By T Murrali
Taking much attention to the details to make the car more Indian, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL), has come out with its fifth generation Honda City in India. It was first introduced in India in January 1998. Now in its new avatar, the car that was launched recently, has retained its original authentic shape of the sedan while reinventing itself according to the needs and aspirations of its customers across India. Available in three grades V, VX and ZX, the price of the ASEAN NCAP 5-star rated car ranges from INR 10.9lakh to INR 14.65lakh.
Developed at Honda R&D Centre located in Tochigi, Japan following extensive market surveys in India, ASEAN countries and other markets for people’s driving needs and lifestyles, the new car has been introduced in both petrol and diesel, powered by ‘earth dreams technology’ range of BS-VI compliant powertrains.
The 1.5L i-VTEC DOHC petrol engine with VTC delivers 89 kW (121PS) @6600 rpm 145 Nm@1750 rpm torque, with quicker torque increase at lower engine speed. Mated with 6-speed manual transmission and the new 7-speed CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) the vehicle offers fuel efficiency of 17.8 kmpl and 18.4 kmpl respectively.
Mated with 6-speed manual transmission the 1.5L i-DTEC diesel variant delivers 73 kW [100 PS] @ 3600 rpm power, 200 Nm @1750 rpm torque and fuel economy of 24.1 kmpl. Application of advanced exhaust gas after-treatment system with NSC (NOx Storage Catalyst) and DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) has been done to meet the challenging target of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission in case of diesel engines.
At the launch programme the Chief Engineer, Large Project Leader, Honda Motor Corporation, Satoru Azumi, said, failure was not an option as there was pressure of 1.3billion Indians in his mind. Honda equals City in India but the new Indian customers needed something more. “We decided that the new City should be able to stand out in traffic. Therefore, the design has to have presence. What we have created is an interior space that make the user feel more space than what is actually there. Innovation at Honda is about doing and creating things that are yet to be.”
The inspiration for the new City is ‘Standing on the edge,’ which is designed to stand out in the crowd. The character line with advanced lighting and sharp edge, presence of tyres, low centre of gravity and sleek cabin motion.
Child’s View
The process that the Honda team followed to design the car began with asking six year old children to draw their vision of a car; to their surprise all of them drew sedans. So the team started with recreating the child’s understanding of a car. For the exterior the team was guided by the concept of ‘Standing on the edge.’ The entire body is shaped with the sharp edge character line right from the front to the rear. The sharp horizontal character line on the sides of the car is inspired by Katana blade (a Japanese sword) designed on the concept of cutting edge light. The profile creates its signature presence during day and night as well.
The technique of using a lower and longer trunk for large size category sedan was applied to make the car look even longer, eventually making the City a fusion sedan. This was the ambition of the team. “I am really competing with six year old kids,” Azumi said.
Conceptualised to carry forward its legacy, deliver supremacy and exceed the previous benchmark by offering a superior value proposition to its customers, the new City has been expanded making it the longest and widest sedan in its segment. The car is 4549 mm in length (109mm more than earlier generation) and 1748 mm in width (53 mm more). The height of the new model stands at 1489 mm and wheelbase of 2600 mm.
For the interiors the design team followed Sokai (evacuation in Japanese parlance) concept that makes the surroundings easy to see while driving. It creates a cabin more open while being secure. The focus was to minimise visual noise so that there is no distraction for the driver. The front-hood invisible length has been reduced by 42 percent, improving visibility further.
For The Saree Clad Women
The graceful way of sitting by a saree clad woman is usually cross-legged. As the folds of the saree around the feet should not get crumbled, the design team created more legroom in the rear. In addition, it adopted a scooped out frame for the front seats to create additional space. This helped in increasing the foot space width by 26mm and 31mm in the forward direction. By adopting a new frame for the front seat, the rear seat legroom and knee clearance were expanded. Besides, it optimised the torso angle. Considering the hot and humid weather conditions in India the seats have been given breathable fabric.
Connected Services
To make it contemporary it takes a huge leap in Connected Car Services with Next Generation of Honda Connect available as a standard offering across all grades along with a 5-year free subscription. It is India’s first connected car with Alexa remote capability and is equipped with next-generation Honda connect with Telematics Control Unit (TCU) standard across all grades. It has over 32 features to provide a sense of safety, security, convenience and peace of mind for customers. By giving voice commands to Alexa, the cloud-based voice service from Amazon, customers can use 10 key features of Honda Connect to monitor and control their car from home. Hence, they can remotely access features such as car AC on/ off, door lock/ unlock, check fuel status, locate the car, and status from the car dashboard, for unparalleled comfort and convenience.
The new City comes with full LED headlamps with 9-LED array inline shell, integrated LED DRL, L-shaped LED turn signal and distinct Z- shape 3D wrap-around LED tail lamps with uniform edge light. It also has a one-touch electric sunroof, R-16 diamond-cut alloy wheels and shark fin antenna. In addition to the stylish exterior, its interiors are based on ‘Man Maximum Machine Minimum’ philosophy as it has enhanced knee room and legroom, rear-seat shoulder room, an ergonomically designed cockpit, multiple storage spaces and 506 litres of truck capacity.
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Safety
To enhance safety the new car has been designed with Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body for self-protection while mitigating damage to other vehicles in the event of a collision. It offers a host of active and passive advanced safety features like six airbags system, ABS with EBD and brake assist, vehicle stability assist with agile handling assist, hill start assist, Honda lane watch camera, multi-angle rear camera, emergency stop signal, tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX compatible rear side seats with lower anchorages & top tether, and immobilizer with anti-theft alarm.
For the convenience of the users the car is equipped with an advanced smart key system with the walk-away auto-lock feature, remote engine start (in CVT) and keyless window remote operation, fully automatic climate control with max cool, click feel AC dials with red-blue elimination, rear AC vents with charging ports, driver seat height adjuster, LED map and rear reading lamps.
The ergonomically designed and thoughtfully laid instrument panel sports the 20.3 cm advanced touchscreen display audio which connects with Apple Car Play and Android Auto opening new ways of staying social and digital on the drive. The other features include 17.7cm HD full-color TFT meter with multi-function driver information interface with G-meter, digital speed and cruise control display, weblink smart connectivity, eight-speakers premium surround sound system, ambient lighting and LED interior lamps, steering-mounted paddle shifters for CVT.
Gaku Nakanishi, President & CEO, Honda Cars India, said, “Honda City has been our key pillar of business for more than 22 years, being one of the longest-running nameplates in the Indian automotive history. With cumulative sales of more than four million units worldwide, it has provided joy to almost eight lakh customers in India and many more aspiring to own the model. Each generation of the City has raised the bar on design, technology, quality, driving pleasure, comfort & safety, and has come with several industry firsts or segment-first features.”
Rajesh Goel, Sr Vice President & Director, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “City customers have always been very discerning and want a car that is a class above the rest. Hence multiple ‘industry-first’ and ‘best in segment features’ for Styling, Connectivity, Safety and Convenience have been offered as standard from the entry V variant of the All-New City, setting a new benchmark for the segment.”
The new City is available five colour options - radiant red metallic, platinum white pearl, modern steel metallic, lunar silver metallic and golden brown metallic. It comes with three years of unlimited kilometres warranty as a standard benefit to the customer. Additionally, customers can opt for an extended warranty for an additional two years unlimited/limited kilometres for extra peace of mind. The car offers a low cost of maintenance with a service interval of one year/ 10,000km whichever is earlier.
The fifth-generation car also offers a wide array of accessory choices to customers with wireless charger (with smartphone holder), front parking sensor with switch, legroom lamp, trunk spoiler with LED, front & rear bumper protector, Side airbag compatible seat cover, Door visor with chrome among many others. (MT)
Hyundai Motor India Appoints Pankaj Tripathi As Its New Brand Ambassador
- By MT Bureau
- May 30, 2025
Hyundai Motor India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has onboarded popular actor Pankaj Tripathi as its new brand ambassador.
The company shared that Tripathi, who is known for his versatility and grounded charm, embodies Hyundai India’s values of reliability, authenticity and a deep-rooted connection with the country’s diverse audience. With this association, HMIL further strengthens its ambassador lineup that already includes iconic personalities.
Tarun Garg, Whole-Time Director and Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we celebrate stories of progress and inspiration. We are delighted to welcome Pankaj Tripathi to HMIL family. His grounded persona, exceptional talent and widespread appeal resonate with the values of HMIL and our vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’. Together, we aim to drive deeper emotional connections with our diverse customer base across India.”
Pankaj Tripathi, said, “It is an honour to associate with Hyundai Motor India, a brand that has long stood for trust, innovation and customer-first approach. My first car was a Hyundai, and over the years, that relationship has grown into something truly personal. As someone who deeply values simplicity, sincerity and staying true to one’s roots, I find a natural alignment with HMIL’s ethos. I look forward to this partnership where together, we can connect with people across the country - not just through technology, but through shared stories and values.”
Mahindra Thar Roxx AX7L Variant Gets Dolby Atmos Audio
- By MT Bureau
- May 30, 2025
Mahindra & Mahindra, one of the leading SUVs manufacturers in the country, has announced that its popular SUV Thar Roxx now comes with 4-channel immersive audio powered by Dolby Atmos. With this, customers of Thar Roxx AX7L will be able to enjoy premium audio during their journey.
Karan Grover, Senior Director, Commercial Partnerships - IMEA, Dolby Laboratories, said, “We are excited about the possibilities that our collaboration with Mahindra can bring for customers, especially in India. With Dolby Atmos in Thar Roxx AX7L, we’re taking the car journey to an entirely new level by transforming the interior cabin into a personalised concert hall on wheels, making every ride an immersive audio experience that complements the adventurous spirit of the Thar Roxx AX7L.”
Velusamy R, President – Automotive Technology & Product Development, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, , “At Mahindra, it is our constant endeavour to explore limitless boundaries in automotive innovation, and the Thar Roxx is a testament to that spirit. By being the first vehicle in the world to feature Dolby Atmos featuring 4 channels of immersive audio integrated into the premium 9-speaker Harman Kardon Branded Audio system, we are redefining the driving experience. No matter the terrain or conditions, the Thar Roxx delivers a sensory experience like no other SUV of its kind on the Indian roads, bringing every moment on the road to life with Dolby Atmos.”
Stellantis India, Assist Asia Launch Project Inspire to Address Skill Gap In Mobility & Manufacturing Sector
- By MT Bureau
- May 29, 2025
European automotive major Stellantis India has partnered with Assist Asia to launch Project Inspire, its new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at tackling the skills gap in the country’s growing mobility and manufacturing sectors.
The programme started training on 26 May 2025 at NITTTR Chennai, and will now extend to Pune, which the OEM stated aligns with national priorities such as Viksit Bharat 2047 and Industry 4.0.
Project INSPIRE aims to equip young people with the skills needed for the evolving fields of electric mobility, automation, and sustainability.
Shailesh Hazela, CEO & MD, Stellantis India, said, “At Stellantis, we believe upskilling is key to empowering individuals with the future-ready skillsets needed to succeed in today’s rapidly changing industry. Through Project INSPIRE, we are equipping youth with the skills essential to thrive in the evolving fields of electric mobility, automation and sustainability. By aligning with national priorities like Viksit Bharat 2047 and Industry 4.0, this initiative bridges the gap between education and employment, while also supporting the automotive industry in its transition to a greener, more digital future. We are grateful for the partnership of Assist Asia and NITTTR Chennai, whose collaboration is integral to the success of this project.”
The project aims to provide practical training to 2,500 students from ITIs and vocational institutions in electric vehicle systems, advanced mechatronics and robotics. It will also certify 200 Master Trainers to ensure the programme's long-term success. Beyond technical skills, the initiative will strengthen employability through modules on green skills, digital and financial literacy and job readiness.
Karunakaran K, Country Head, Assist Asia, added, “Assist is proud to partner with Stellantis India on Project Inspire, which addresses the critical need for hands-on, industry-relevant training in India’s rapidly evolving automotive sector. This initiative goes beyond traditional education by providing young people with the skills required for emerging technologies such as electric mobility, robotics, and mechatronics. By equipping the workforce with future-ready skills, we are not only empowering youth but also ensuring that the automotive industry has the talent it needs to navigate its transformation. We look forward to seeing this partnership drive long-term impact, foster job creation and contribute to a more sustainable, skilled economy.”
Project Inspire has ambitious goals, aiming for a 75 percent student placement rate in internships or jobs, 30 percent female participation and a 20 percent increase in entry-level salaries.
Cred Introduces Seamless Car Valuation & Resale Feature In Partnership With Cars24 And Spinny
- By MT Bureau
- May 28, 2025
Cred, a leading financial technology platform, has unveiled a new car valuation and resale feature within its ‘Cred garage’ vehicle management service, which allows its members to easily determine their car's value and facilitate its sale, streamlining a traditionally cumbersome process.
The service has been developed in partnership with used car platforms Cars24 and Spinny, which enables new functionality for instant car valuations, free doorstep inspections and swift payments upon sale completion. A key focus of the new feature is privacy, with member information remaining secure and private until they actively opt to proceed with an inspection.
The service aims to provide a convenient and transparent way for members to assess their car's market value without the need to visit multiple dealerships or endure unsolicited sales calls. Whether a member is planning to sell, comparing offers or simply curious about their car's current worth, the feature leverages data from two of India's leading digital resale platforms to provide quick and reliable insights. It also serves as a valuable tool for cross-referencing quotes received from offline dealers, ensuring members secure a fair price for their vehicle.
How it works
Cred members can instantly access their car's estimated value within Cred garage, a feature already used by over 7 million members to manage their vehicles. By answering a few straightforward questions, they receive a detailed valuation.
Should they decide to sell, members can schedule a complimentary home inspection at their convenience. The process is designed to be hassle-free, with no extensive paperwork required from the member. Once the vehicle is inspected and an offer is accepted, the partner platforms manage the entire resale process, including the crucial step of ownership transfer.
Member information is only shared with partners if an inspection is booked. Until then, all data remains securely with Cred, preventing any unsolicited calls or messages from dealers. Additionally, Cred garage will continue to provide members with helpful tips on maintaining their vehicles, potentially enhancing their car's resale value in the future.
Akshay Aedula, Product and Growth at Cred, said, “Cred members already manage their vehicles with discipline – tracking challans, renewing insurance, maintaining compliance. By enabling valuation, inspection and resale, we’re closing the loop: turning responsible ownership into real value by making the final step in vehicle management frictionless, secure and in members’ control. This feature is aimed at creating a car resale premium experience in line with the high-value vehicles that members own and enable them to get better value when they upgrade.”
The expansion of Cred garage builds on its existing suite of services, which includes managing challans, renewing pollution certificates, insurance, and FASTag – all from a single platform. Over the past year, more than 2.4 million members have utilised the service to identify pending challans and 5.3 million have received alerts about expiring pollution certificates. With 37 percent of members managing more than one vehicle, this new feature adds significant value to Cred garage.
Cred members constitute a substantial portion of India’s privately owned vehicle demographic. This new feature aims to make car valuation and resale an organised, efficient and spam-free extension of responsible car ownership.
Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder and CMO, Cars24, said, “At Cars24, we have rebuilt the car-selling experience from the ground up. What was once a slow and unpredictable process is now instant, transparent and fully online. From pricing to paperwork, every step has been simplified to work without friction. This partnership allows us to extend that experience to more people, in a moment that really matters. If we can help someone close a chapter faster and start the next one with clarity, that is a win we deeply care about.”
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