We informed you earlier that Honda will launch an all-new hybrid car in the Indian market in 2021. It is expected that the new hybrid car will be the new Honda City RS Hybrid, which has finally been unveiled in Malaysia. The 7th generation Honda City’s RS variant gets the hybrid technology, which is called Honda i-MMD hybrid system.
The new Honda City RS Hybrid is equipped with a 1,500cc Atkinson Cycle DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine that produces 96bhp and a peak torque of 127Nm. This powertrain serves as a generator for an electric motor, and the task of running the car is with the second electric motor that offers 106bhp and 253Nm of torque. The power and torque are transmitted to the front wheels via the e-CVT transmission.
MMD stands for Multi-Mode Drive, and the i-MMD system offers three driving modes – EV, Hybrid and Engine. Initially, the car runs purely on electric motor. While driving, the engine charges the 1.3LWh battery that supplies power to the car’s electric motor. On acceleration, the car enters into the Hybrid drive mode. The second electric motor is the main driver of the car, but now the gasoline engine will help provide additional energy. Also See – 2020 Honda City vs Hyundai Verna
The gasoline engine will drive the car on higher speeds. Honda Malaysia claims that the City RS Hybrid has more torque than the Toyota Camry, a midsize sedan with a 2,500cc engine. The Honda City RS Hybrid is claimed to achieve 0-100kmph in just 9.9 seconds before hitting a top speed of 173kmph. What’s more interesting is that the new Honda City i-MMD is claimed to return an impressive fuel economy of 26.5kmpl.
The City RS Hybrid gets ventilated front disc and solid disc brake at the rear. Adding to it, the sedan also gets electric parking brake. The sedan rides on 16-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 188/55R16 tyres. In terms of proportions, the new City Hybrid is 4,553mm in length, 1,748mm in width and 1,467mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,600mm. It is claimed to offer a luggage space of 409-litres, which is around 110-litres less than the regular City variant.
The new Honda City RS hybrid looks largely identical to the City RS with 1.0L Turbo petrol engine on sale in Thailand. It gets e:HEV badge on the boot. This variant gets lanewatch assist, LED headlamps with LED DRLs, LED tail-lamps and others.
