feature.

The top-of-the-line 'V' variant features an utterly useless but immensely lovable sunroof, through which you can gaze at the stars or take in the fresh air, as long as no bird decides to fertilise your premium car and its leather upholstery. You will be glad to know that halogen headlamps are a standard feature on the car.

On the inside too, changes abound. The instrumentation stays the same, with the exception that the dials now come in blue, foregoing their former amber illumination. Strangely enough, the main console lighting is still amber, so you can imagine your favourite vehicle to be a lounge bar as well. That said, the interiors are finished in a soft-to-touch beige cloth and the upper versions are swathed in expanses of supple leather.

For penny pinchers, Honda has introduced a 'corporate' model, which has black interiors and comes with a basic set of features, but does away with the integrated sound system guided by remote control, which you'll now find only in the higher- end models. Honda, incidentally, was one of the first companies in the country to do away with a CD player in its cars and offer USB connectivity as a standard feature.

Honda uses several proprietory technology to ensure that the City is one of the safest cars you can buy. It makes no compromises on safety. Even the base 'corporate' model comes with features like front airbags, anti-lock braking that incorporate brake assist systems, a driver's side anti-pinch guard and a standard immobiliser to protect your investment.

The City's 1.5 litre engine now outputs around 116bhp, but what is sexy about it is the way it goes about doing its job. Honda always was a master of small displacement petrol engines and the City's powerplant has to be one of the jewels in its crown.

Turn the key and the engine settles into a muted thrum, which is difficult to tell unless you look at the rev counter. Pumping the accelerator towards its nearly 7,000rpm redline does not produce any gruffness; the excellent engine mountings ensure that no vibration or harshness gets transmitted to the occupants.

Slot the gear lever to the left and up for first, and you'd be surprised at the lightness of the clutch, but what's really impressive is the torque spread - 146Nm of it is spread evenly across the rev range and you never feel as if the car is going to stall. Even the air- conditioning compressor cuts in and out silently - if you strain your ears, you'll hear a click as it comes on or goes off.

The City was one of the first cars in its segment to offer variable valve timing on its engines - that is, it operates different sets of engine valves with intelligent timing so that you get excellent drivability with reduced fuel consumption and resultantly lower emissions. The City, in fact, is legendary for its frugal consumption of black gold, so you can expect a return of at least 15-17kpl in the city with the aircon on.

A light steering response, which gets firmer with speed, and a willing engine make light work of city traffic. Opt for the five- speed automatic and driving becomes a breeze. And the increased ground clearance to 165mm means that the City doesn't have to scrape its pretty underbody on speedbreakers anymore. The City, like good whisky, keeps getting better with age.

Source;
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/honda-city-a-breezy-performer/1/173255.html

Honda highlights at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

Honda showcased its entire India model line-up at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo

2011 was a big year for Honda Siel Cars India Limited (HSCI). The launch of the updated Honda City, re-launch of the Honda Jazz at lower prices and the launch of the Honda Brio kept Honda in the lime light in the latter half of the year.

As a result at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo HSCI did not have new products to showcase. Therefore Honda decided to connect with the audience by keeping it simple and showcasing its current range of cars. As it turned out the move was a very smart one, the Honda stall was engulfed with prospective customers checking out their vehicles. And at the same time the Japanese car maker introduced prospective customers to Honda vehicles who had earlier not considered buying a Honda vehicle.

HSCI showcased their newest and smallest car, the Brio which attracted a considerable number of people. Powered by the same 1.2 litre i-VTEC engine as that in the Jazz with Variable Valve timing, however, slightly de-tuned to 88 PS to deliver a better fuel efficiency of 18.4 kilometres to a litre as per Central Motor Vehicle Rules. The interior is spacious and offers a number of storage spaces and cubbie holes to fit in anything throughout the cabin. Steering mounted controls are there on all models but the base. However, central locking and immobilizer is standard across all variants and ABS with EBD and SRS Airbags are on the top end and SMT option variant. Driver seat belt reminder is standard across all versions, however, the three point ELR with Pretensioner and Load Limiter is available only on the option SMT and VMT versions and so does the Tilt Steering. All models get Electronic Power Steering, front power windows, headlight off and ignition key off reminder and average fuel consumption display.

Earlier this year Honda re-launched the Jazz in the Indian market and slashed the price tag owing to increased localisation of components. The re-launched Honda Jazz also betters the bold design with a better looking grille, a freshly designed aerodynamic bumper, new headlights with silver and black matt finish and a new rear bumper among other cosmetic changes, the new Jazz is quite simply a glossier version of its original model. Now available in a new Urban Titanium colour in addition to its four existing ones, the new face-lifted version of the Jazz is now open for booking across Honda Siel India showrooms in the country, and will sell in three variants - Jazz, Jazz Select, Jazz X in Manual Transmission.
The recently launched updated Honda City gets refreshed interiors and exteriors and the addition of features like a sunroof on the option variant. The City is powered by a 1.5-litre iVTEC engine, which churns out 118PS of power, and is known for its refinement. Safety features on the car include ABS with Brake Assist, Dual SRS Airbags, and G-CON. The new Honda City now comes with Cruise Control in select models.

Honda also slashed the prices of the City with the recent launch. With base model pricing of Rs.6.99 Lakh, ex-showroom Delhi and will be available in four trim versions namely, Corporate, E, S, V. The V trim version will be available in automatic transmission as well, along with an option for a sunroof.

The Honda Civic has been a great seller ever since it was introduced in the market. Its fighter jet like styling coupled with being one of the best cars to drive in its class made it hot property for those looking for a car with class and zest. Honda Siel has continuously upgraded the Civic over the years and has consistently been adding on frills to keep up with the growing competition. The current generation Civic in India is a facelifted version of the original car launched here. The car’s futuristic styling and interiors make its competitors look old school today.
The 8th generation Accord has been a great looker since its introduction in May 2008. The sharp edges, long sleek body and rather muscular stance have definitely helped in the appeal department. The 2011 facelifted gave the car a revised the front bumper, new front grille to offer a bolder chrome look, enhanced the rear with some chrome bezel around the taillights, indicators on the ORVMs and spiced up the package by offering a set of alloy wheels that feature an all new design. These changes are across both the 2.4 litre and V6 models. In addition to these changes, the 2.4 litre model also boasts of a sunroof and wooden like interior inserts as standard. These two features were earlier only available on the V6 Accord.

The Honda CR-V is a CBU import that enjoys a strong fan following globally. Its heritage lies in the essence that most people rarely take their SUV's off the tarmac, so why build something that will never be used in the manner that it is designed for. This gave birth to the idea of a soft roader, or an SUV-looking passenger vehicle that had the street presence and commanding driving position of an SUV, yet was designed essentially to stay on the road. A bit of 'light' off roading was still possible thanks to gizmos like the Real Time four wheel drive system, but the vehicle essentially remained a 'car' that looks like an SUV. No doubt the formula was a success and the CR-V has grown in popularity worldwide. Here in India the CR-V has dominated segment of petrol soft roaders.

Source;

http://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/honda-highlights-at-the-2012-delhi-auto-expo/11290/2

Honda City Facelift Launced with "Corporate Edition Variant

Ladies and gentlemen, Honda continues its pricing onslaught in the Indian car market, with the latest version of Honda’s flagship sedan, the facelifted City sedan, being launched at a killer price tag of INR 6.99 Lakhs. This pricing though is for the no-frills corporate edition of the popular petrol engine powered sedan. This new low cost variant apart, cruise control is a major feature that has been added to the facelifted Honda City.

Source (with more info. on changes and pic's!)
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-city-facelift-launched-price-inr-699-lakhs-base-corporate-edition-variant-53008/

Honda's new diesel engine unveiled (India not North America)

Considering the demand for diesel cars in India Honda's new 1.6 litre diesel engine is bound to come to our shores. Read on to know more

In 2003 Honda had developed a 2.2 litre i-CTDi four cylinder diesel engine for the Accord in Europe and America. The engine found its way under the hood of many other Honda models sold across various nations in the western world. Then in 2008 Honda introduced the i-DTEC version of the 2.2 litre diesel engine to meet Euro 5 emissions norms.

Now, Honda has revealed a downsized turbocharged version of the old 2.2 unit as a 1.6 litre common rail i-DTEC engine at the Tokyo Motor Show. Honda has used lots of aluminium in the engine and the new engine is bound to be very light. The four pot motor develops 120PS of power at 4000 rpm and 299Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. The engine is said to be fairly rev happy for a diesel like Mazda’s SKYACTIV 2.2 litre diesel engine and is also said to have good low end grunt.

Honda engineers say that they are working on a more powerful 160PS version of the 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine with 349Nm of torque that will replace the current 2.2 litre diesel unit in Europe.

As for India, the new 1.6 litre i-DTEC is bound to find its way under the hood of the Honda City which will help the mid-size Honda ramp up considerably in the sales department due to the demand for diesel cars in India. Also, a downsized version of the 1.6 litre i-DTEC engine should be on the cards for the Honda Jazz and Brio, which will help Honda gain a considerable chunk of the diesel hatchback market share in India.

Honda had confirmed their plans for a diesel power plant for India earlier this year when the Honda R&D Co (Automobile R&D Centre) Managing Officer, Chief Officer (Development Operations) Yasuhisa said, "We are aware of the petrol price increase in India but we consider that as a sign of growth in the Indian market... definitely we are currently developing diesel engine cars.” That comment has been cemented by the unveiling of the new 1.6 litre i-DTEC diesel engine.

Source;

http://www.zigwheels.com/news-features/news/hondas-new-diesel-engine-unveiled/10822/1

Facelifted Honda City to arrive in mid November?

Not for us in North America, think of this as a Honda FIT Sedan.....While we know that the facelifted Honda City will be here in the next couple of months, our friends at OnCars seem to have gotten wind of when the Honda City could actually be launched. According to them, Mid November is when Honda will unveil the facelifted version of the Honda City Sedan. The facelift of the Honda City is essentially a mid career makeover of the Honda City and thus is largely cosmetic in nature.

Both the front and rear ends of the Honda City get minor changes in the facelift. The facelifted City has already been launched in the Thai market. Hence, it is quite easy to gauge what we will be getting here in India as Honda usually launches its products in the Thai market before an Indian launch. On the front end, brand new bumpers, a new front air dam, a revised grille design with chrome tipping is what you get.

The rear end gets new tail lamps and reflectors on the rear bumper. The car also could get an Eco mode indicator on the instrumentation console that will help willing drivers to squeeze out that extra bit of mileage from the City. Automatic climate control could be one feature that could still be in the missing list on the facelifted Honda City as the Thai model doesn’t seem to have one.

Under the hood, the same 1.5 Liter 118 Bhp, i-VTEC petrol engine will do duty along with the five speed manual and automatic transmission options. Given that Honda doesn’t have a diesel engine in its portfolio, expect the facelifted version of the Honda City to be priced similar to the current version as the facelift does not add any functional feature worth a price increase. Meanwhile, the current versions of the Honda City are trading for big dealer discounts this festive season.

Source;
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/facelifted-honda-city-arrive-mid-november-50618/

Honda to bring diesel engined cars to India: Official Word Emerges!

Sure would be nice to see a Diesel from Honda come to North America....
Honda SIEL seems to be on a resurgence of sorts. First we had superb product repositioning strategies with the Honda City Sedan and Honda Jazz Hatchback seeing big price drops on account of what Honda would like us to believe, increased localization which has led to massive cost savings. Then came the superbly priced Honda Brio, which at a starting price of INR 3.95 Lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi has all the trappings of being a best seller. Now, Honda has just come out with the most important of announcements yet, of that of Honda bringing in diesel engines for its Indian line up.

While this isn’t exactly something we hadn’t reported earlier, Honda SIEL officials openly speaking about diesel engines for Honda cars in India only means that Brand Honda is going all out to ensure that it manages to stay relevant in the Indian market by adapting itself to the growing trend of diesel engined cars outselling petrol engined cars in India owing to high petrol prices and the big difference in pricing between petrol and diesel fuel. Currently, Honda sells six models in India, the Brio, the Jazz, the City, the Civic, the CR-V and the Accord.

Of these cars, European variants of the Civic, CR-V and Accord already feature powerful and frugal common rail, turbo diesel engines. So, only three of Honda’s six cars in India actually need brand new diesel engines developed from scratch. For the record, Honda has already begun development of diesel engines on a war footing with engineers from Honda’s former F1 program actually being involved in this high stakes project. Hence, it is just a matter of time before Honda comes up with small capacity diesel engines for its Indian bread-and-butter product line up, although the firm remains tight lipped about when exactly the new small capacity diesel engines will be available.

Meanwhile, here’s official word emerging about Honda’s diesel engined car model plans for the Indian market, from Mr Jnaneswar Sen, Vice-President (Sales and Marketing) HSCI.

The Research and Development team in Japan is developing diesel engines. It is premature to say that the products will be rolled out on diesel (platform).

Source;
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-bring-diesel-engined-cars-india-official-word-emerges-49690/

Honda Jazz EV Concept electric car debuts

There was talk about this vehicle coming to north america instead of getting the Honda FIT hybrid, not sure whether or not that's still the plan....
While most other manufacturers participating in the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show, were busy trying to steal the show with their new models sporting glitzy designs and displaying promising concepts, Japanese auto giant Honda seemed to focus on the greener side of things by exhibiting various plug-in hybrid and electric-vehicle concepts, including the yet-to-be-named Jazz-based Honda EV concept.

The EV Concept will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and a high-density coaxial motor which is claimed to hit a top speed of 145 kph while helping to achieve an estimated driving range of 160 kilometres per charge. Aiding efficiency would be a 3-mode electric drive system lifted straight from the Honda CR-Z hybrid, which allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal and Sport modes thereby optimising the vehicle dynamics for optimal efficiency or best performance.

Another highlight of the EV concept is a connectivity system which allows the driver to monitor the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and even turn on the air conditioning system using a personal computer, mobile phone or an interactive remote from Honda. Recharging the battery takes less than 6 hours when using a 240-volt outlet. Other features include a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System with capability to locate public charging stations, LED headlamps and tail lamps, aerodynamic bumpers and eco-friendly bio-fabric on-seating surfaces.

In a land where even simple hybrids have turned out to be epic failures, a sophisticated EV stands no chance. But we do know that the EV concept will be a Jazz on batteries when it finally reaches production stage in no more than a year.

Source;
http://www.drivearabia.com/news/2011/09/29/honda-ev-concept-honda-jazz-electric-debuts/

2012 Honda City (not for North America)

Honda is ready to bring out their new Honda City into India just in time for the festive season. The car with some additional features and marked changes to its interior and exterior is bound to rake up some enthusiasm among car enthusiasts. According to the latest video released, one can surmise that Honda City will have a lot of changes to talk about.

On the exterior one would notice a shining chrome grill as against the dull grey available in older models. Headlights are the same but tail lights are brand new. New alloy wheels are also added to the new Honda City.

2012 Honda City interior is well designed and as per details revealed in the video we could make out a blue white backlit unit with an ECO meter. Its higher end model would sport a sunroof while the C Class would have a CD player. Prices are not yet revealed but there should not be any major price hikes at least for the lower end models. Since the top end variant has some exciting features it would only be fair to expect some price revisions in that category.

Source;
http://www.rushlane.com/2012-honda-city-photos-and-video-1221068.html

India Auto News: Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Outlander facing tough times- Here is why

I always find it interesting how different parts of the world have such different market demands and sometimes seeing what is available elsewhere leaves me wanting (diesel CRV!)....
The next big launch of the year will the 2012 Honda CR-V. The SUV that will also debut in India and is what most Honda fans in the country will be waiting with bated breath. Honda has already revealed the car although, just a single picture has been released by the auto maker, most of the exterior details a clearly visible. It is still not clear though if the car would seat seven or five. Anyway, the hot news of the day came in the form of engine specifications that were leaked ahead of the SUVs official unveiling.

Mitsubishi Outlander and Honda CR-V

The new Honda CR-V will get next generation engines which Honda term as K24 and K25. The K24 engine is a 2.4 litre 16 valve DOHC petrol that puts out 175 bhp of maximum power and 170 lb-ft of torque. That leaves us with the K25 which most of you might have guessed is a 2.5 litre 16 valve DOHC with 201 bhp @ 6000 rpm and 177 lb-ft pr torque. Both engines will be coupled to a 5-speed automatic gearbox.

That is all about the technical tit-bits. Of course, the Indian version of the 2012 Honda CR-V is expected to get a diesel engine. There is also a buzz going about the toys that will be offered inside the new car. The new SUV could get a rear seat entertainment package along with a DVD player. Now, what all would make it into the Indian version isn’t actually clear. One thing that the new Honda CR-V could benefit with apart from a diesel engine is seating for seven.

The Honda CR-V will rival the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva and the recently launched Renault Koleos among others. A seven seat configuration will give it an advantage over its rivals. A diesel engine was always missed on the CR-V and now we could get one given the popularity of oil burners among Indians. Until now, apart from the popular Honda, the two other SUVs that came with a petrol engine were the Mitsubishi Outlander and the BMW X1.

Now, sales of petrol cars has slumped in recent times. In fact, neither Mitsubishi nor Honda is clocking descent volumes of the their products. Mitsubishi sold just 32 units of the Outlander last month while Honda sold just 26 units. Compare these figures with their diesel powered rivals and the picture becomes clear. The biggest player in this segment, Toyota has been doing extremely well with the Fortuner. The company sold close to 900 units of the Fortuner in the month of August.

The only factor to blame for the dismal sales of the CR-V and the Outlander is the absence of a diesel engine. This might change with the 2012 Honda CR-V coming by. A 2.2 litre i-CTDI engine seems to be the most probable. The 4-cylinder diesel engine puts out 140 bhp and 251 lb-ft of torque. With Honda introducing a diesel CR-V, Mitsubishi will have get its act together quickly before the CR-V runs away with its market share.

At present, a 2.4 litre 170 bhp petrol engine powers the Mitsubishi Outlander. A petrol SUV, in the current scenario isn’t viable even for those who can afford to own one. 80 percent of the sales of the more expensive BMW X1 consists of the diesel sDrive20d version. This shows that even the people who can afford a premium crossover like the BMW X1 are feeling the pinch of the petrol price hike.

Coming back to the 2012 Honda CR-V, some reports suggest that the new SUV might get seven seats given the larger proportions of the car. If this is true then, the CR-V does stand a fair chance to take on the might of the Toyota Fortuner which has been selling like hot cakes. The new CR-V is expected to make its international debut at the Los Angeles motor in December.

Source;
http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/2012-honda-crv-engine-specifications-leaked-49035/#more-49035

Minor Facelift to the 2012 Honda City Spyshot

Looks like it gets the Civic front end. This car is basically a FIT sedan, available only across seas.

Source;
http://jokeforblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/honda-city-restyling-spy.html

Honda City facelift spied! Launch could be in October

It is time for the all new Honda City to get a makeover. Honda is expected to launch the Honda City in October with a mid-life facelift. Honda recently dropped the prices of its products which has made the Honda City a very attractive buy among the other mid-sized sedan in its company. The new aesthetic package will only add to the popularity of the Honda City. Autocar India is carrying spy shots of the all new Honda City facelift testing.

The changes however, minor have helped freshen-up the overall visual appeal of the mid-sized car. The major change to the front end consists of a redesigned front grille finished in brushed black. The front bumper has also been redesigned and has fog lamps neatly integrated in to it. The car also gets new side skirts as well as rear bumpers with subtle sporty touch. The new alloys are from the Accord. The 10-spoke alloys enhance the sporty theme that is evident from the new aesthetic touches that have been added to the new Honda City.

The top-of-the-line variant of the Honda City is also expected to carry a sun-roof. Also, we hope Honda might add automatic-climate control, bluetooth and auto-retractable mirrors. The main competitors of the car offer these features in their cars and Honda might respond to this. If, Honda includes these features on the City, cars like the Hyundai Verna are in for a big battle in the coming months. The mechanicals on the car will remain the same though. The all new facelift Honda City will get the same 1.5 litre i-VTEC with 116 horsepower on tap. The prices of the car are expected to remain the same.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/honda-city-facelift-spied-launch-october-48468/

New 2012 Honda Brio test drive & review

Not for us in North America....Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Beat beware, Honda has plans to upset the applecart

By:Rohin Nagrani Published :September 01, 2011 Photos: Pablo Chaterji



Honda has been, how do we really put it, fairly quiet for a long time now. Since the launch of the Jazz in 2009, there really have been no new car launches, except for the odd facelift. Two years certainly is a long time to be without a new car and in all that time the market has changed a fair bit. Diesels have gained prominence, a lot of brands have launched products that many would like to believe are relevant to a market like India and everyone has managed to increase marketshare, except for Honda.



It has seen a somewhat downward spiral, even though it has managed to improve sales every now and then. It's only because it hasn't had a credible small car in the portfolio. And a diesel option. The first is getting cured now, with the launch of the Brio this very month and first impressions are that it is going to shake up the established lot.



For those who believe that it's a Maruti Suzuki Swift rival, read again. It's more in the league of the Hyundai i10, Chevrolet Beat and Maruti Suzuki Ritz league, especially as price positioning goes. Sure, the odd Swift and Polo may figure in its crosshairs, especially the lower variants of the duo, but if you consider the whole deal, the Brio would certainly love to take potshots at them, while the re-positioned Jazz finishes the deal off.



We drove the Brio extensively, subjected it to a whole lot of highway driving, some urban and the odd hill drive at full-tilt for this first driving impression.



1. It's quite amazing how Honda have managed to package the Brio in such a tiny footprint. Measuring just 3.6 metres in length and with a turning radius of 4.5 m, the Brio makes for an ideal city car. What's more, Honda's philosophy of man maximum, machine minimum comes truly to the fore here. At 930 kg, it's considerably lighter than a lot of its competition, except for the larger Toyota Etios Liva at 900 kg.



2. The Brio's design is rather unique and has some facets that make it cute and cuddly. It stays more or less true to the original concept we all first witnessed at the Delhi Auto Expo 2010. Takeaways from the design include a smallish front grille with the large Honda logo, the large airdam for the front bumper, a rising waistline and of course the glass hatch and the protruding tail lamps.



3. Many have asked about the tailgate and here's what we think of it. The original Maruti 800 also had one, but unlike that, this one doesn't have the fixed metal gate the 800 enjoyed. Nevertheless there is a degree of usefulness, what with it being lighter than a metal and glass tail gate and visibility through the rear glass is excellent. Honda Siel claims that the tailgate is made of tempered glass, like any other automobile, but uses a 5 mm thick variety instead of the usual 3 mm to account for safety and durability. However, one must remember, in case of an insurance claim in case of an accident, you won't be getting more than 50 per cent, so there's some food for thought.



4. On the inside, the Brio has its share of good points and some not so good ones. Let's first talk about what you get. The Brio in the highest trim, that is V, comes with twin airbags, ABS, alloy-wheels, fog lamps, all four-power windows, central locking, a USB/aux-in stereo system and stereo controls on the steering and electrically adjustable outside rear-view mirrors.. The trim below it, the S will come with all of that, minus alloy wheels, fog lamps and slightly different seat trim design. Two more trim levels are expected below the S as well, one of which we believe would be called the Brio E, going by general nomenclature and would come with all of the features from the S, minus airbags and ABS. Both the S and V come with a mult-trip meter with fuel-efficiency display. There are lots of bits and pieces from the City and Jazz on the Brio, which explains the recent price cut on the two.



5. Now here's what you won't get and here's where Honda have done some level of cost cutting. You will get single piece seats on all variants, you won't get a rear parcel tray nor a rear demister/defogger, let alone a rear wiper on any of the variants, which is very baffling to say the least. The Brio, like its other cousins, the Jazz and City doesn't come with auto climate control, nor a CD player. The front door pockets, though large don't wrap the door with plastic, instead you see exposed, painted metal. The rear power windows are of the toggle switch variety. The overall plastic quality though is decent and generally the cost-cutting isn't painfully evident, unless you decide to generally view things with a magnifying glass. Does this cost-cutting reflect on the price tag, we'll tell you a little later.



6. Space is quite good for this city-based hatch. At the front, the seats are comfortable and offer good support, but taller people may not like the under thigh support and there's overall a little less cushioning than one would have liked. At the rear, there's pretty good legroom and knee room. Even with someone like Pablo, who's close to 6-feet tall at the helm, I found at least two-inches of spare knee room sitting right behind. Legroom is decent and with a close to non-existent central tunnel, three medium sized people can squeeze in for short drives. What is disturbing is the fixed neck-restraints that are too short for anybody 5 feet 7 inches and above and any attempt to rest your head on them could result in your head kissing the roof. The boot is large and deep enough for a medium and small-sized suitcase together, and when flipped, the rear seat can accomodate two large golf bags easily. The rear seat however isn't of the split variety. Overall visibility from the car is very good, making it useful in choc-a-bloc urban traffic conditions.



7. Powering the Brio is the tried and tested 1.2-litre i-Vtec motor from the Jazz. It makes 87 bhp@6000 rpm and 11.1 kgm of peak torque at 4000 rpm. The powertrain, on the whole is identical, the only differences being to the gearing and ECU parameters. The motor is good enough to propel the Brio to 60 kph in about 5 seconds and by our rough estimation, should get the car to 100 kph in under 12 seconds. It's good enough to put Hyundai's 1.2 Kappa to shame as far as performance goes, while we still believe overall refinement at high revs is better in the little Hyundai.



8. The car moves with a lot of vigour and it doesn't feel out of breath even at low revs, thanks to some clever changes to the gearing and the low kerb weight, that makes the 11.1 kgm of peak torque more than sufficient. Honda claims that the Brio can return 18.4 kpl (ARAI), making it rather efficient too. The gearbox as always is a joy to use and the familiarity of the gear knob only re-affirms that smile on the face. It's slick and slots into place beautifully. The foot controls are light and that's a boon for most city users.



9. As far as driving dynamics go, the light weight Brio is good for the scoot and shoot conditions of the city. The small dimensions, coupled with the light steering and airy cabin gives the driver a shot in the arm to go hunting for gaps. It turns in very quickly into corners, aided by the power steering that feels a bit over-servoed. We wish it had more feel and weight as speeds build up, given the overall sporty pretensions of the chassis and engine.



10. Ride quality is on the softer side. Unlike most Hondas, the front-end isn't as stiff and the rear is setup to be even softer. Net result is a car that rides over bad surfaces quite well for its size and weight, but the problem is the vertical movements of the suspension are a touch too much. Long after you have ridden over bumps, the suspension continues its vertical movement which can get a bit disconcerting. It should tell you that it's good for the city and expressways, but not B-roads and state highways where the surface isn't necessarily well laid.



11. Overall, the Brio works well as a city car. Heck, it's even fun-to-drive and has all the elements of a warm urban hatch. Sure, the steering could have had better weight and the suspension a bit more stiffness, but then again for the 95 percentile urban commuter, the car works very well indeed. Some more features could have been added, especially a rear demister, which we feel works against the car. But what may not work against is the price. Considering all the trims, we believe the car could be priced in the region of Rs 3.8 lakh to 4.8 lakh, ex-showroom. At that price, Honda could very well set a precedent and possibly even start a price war in this segment.



Source;

http://www.bsmotoring.com/news/new-honda-brio-test-drivereview/3947/1