2014 Honda City makes global debut in India

Honda has revealed the 2014 Honda City, the global debut of the brand's B- segment sedan at one of the Honda’s strategic market in the Asia and Oceania region: India.

The all new City made its debut with a 1.5-liter i-DTEC diesel engine (currently a popular engine variant for the Indian market), but will eventually be available with a gas engine variant when it commences sales in January of 2014.

The new City will be sold in 60 markets and was developed at the Honda R&D center in Tochigi. Extensive market surveys have been instrumental in the development of the new model to follow the carmaker’s new 'global operation reform' to give the cars that customers want. According to Honda, it considered three aspects for the new City: 'Advanced Sporty Design, Best Comfort and Best Fuel Efficiency'.

On the outside, the new City features the 'Exciting H Design' concept of Honda with a solid wing face, an athletic body and finally honed the surfacing as seen in the updated US-market Civic and new-generation Accord. It measures at 4440mm long, 1695mm wide, 1495mm high, with a wheelbase of 2600mm (currently longest in class). It is longer than the outgoing model by 45mm, 25mm taller and gets a 50mm stretch in wheelbase.

Inside, Honda’s 'man maximum machine minimum' concept is applied to optimize interior space for occupants. The automaker promises that it will be the most spacious and comfortable City ever. The driver's seat will be treated to a 'Layered Floating Cockpit' as previewed with the new Jazz/Fit hatchback recently debuted in Japan, which it shares its platform with.

For the Indian market, the City will be available either with a 1.5-liter diesel as launched, or an improved version of the 1.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC gas engine in the outgoing model. The engines will have Honda 'Earth Dreams Technology' for driving performance and economy. According to Honda, the diesel variant will be exclusively for the Indian market.

According to reliable sources, the 2014 Honda City will make its Philippine debut early next year.