Honda City Diesel

The Honda City has been one of the most sought-after mid range sedans in the world since its debut in year 1996. In India, the car has been the best selling in Honda’s portfolio. Now, the company is planning to launch a diesel version of this car in the Indian market. The decision has been taken in the view of rising demand for diesel-run cars as there is a considerable gap between the price of petrol and diesel in the country.

The Honda City diesel variant is expected to come powered by a 1.4L iCTDi (intelligent Common Rail Turbocharged Direct Injection) diesel engine along with a maximum power output of up to 100bhp. However, the company is yet to disclose any information regarding the specifications of Honda City diesel engine as it is still in the study and research stage.

The Honda City diesel model will be competing with the diesel versions of the likes of Hyundai Verna Transform, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Optra Magnum and the recently launched Volkswagen Vento. The City diesel is expected to hit the Indian roads by the second half of year 2011, following the launch of diesel variants of its elder siblings like Honda Civic and Honda CR-V. The car is expected to be priced in the segment of sub Rs 10 lakh.

Engine & Specification of Honda City Diesel

As mentioned above, the Honda City diesel model is expected to be launched in the country with a 1.4L iCTDi (intelligent Common Rail Turbocharged Direct Injection) diesel engine that will deliver a maximum power output of up to 100bhp. The Indian version of the City Diesel is expected to come mated with both five-speed manual and automatic transmission versions. However, the company hasn’t disclosed any information regarding the displacement, engine power or transmission of this car.

Performance of Honda City Diesel

Honda City has been highly appreciated by the auto experts for its powerful performance on the India roads. The car carries a sophisticated 5-speed transmission gearbox with paddle shifts that are very handy in handling the car in heavy city traffic. The paddle-shift enables car driver to shift gears without using the clutch pedal. The similar technology is expected to be used in the diesel version of the car. Fuel economy of the car would fall in the range of 13 kmpl to 17 kmpl. The diesel version of City sedan is expected to be a bit faster as compared to its petrol counterpart and would be capable of breaking the speed barrier of 100 km/h under 10 seconds.

Exterior, Interior & Safety of Diesel City

The exterior of the car remains dynamically aggressive, thanks to its bold-looking front grille that has been partially borrowed from its elder sibling Civic. While the tail-lamps of the car looks somewhat similar as of BMW 3-series. Inside the car, a dual-tone interior has been offered along with futuristic instrument panel and beige upholstery.

Every inch of inside space has been fully utilized by providing a range of storage spaces along with large head and leg-room. The safety features available with Honda City include ABS (Antilock Brake System) with EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution), dual front SRS air-bags, active headrests, unique energy-absorbing front fenders, and grille and windshield support structure for ensuring better safety of the passenger in case of sudden collusion.