The long-awaited new Honda City e:HEV hybrid is all set to make India debut today. It is based on the 5th gen City sedan, which is already on sale in the country. Honda dealers have already started accepting pre-orders for the new City e:HEV. It is expected to be priced around Rs 18 lakh.
A document from the Delhi RTO has revealed the new Honda City e:HEV hybrid’s specifications ahead of its unveiling. The new model will be offered in two trims – V and ZX. The top-spec ZX trim will also come with Honda Sensing safety technology, which is ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). The sedan will offer features like emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, auto high beam assist and front collision warning system.
The new Honda City e:HEV hybrid will get the same powertrain as the Thai-spec model. It comes with a 109PS electric motor paired to a 98PS, 1.5-litre petrol engine. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a single, fixed-gear ratio.
The new City hybrid will have 3 driving modes – a pure electric mode, petrol-only mode and hybrid mode. The electric generator and motor are combined together and attached to the end of the engine. The engine turns the generator, and also powers the electric motor, which in turn spins the wheels and sends electricity to the lithium ion battery in the boot.
The new Honda City hybrid is expected to offer an ARAI certified fuel economy over 27kmpl, closer to 30kmpl. This makes it the most fuel efficient model in the country. Honda could also offer the sportier RS version as an add-on package. It will have sportier design elements such as a blacked-out front grille, ORVMs, rear spoiler, and red highlights inside the cabin.
