New Honda City launched with similiar but more powerful engine

Novan Iman Santosa, Jakarta

Japanese carmaker PT Honda Prospect Motor (HPM) launched last Thursday a more powerful version of its New Honda City compact sedan at Semanggi Expo Hall, South Jakarta.

"Customers acknowledge that the New Honda City is a fuel- efficient compact sedan but some also want a more powerful one," PT HPM sales and marketing general manager Jonfis Fandy said.

The new version of the New Honda City is powered by a 1,500 cc, four cylinder, 16-valve engine that has variable valve timing and lift electronic control (VTEC) technology, yielding up to 110 horsepower (hp) at 5,800 rpm and a maximum torque of 140 Nm at 4,800 rpm.

An earlier version of the New Honda City used a similar engine with intelligent dual sequential ignition (i-DSI) technology offering maximum fuel efficiency, although it was less powerful at 84 hp.

Previously, VTEC engines were only used on HPM models in the upper end of the range, such as the Honda Accord, Honda Civic and Honda Stream. It is not known yet whether HPM will also put a VTEC engine on its Honda Jazz.

Many automotive pundits believe that HPM's move was to challenge its closest competitor, the Toyota Vios, which is more powerful, developing 109 hp at 6,000 rpm and maximum torque of 142 Nm at 4,200 rpm.

Both of the New Honda City's engine versions are available in two transmission options: manual or automatic with continuously variable transmission (CVT) technology.

The manual is on offer at Rp 164.8 million (US$17,700) while the CVT is priced at Rp 174.8 million.

For models powered by the i-DSI engine, the manual goes for Rp 158 million and the CVT is tagged at Rp 168 million.

All versions are equipped with safety features such as dual supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags, seat belts with pretensioner and load limiter.

Active safety features include antilock braking system (ABS), electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA).

Previously, HPM also equipped the New Honda City i-DSI with such safety features, making it the safest in its class.

Customers can choose their favorite color from seven options: eternal blue pearl, ice blue metallic, nighthawk black pearl, royal ruby red pearl, satellite silver metallic, satin silver metallic or silverstone metallic.

These options are also available for the New Honda City powered by the i-DSI engine.

The Toyota Vios comes with ABS and EBD but without the airbags. The Vios is available in five variants at prices ranging from Rp 149.7 million to Rp 180.95 million.

Also playing in the 1,500 cc class is the Suzuki Baleno Next- G, which develops maximum power of 110 hp at 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 143 Nm at 4,200 rpm. It is priced at Rp 150.5 million with manual transmission and Rp 161.5 million for the automatic version.