The all-new Honda City has been unveiled in India ahead of its international launch in early 2014.
The fourth-generation compact City sedan becomes the third new global model built on Honda's new-generation light-car platform, following the third-generation Jazz hatchback and the brand-new subcompact Vezel SUV.
Honda Australia has confirmed it will be the first of the trio to arrive in local showrooms, however, with the City set to launch in the second quarter of 2014, ahead of the new Jazz(July 2014) and the Vezel (late 2014)
Honda says the new City offers greater interior space and comfort than its predecessor without sacrificing its compact dimensions. Its length (4440mm) and width (1695mm) are identical to before, while its wheelbase grows 50mm to 2600mm.
Without revealing technical data, the Japanese car maker said the 2014 Honda City would be powered by an updated version of the outgoing model's 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The current motor produces 88kW of power and 145Nm of torque, and consumes from 6.3 litres per 100km on the combined cycle.
The new City embraces the company's 'Exciting H Design' exterior styling philosophy. The evolutionary design features the brand's new signature broad U-shaped chrome grille bar, as well as angular headlights, a strong character line flowing from behind the front wheel arches to the tail-lights, and flat L-shaped rear lamps connected by a thin chrome strip.
The dashboard largely mirrors that of the new Jazz, featuring a square design with a large colour screen and smartphone-style touch-sensitive infotainment and climate controls.
Honda says the fourth-generation City was developed at its R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, following market research into the lifestyles and driving habits of motorists in India, ASEAN countries and other markets.
The new model will initially be built in India and will eventually be sold in 60 countries around the world.
More official images, specifications and pricing details will be released closer to its launch. The current City is priced between $16,490 and $20,490.
