Fuiyoh. But what do you expect with the Honda City? It is a Honda and therefore its badge carries some weight. The all-new Toyota Vios seems like a rehash of the earlier one with and basically has a new suit (I have come to the opinion that Honda seems to have won this round as it has more tech, equipment and is unpretentious - I mean check out the Vios' interior fake leather stitching made out of moulded plastic for heaven's sake!!!!). The Nissan Almera seems to be downright dowdy in terms of styling. And everyone who's badge conscious, and there are many here in Malaysia, would not want to be seen in the quieter, more refined, sometimes faster (when turbocharged) Proton Preve and Suprima S.

So do read onwards to the press release if you are interested folks.



PRESS RELEASE
- Highest ever bookings for a new model in Honda Malaysia's history 

- Honda Malaysia?s sales performance increased by 30% in Q1 2014 compared to Q1 2013 

Petaling Jaya, 22 April 2014 - The All-New City has set another new benchmark for Honda Malaysia when it received 10,000 bookings within 1 month from its official launch on 20 March 2014. The booking figure surpassed the previous record of 3,000 bookings within a month for the newly launched CR-V last year.

Despite this strong demand that exceeds the anticipation, Honda Malaysia will be able to complete delivery for all 10,000 bookings of All-New City by the end of June. The newly opened No.2 Line in Pegoh, which doubled Honda Malaysia?s production capacity, has enabled flexible production scheduling that will help speed up production and shorten waiting time.

The All-New City received positive reviews from Malaysians who love its advanced features and unrivaled cabin and cargo space. This 4th Generation City is equipped with class-leading safety features including 6 airbags, VSA and ISO Fix while its trunk space is the largest in its segment at 536L. In addition, drivers can enjoy convenient and practical features such as Smart Entry, Push Start Button, Cruise Control, Touch Panel Auto Air-conditioning, Rear Air-conditioning, and entertainment enhancements such as the 7" Display Audio and 8-Speaker Audio System. Combined with the fuel efficiency and practicality, the All-New City is one of the most anticipated sedans in Malaysia.

Even before the launch of the All-New City, Honda Malaysia?s sales had recorded an increase of 30% in Q1 2014 over the same period of last year due to the steady and strong sales of other models including the Accord and CR-V which were launched last year. As the first model launched for 2014, the All-New City will gear the company in the right direction towards achieving its annual target of 76,000 units.

Honda Malaysia is grateful to all customers for the support and belief in Honda products and services. With the launch of the All-New City and more to come in 2014, Honda is committed to excite Malaysians with new models that achieve good value for money while maintaining superior quality and performance.

Customers can view and test-drive the All-New City at any of 75 Honda dealerships nationwide. For more information, please call Honda?s Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log onto www.honda.com.my.

The all-new 2014 Honda City was displayed at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya over the weekend. I suppose this is a pre-launch roadshow for Honda's B segment sedan...a.k.a the Toyota Vios fighter. It will be priced around RM70,000-90,000 depending on what spec you choose and it will be officially launched here in Malaysia sometime in March.

How does it look in the metal?
This City is an evolution of the already familiar current 3rd generation City. It looks more cohesive than the earlier model and looks slightly lower and longer. It has the same width so it still has that slightly narrow, undernourished looking look to it when viewed fromt he front or the rear. There is nothing that really pops out as being really unique and outstanding. Surprisingly sober looking and slightly too normal looking. The new Toyota Vios looks more radical. This looks, well, more sober than a Toyota.

I know car manufacturers place economy, space and practicality over looks. The City is not offensive...but maybe the designers should consume more sake, happy pills or get a whole lot more sex so that this new car looks stunning. Oh well..at this price range, the rm70-90k price range, the entry level foreign branded sedan range, we beggars cannot be choosers. Something has to give....and it is the looks usually.

Lucky its not ugly. And come to think of it, the City, Vios as well as other offerings from Korea and even Malaysia don't look all that bad...but they're just normal.

So the question is whether one should choose this over the Vios or a Proton Preve. I would choose this over the Vios without a doubt. Without a blink of the eye. Without one bit of hesitancy. This CKD Honda City would be equipped with a better engine and a better gearbox compared to the Vios. The Honda 1.5liter engine is more rev happy and would entertain you more. It's gearbox isn't a crappy 4 speed automatic like the one in the Vios. It is 2014, not 1994. Cars twenty years ago were running around with 4 speed automatics.

Would I choose this over a Proton Suprima S? I may not as the Proton is actually a C segment car disguised as a B segment priced car. The Suprima is a larger car and has larger car characteristics. Sometimes NVH or the refinement in larger car segments are better. Hence the hesitancy if I were to choose this over a Proton Suprima. Badge snobs would buy the City. But I think I'd pass for a faster, better handling, as refined Proton over this one.

The all-new 2014 Honda City was displayed at Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya over the weekend. I suppose this is a pre-launch roadshow for Honda's B segment sedan...a.k.a the Toyota Vios fighter. It will be priced around RM70,000-90,000 depending on what spec you choose and it will be officially launched here in Malaysia sometime in March.

How does it look in the metal?
This City is an evolution of the already familiar current 3rd generation City. It looks more cohesive than the earlier model and looks slightly lower and longer. It has the same width so it still has that slightly narrow, undernourished looking look to it when viewed fromt he front or the rear. There is nothing that really pops out as being really unique and outstanding. Surprisingly sober looking and slightly too normal looking. The new Toyota Vios looks more radical. This looks, well, more sober than a Toyota.

I know car manufacturers place economy, space and practicality over looks. The City is not offensive...but maybe the designers should consume more sake, happy pills or get a whole lot more sex so that this new car looks stunning. Oh well..at this price range, the rm70-90k price range, the entry level foreign branded sedan range, we beggars cannot be choosers. Something has to give....and it is the looks usually.

Lucky its not ugly. And come to think of it, the City, Vios as well as other offerings from Korea and even Malaysia don't look all that bad...but they're just normal.

So the question is whether one should choose this over the Vios or a Proton Preve. I would choose this over the Vios without a doubt. Without a blink of the eye. Without one bit of hesitancy. This CKD Honda City would be equipped with a better engine and a better gearbox compared to the Vios. The Honda 1.5liter engine is more rev happy and would entertain you more. It's gearbox isn't a crappy 4 speed automatic like the one in the Vios. It is 2014, not 1994. Cars twenty years ago were running around with 4 speed automatics.

Would I choose this over a Proton Suprima S? I may not as the Proton is actually a C segment car disguised as a B segment priced car. The Suprima is a larger car and has larger car characteristics. Sometimes NVH or the refinement in larger car segments are better. Hence the hesitancy if I were to choose this over a Proton Suprima. Badge snobs would buy the City. But I think I'd pass for a faster, better handling, as refined Proton over this one.

The all-new Honda City is officially launched and on sale in India. It was recently launched at the end of last year over there and now it is officially on sale over there. The question on the minds of most Malaysian Honda enthusiasts would be when is this car coming to our shores. We predict that is won't arrive until the middle of this year at the very least (We have our doubts) due to Honda Malaysia requiring to engineer the new Honda City for local assembly and that no reports of Honda sending a few units to JPJ in Putrajaya to get type approval as yet.




Anyway, the 4th generation City gets evolutionary styling (In other words, it looks pretty similar to the 3rd gen City - Still think it's a little too tall and narrow). The car is larger than the current model, it gets rear passenger air vents (which seem to be the trend to offer more luxurious fittings even for entry level cars)  and it gets an improved I-VTEC 1.5liter 4 cylinder engine (as well as a new diesel engine for India and compatible markets) which transmits power to the front wheels via a 5 speed manual or a CVT automatic.

The CVT is also an issue in question as we do not know whether Honda Malaysia will want to spec this tranny in our Honda City as previously Honda Malaysia opted to spec a traditional torque convertor automatic over this in the current 3rd Generation Honda City over a CVT used in the previous 2nd Generation tadpole of a car, or really ugly looking Honda City (who cares if it's practical - It's s ugly that only blind people would drive it and feel good, IF blind people could  be allowed drive in the first place). Even the local Honda Accord gets a 5 speed automatic instead of the CVT. This could mean that we could get a normal automatic instead of a CVT for this all-new City.

Browse through Honda India's press release for more details. Remember, too much looking at the specification and not actually trying any car before buying or just buying a car by looking at the spec sheet is wrong. You've got to take into account how you think you would feel for a car after paying for it for a few years or so. So read up a little, look at some of the pics herein and then wait for the car to come out before plonking down some cash for what is essentially a bread and butter (and not hot and cooking performance) car that Honda wants all of you to buy over a Toyota Vios. Actually, now that we've mentioned that, you could actually opt for this car over that.

HONDA CAR INDIA PRESS RELEASE ON THE ALL-NEW 4TH GENERATION HONDA CITY

HCIL launches the all-new 4th Generation Honda City in India

Now available in Diesel and Petrol New Delhi, January 7, 2014: Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), leading manufacturer of premium cars in the country, today launched the all-new 4th Generation Honda City for the Indian market. First introduced in India in January 1998, Honda City has brought joy to over 4.3 lakh customers across the country and has been the country’s most successful sedan. The all-new City, developed a s a global sedan, embodies the best of Honda’s technologies to deliver Advanced Sporty Design, Best Comfort and Best Fuel Efficiency which exceeds customer’s expectations and would now be available in both Diesel and Petrol fuel options. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yoshiyuki Matsumoto, Managing Officer, Honda Motor Company and Representative of Development, Purchasing and Production in Asia & Oceania Region said “City has been a high performing product for Honda with over 2.2 million customers across 55 countries. The 4th Generation Honda City is poised for a great response from Indian customers amongst which the car enjoys a very high aspirational value.” “With the 4th Generation City now available in Diesel in India, Honda Cars is shifting gears to significantly expand its operating universe in the Indian market. The new launch will be a very important facet in this process as the car has witnessed an exceptional success ever since it was launched here,” he added In addition to meaningful technological advancements, the 4th Generation City delivers a new premium look and feel. The all new City adopts the best of Honda’s powertrains to achieve a perfect balance of performance and fuel economy. The Diesel City is powered by the 1.5L i-DTEC diesel engine of Earth Dream Technology series and is the most fuel efficient car in the country with industry best fuel efficiency of 26 kmpl. This engine delivers a maximum power of 100ps@3600 rpm and maximum torque of 200 N-m@1750 rpm. It has been mated to a newly developed 6-speed manual transmission that is light, compact, and attains top class transmission efficiency with wide range and optimized gear ratios to deliver a pleasant, silent and fun to drive experience along with an excellent fuel economy. The Petrol variant of the City is powered with an improved 1.5L i-VTEC engine that delivers amaximum power of 119 ps@6600 rpm and a torque of 145 N-m@4600 rpm. It has been mated with Honda’s original innovative and advanced CVT that delivers top class fuel efficiency of 18 kmpl along with an effortless driving experience and a 5 speed manual transmission that churns out an impressive fuel efficiency of 17.8 kmpl. Focusing on the role and importance of Honda City for HCIL’s business, Mr. Hironori Kanayama, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd said, “2013 witnessed Honda’s exceptional growth in India with our first Diesel offering, Honda Amaze. The success of Honda was possible through significant reforms in R&D and localization. This has enabled more customers to experience the joy of owning and driving a Honda car. At Honda, our goal is not just to create great products, but to offer unparalleled experience to our customers. With the best of both petrol and diesel technologies available in Honda City, we are very confident about the success of the model which will significantly contribute to our business growth in India.” The car has received an impressive response on pre-launch bookings which began after its global unveiling in India in November 2013. HCIL will start deliveries of the Diesel variants of the new City immediately through company’s strong and expanding distribution network of 159 dealers in 101 cities across the country. The deliveries for the Petrol variants would begin from February 2014. The new Honda City has been developed at Honda R&D Centre located in Tochigi, Japanfollowing extensive market surveys in India, ASEAN countries and other markets for people’s driving needs and lifestyles. The development of all-new Honda City adopts Honda’s new ‘global operation reform’ of concurrent development and implementation of locally optimized design drawings to realize the best vehicle specifications with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions for our customers. India, being a key strategic market for Honda in the Asia and Oceania region, has been specifically chosen to lead the global production for the All New Honda City with the 1.5L i-DTEC diesel engine which is already gaining popularity in the country. This makes India the first country to manufacture and sell the New City, which will eventually be sold in 60 markets to help expand Honda’s footprint in some of the fastest growing auto markets in the world. The grand concept for the all-new City is Advanced Cool Stunner. “Stunner” is at the core of this concept and reflects sophistication and vigor while in motion and a striking presence when standing still. Packaging is the big attractiveness of the new City. The All New City delivers cleverly generated interior space that exceeds its class by further evolving Honda’s “man maximum machine minimum” philosophy which aims at maximizing the space available for people and minimizing the space required for mechanical components. The new City offers One class above Rear legroom, superior Head Clearance & Knee room inside cabin and offers a class leading boot space of 510L. New City uses high tensile steel along with new body structure to achieve a lightweight & high rigidity sedan body structure to support driving and package. The new City has a completely new design, high Balance Chassis system which offers comfort with safety. The car has new geometry MacPherson Strut front suspension and High rigidity H shaped twist beam rear suspension for operation stability and comfortable ride. City adopts a High rigidity & new controlled electronic power steering which delivers a high quality steering feel. Considering Indian usage conditions, the ground contact performance for the New City has been improved by changing the exhaust layout around the wheelbase centre. The City’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body enhances self-protection while mitigating damage to other vehicles in the event of a collision. The City features host of Honda’s active and passive safety technologies including Pedestrian injury mitigation technology , Driver and Front passenger SRS airbags, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)which prevents wheel locking, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) which enhances braking performance and impact mitigating headrests which reduce the possibility of neck injury in rear impacts of low speed. The ABS with EBD is being offered as standard across all Diesel and Petrol CVT variants. New City offers a host of advanced interior equipment like First in segment Auto AC with Touchscreen Control panel, Advanced integrated Audio with 8 speakers and 5” screen, One Push Engine Start/Stop button with Honda Smart Key System, steering wheel with buttons for cruise control, Audio and hands-free control, Rear A/C vents and Rear Parking camera with multiple views. The CVT model will be equipped with a “Paddle Shift” option which can be operated in both D and S mode and allows the driver to enjoy a manual transmission-like driving feel. On the exterior, with segment first shark fin antenna, sunroof, 15” sporty alloy wheels, stylish fog lamps and sleek turn indicators on the door mirrors, the New city truly delivers a One Class Above feeling. The all-new City is available in 5 grades offered in Petrol and Diesel variants – E, S, SV, V and VX with Manual Transmission. Additionally, the City will be available in CVT in SV & VX petrol grades. Honda City will be available in six exciting range of colors – Golden Brown Metallic (New and exclusive), Carnelian Red Pearl, Urban Titanium Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Taffeta White. It comes with a 2 years or 40,000 kms warranty as standard value for all customers.

Honda has just launched the 4th Generation Honda City in India and the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013 has just finished. What does this tell you? Whilst we are important enough to get the all-new Honda Odyssey two weeks after its Japan launch we aren't important enough to launch Honda's B-segment car. But then again, what's a high tax, price controlled market like Malaysia compared to a market with a billion people like India? Pretty obvious isn't it.