Japanese automaker, Honda will unveil the new City e:HEV hybrid sedan in the Indian market on April 14, 2022. Based on the 5th gen City sedan, the new hybrid model is likely to be launched in May 2022. Ahead of the official unveil, Honda has shared a new teaser image of the upcoming City ZX hybrid.
The new teaser image shows the top-spec City e:HEV variant, called the City ZX e:HEV. It will be equipped with Honda’s i-MMD hybrid tech, which comprises of a traditional IC petrol engine and two electric motors. The new Honda City ZX e:HEV will be powered by a 98bhp, 1.5-litre 4-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine that runs on Atkinson cycle.
The powertrain is paired to an electric motor which will have an integrated starter generator setup. It will also have a secondary electric motor, which will offer 109bhp and 253Nm of torque. 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 (combination of electric & petrol engine). In the hybrid mode, the sedan will offer the highest fuel efficiency. 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 model is expected to deliver a fuel economy of over 27kmpl. The City Hybrid in Thailand and Malaysia are claimed to offer 27.8kmpl and 27.7kmpl respectively. The City hybrid is around 110kgs heavier than the regular model. The boot space is reduced by 90-litres to 410-litres. The sedan gets all disc brakes as well as an electric parking brake. It also gets regenerative braking system, which is common with electric cars.
The new Honda City hybrid will also be equipped with Honda Sensing technology that offers several active safety features. The sedan will have emergency braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, auto high beam assist and front collision warning system.
