The B-Segment market is well and truly heating up. Within a span of two weeks, we have been privileged to bring you the preview of both the highly-anticipated all-new Honda City, more specifically the “torque king” i-MMD RS variant, and very recently the all-new Nissan Almera Turbo.
The Honda City has been dominating the B-Segment market as a firm favourite among Malaysians both young and old. With its ingenious interior packaging and generous equipment, it’s no wonder why the City has been a strong favourite for many. With the launch of new Honda City not too long from now, here are five features that set it apart from its predecessor:
i-MMD Powertrain
It’s no secret that the i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) system is an all-new powertrain being introduce in the upcoming Honda City, although it’ll probably be reserved for the range topping RS variant.
Its claim to fame is its max torque of 253Nm from its hybrid powertrain, significantly higher output compared to the electric motor in the current i-DCD (Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive) model of the current generation Honda city, which generates only 160 Nm.
New 1.5-Litre DOHC i-VTEC Engine
If you prefer the vanilla option, Honda Malaysia has confirmed that the new Honda City will also be getting a new naturally-aspirated mill. This new powertrain will replace the current outgoing model’s trusty 1.5-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine.
In terms of output, the new DOHC makes 1 hp more than the current SOHC unit; bringing the max output to 121 hp at 6,600rpm. Max torque is retained at 145 Nm but it’s achieved sooner at 4,300 rpm as opposed to 4,600 rpm in the previous model.
Electric Parking Brake
This new Honda City is the first vehicle in the B-segment to have an Electric Parking Brake. Often found in pricier segment vehicles like the Honda HR-V and Honda Civic, an Electric Parking Brake essentially frees up the center console, allowing you to have more room to store your bits and bops.
The Electric Parking Brake also comes with an additional feature known as Brake Hold. Essentially, the feature holds the brakes for you when your vehicle comes to a complete stop, allowing you to take your foot off the brake pedal which adds convenience when you’re in stop-go traffic.
Honda LaneWatch Camera
First introduced in 9th-generation Honda Accord, this feature has finally trickled down to the new Honda City. The feature was introduced in the Honda Civic facelift launched earlier this year.
This nifty feature work its magic when you signal to the left, and a live video feed of the left side of the vehicle will be displayed on your infotainment screen; mitigating any possible blind spot, allowing you to change lanes with confidence.
Honda Sensing
Do take this with a pinch of salt, or maybe a tablespoon of it if you will. Based on our recent preview, Honda Malaysia has graciously allowed us to preview the exterior of the new Honda City, we were not privy to what’s on the inside of the car.
However, we did notice a rather peculiar set of sensors and module that can be seen positioned next to the rear view mirror. It’s most likely that the new City would come with the Honda Sensing, possibly the full suite.
This would include Forward Collision Warning (FBW), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Low Speed Follow (LSF) and Auto High Beam.
The outgoing Honda City’s safety feature was nothing to scoff at, but what the new Honda City may offer could just bring the safety features game to a whole new level.
The new Honda City is definitely shaping up to be yet another leader in the B-Segment market, picking up where it last left off. Prices of the new Honda City has yet to be revealed, but we do know that the car will be launched in Q4 of this year. If you wish to get up close and personal with the new Honda City, Honda Malaysia has begun their nationwide road tour and you can find the location and schedule over here.
