2014 Honda City

The fourth-generation Honda City compact sedan has broken cover in New Delhi, India, revealing the vehicle's new 'Exciting H Design' exterior style for the first time.

Going on sale from January 2014 in India, the new City will reach local showrooms in the second quarter of 2014, says Honda Australia.

Manufacture of the new car will begin in India initially, one of the car's most important markets, and Australian models will most likely be sourced from Thailand, the car's current place of manufacture.

The 2014 Honda City is being pitched as premium mid-sized car in India, fitted with upmarket features such as a new touch-sensitive smartphone-inspired infotainment system. However in Australia the City sedan is dubbed a compact or 'light car' and positioned at the budget end of the market, priced locally from $16,490.

The new Honda City's updated exterior design isn't a paradigm shift for the light sedan, retaining its angular leading edges and traditional sedan shape, but shows off new look light lenses and shorter overhangs front and rear, as part of Honda's 'Exciting H Design' ethos.

Honda's new sedan is based on the same light car architecture as the new 2014 Jazz runabout and Vezel compact SUV, and measures the same 4440mm length and 1695mm width as its predecessor.

While maintaining a compact size Honda is promising more interior room due to a longer wheelbase, up 50mm to 2600mm. The interior will also be more modern, featuring improved materials and a similar setup to the new Japanese-spec 2014 Jazz, with a next-generation touch-sensitive climate control and infotainment input system.

Engine options for global markets have not yet been finalised, but are likely to include a 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine similar to the current City engine that ekes out 88kW/145Nm.

Motorists in India will also have access to a 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine specifically developed for that market.

At the car's global unveiling in New Delhi, President and CEO of Honda Cars India, Hironori Kanayama, explained that the new model would cement Honda's place in the burgeoning market.

"City ... has been the face of Honda in India, enjoying strong leadership and popularity in its segment ever since its launch. India has been the focus market for Honda City, thus it was befitting to have the global unveiling of the all-new Honda City in India."

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