The i-MMD powertrain may be getting all the attention, but the new City also has other improvements under the skin.
The Honda City has always been one of Malaysia’s most popular cars. Considered to be Honda’s bread and butter, the City has become a common sight on Malaysian roads throughout the many years and generations sold locally.
That said however, the outgoing generation of Honda City has been around for six years already. Although it still looks fresh from the outside, the tech within it is starting to show its age, and more importantly the opposition are getting restless to wrestle the City’s B-segment crown away from it. Especially with the launch of Nissan’s all-new (and much improved) Almera Turbo, perhaps that is why Honda decided this time to pull out all the stops for this upcoming City.
As probably seen by now in all the drive reviews that have been published about the new City, the headline story regarding this latest iteration compact Japanese sedan will be what is under the hood of the top-spec City RS. The innovative I-MMD hybrid powertrain is having its worldwide debut in the Malaysian City, thus garnering not only the attention of local buyers, but also buyers from around the world intrigued by this new power plant.
There are however a few equally important technological innovations made to the City that may have slipped under the radar thanks to this clever new powertrain. One of which being that for the first time in this segment, remote engine start is to be offered in the City. Only available for the RS variant, this feature that was once the preserve of luxury cars has trickled down to this compact sedan. Allowing owners to start the car, and more importantly get the air-con running before entering the car. A perfect accompaniment in Malaysia’s hot and humid climate.
Exclusive to the new City RS i-MMD is also Honda’s active safety suite, Honda Sensing. This means that the Honda City RS now features active driver aids like Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Auto High-Beam (AHB). In addition to that, cameras fitted on either side of the wing mirrors means that the City RS also comes as standard with Honda’s LaneWatch blind spot camera system.
It is at this point that it is worth reminding readers that these very useful safety features are only applicable for the top-spec City RS variant. Lower spec City variants will have to make do with none of these features. In addition to that, the lower spec variants will miss out on an electric parking brake. Not to mention the innovative engine, as anything below the City RS in the range will feature a a new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine with no hybrid trickery whatsoever.
On the outside, the RS can be distinguished from the normal City variants thanks to a gloss black ducktail rear spoiler and gloss black mirror caps. 16 inch dual-tone alloys further distinguish this presumably sporty version of the City against its normal trim levels.
Four trim levels are to be offered for this generation of City, with only the top two V and RS trim levels getting LED headlights. LED taillights however are standard across the range. As is the increased body dimensions of the new City. According to Honda, the new City is comparable to a C-segment sedan (like the Civic) in terms of size now, seeing that it is 111 mm longer and 54 mm wider than the outgoing model.
Speaking of the outgoing model, the new City also claims to be more refined than the current ones in showrooms today. Honda has claimed to have ‘implemented several technology enhancements for facilities in the Melaka manufacturing plant such as new inner frame welding to enhance its body rigidity and new spray polyurethane foam to reduce body noise and vibration.’ In other words, this new City should be vastly more refined than the outgoing generation.
Let’s just hope though that this added refinement does not bump up the price of the new City. Prices have yet to be announced yet, but bookings for the new City have been open for quite some time now. For those who are interested to place a booking for the new City, Honda is offering a RM 1000 service voucher under its ‘Special Early Booking Program’. Bookings can be made at all 101 Honda authorised dealerships nationwide.
PRESS RELEASE: Honda Malaysia (or the Company) today announced that the 5th Generation All-New City RS i-MMD will be offered with Honda SENSING, the most complete advanced safety features in the B-segment. The enhanced Honda SENSING system in the All-New City RS i-MMD utilizes a front wide view camera to recognize better road boundaries during day and night driving conditions. Developed by Honda to meet the objective of ‘Safety for Everyone” and to realize the vision of a collision-free mobile society, Honda SENSING is an advanced safety system to alert and assist drivers during various driving situations.
The 5th Generation All-New City RS i-MMD is equipped with enhanced Honda SENSING features as below:
- 1.Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- 2.Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- 3.Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- 4.Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- 5.Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
- 6.Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
- 7.Auto High-Beam (AHB)
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Toichi Ishiyama said, “I believe the upcoming 5th Generation All-New City will excite Malaysians with its advanced safety technology and class-leading features. Last month, we organised an on-going nationwide tour where people can take the opportunity to view the All-New City RS i-MMD up close. We are delighted to receive high interest and positive feedback from the public and bookings have been very encouraging. The All-New City RS i-MMD offers first in segment features such as Remote Engine Start, Honda LaneWatch and Electric Parking Brake. We are now raising the benchmark further to introduce a most complete Honda SENSING feature in its segment which was previously only available in the C, D and SUV segment.”
“For the All-New City, we have implemented several technology enhancements for facilities in the Melaka manufacturing plant such as new inner frame welding to enhance its body rigidity and new spray polyurethane foam to reduce body noise and vibration. This is to ensure utmost quality so that customers can continue to enjoy owning a Honda car. On top of that, Honda Malaysia is the first and only car manufacturer in the country to assemble an Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) from individual lithium-ion battery components to a complete power unit where the assembly process is on par with the technology in Honda Japan. We are confident that the exciting and advanced features in the All-New City will be attractive to our customers and we look forward to bringing the Joy of Buying to all Malaysians,” added Mr. Ishiyama.
Overall, the All-New City presents a sleeker appearance. In terms of body dimensions, the All-New City measures 4,553 mm in length, 1,748 mm in width and 1,467 mm in height. Compared to its 4th Generation predecessor, the All-New City is now longer by 111 mm, wider by 54 mm and lowered by 10 mm, providing a low and wide stable stance. The body size dimensions of the All-New City are above a B-segment sedan and comparable to a C-segment sedan.
Aside from that, the All-New City portrays a modern and sporty exterior design which accentuates a sense of large vehicle size class. It features New LED Headlights (RS & V) with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) as well as New LED Taillights to signify an unrivalled exterior appearance. To further enhance its exterior looks, the New Carbon Patterned Front Lip and New Rear Bumper with Diffuser gives a sporty impression. Additionally, the Gloss Black Ducktail Spoiler¹ and the New Gloss Black Door Mirror creates a two-toned expression of the body colour while the aesthetically attractive 16” Alloy Wheels in Dual-Tone further compliments the sleek appearance of the car.
The 5th Generation All-New City’s line-up will feature four new variants. The RS variant with intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) powertrain delivers maximum torque of 253Nm, which is highest in its class and is comparable to D-segment torque performance, for an exciting and thrilling acceleration driving feel. The All-New City will also be offered in a new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine, providing a balance of performance and fuel efficiency.
The Remote Engine Start is a first in segment new advance feature to be offered in the All-New City RS i-MMD. This technology allows driver to start their vehicle while the doors are locked and to activate the air-conditioning to cool down the cabin with a simple push of a button on the keyless remote – a welcomed element in Malaysia’s hot and humid weather. Additionally, the Rear Ventilation Air-Conditioning of the All-New City ensures convenience and comfort for passengers at the rear seat, thus making every journey enjoyable and cozy for everyone.
Booking for the All-New City started on 14th August 2020 at all Honda Malaysia’s 101 authorised dealerships nationwide. Customers will receive a RM1,000 Service Voucher when they place a booking now for the All-New City under the ‘Special Early Booking Programme’. The public can still view the car up close at its ongoing nationwide tour. For more information, customers may log onto www.honda.com.my, call Honda’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020 or visit any nearest Honda authorised dealers to book the All-New City now!
