WIDELY regarded as the real number-two car brand in the Philippines, Honda was stricken by Japan’s 2011 Twin Disasters, the Thailand floods and what some quarters view as gross mismanagement by the company’s previous leadership. Despite the series of unfortunate events, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) now seems to be back on track after an impressive launch of the all-new Honda City at the Tower One last week.
New HCPI president Tatsuya Natsume aptly opened his speech with the words “Honda is Back,” ushering a resurgence of what was once and still is one of the main sources of cult cars in the Philippines.
“After the adversities and challenges we encountered last year, we are pleased to announce that we are on our way to recovery. Through the support of our suppliers and Honda global network, we were able to resolve our parts supply problems. And this is really the good news as we are now ready to serve our customers and deliver those awaited Honda vehicles to them. Now we are prepared to reclaim our rightful position in the Philippine automotive industry,” Natsume declared to the media.
And they began this task by re-introducing the Honda City with its all-new features.
The third-generation City sports a bolder but more elegant look. The fascia has a freshly designed chrome grille, resulting in a sharp and distinct appearance. It has a more aggressive, masculine shape, thanks to a redesigned body that is sophisticated and stylish. A more dynamic rear bumper, now with diffuser, completes the bold look, while a five split-spoke 15" alloy wheels enhance the side profile of the 1.5 variant.
Inside, the all-new City gets a fresh makeover, too. Following the latest Honda design, audio controls are now attached to the steering wheel, allowing the driver to keep his hands on the wheel while adjusting the audio system, which features a USB port and auxiliary jack for MP3 and iPod players.
The instrument cluster now glows with a blue and white hue, while chrome accents add that feeling of luxury and an Eco Drive Indicator Lamp on the dash tells the driver if he is cruising within excellent fuel efficiency range.
Passenger safety is tops in all of Honda’s cars, and the City is no exception. All variants of the Honda City, including the entry-level model, are now equipped with dual (driver and passenger) SRS airbags, as well as ABS and EBD.
The City is powered by an i-VTEC engine that comes in two displacements: 1.5 and 1.3 liter. Both are mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Paddle shifters are available on the 1.5E A/T model only.
The all-new Honda City comes in five color styles, Sparkling Brown, Habanero Red, Urban Titanium, Taffeta White and Crystal Black. The City is also available in three model variants, the 1.3L S M/T, 1.3L S A/T and the 1.5l E A/T.
Prices for the variants are P746,000 for the 1.3L manual, P748,000 for the 1.3L automatic and P836,000 for the top-of-the-line 1.5L E variant.
The all-new Honda City comes at the perfect time, when everyone is beginning to look for an alternative to the current crop of Korean and American models flooding the market. And with its timing, HCPI is really poised for a major comeback, one that Honda fans have been waiting for quite some time now.
