')">Honda Siel Cars India Limited is a collaboration between Japanese automotive manufacturer Honda and Siel India limited. It was set up in 1996 but it wasn’t before 1998 that Honda launched their first car in India- the Honda City 1.5. It was a runaway success and one which brings back memories of the launch of the first Maruti 800. The first generation Honda City was fast like what its hyper 16 engine name suggested but not at the expense of fuel economy. It soon became a favorite on the racing circuit as well as for tuners. The second generation Honda City was nothing like the first generation and featured the first cab forward design in India. It was one of the most fuel efficient sedans in its class however lacked the fun to drive character of the old Honda City. Its design was something which was openly criticized by many. Honda tried to salvage the damage by introducing a Vtec version as a special edition but the car buying public still demanded more.
Honda finally satiated our demands with an all-new Honda City 1.5 which was dubbed as an arrow-shot form design. It was priced exclusively like its erstwhile brethren but that didn’t deter the Honda City fans and it still ranks fourth amongst sales chart for the top 10 selling cars in India. The new Honda City in India is sold in two forms and two variants of each. One was the manual and the other automatic transmission with paddle shifts on it. The versions were the Honda City Manual S, Honda City Manual V, Honda City Automatic S and Honda City Automatic V. These variants however missed some of the key features offered at this price point by the competition. So Honda Siel Cars India Limited set to redeem it by offering an Exclusive variant of both keeping in mind the festive season. This is only for the top of the line V versions of both the automatic and the manual.
The looks of the new Honda City 1.5 V MT/AT Exclusive version doesn’t differ much from the current variant on sale. In fact, you would be hard pressed to notice the changes. It has got chrome scuff plates, body colored mud flaps, a strip of chrome on the boot lid, new color of gray and a new alloy wheel design. Both the cars feature an Exclusive badge. The cars would be sold till stocks are available for the same and probably after December 2010, the Exclusive variants may not be available any longer.
Most of the changes are on the inside with the Honda City 1.5 V MT Exclusive getting a leather covered gear knob and leather seats, both a welcome addition. For the Honda City 1.5 V AT Exclusive, there is only addition of leather seats. All this subtle changes actually make the Honda City Exclusive plusher and feature rich than what it already was.
Honda calls the new color of the car, the “Urban Titanium”. This is in addition to the regular colors offered on the Honda City 1.5 V MT/AT like the Habanero Red, Alabaster Silve,Bold Beige Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Taffeta White.
The Honda City 1.5 V MT Exclusive version is priced at Rs. 9.53 lakh(ex-showrrom Delhi)and the Honda City 1.5 V AT Exclusive version is offered at Rs. 10.25 lakh (ex-showrrom Delhi).
Technical specifications of Honda City V MT/AT Exclusive version
Dimensions & Weights
Overall Length: 4430 mm
Overall Width: 1685 mm
Overall Height: 1490 mm
Wheel Base: 2560 mm
Ground Clearance: 163 mm
Boot Space: 506 liters
Kerb Weight: 1120 Kg
Engine
Displacement: 1497 cc SOHC inline 4 cylinder I-vtec
Power: 118PS @6600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @4600rpm
Steering
Steering Type: Rack and Pinion electronically assisted speed sensitive
Minimum Turning Radius: 5.1
Capacity
Seating Capacity: 5
Fuel Tank Capacity: 43
Fuel Efficiency
Mileage (Highway): 17.2 km/liter
Mileage (City): 14.6 km/liter
Mileage (Overall): 15.9 km/liter
Performance
Maximum Speed: 183 kmph
Transmission
Transmission Type: Manual/CVT with paddle shifters
Gears/Speeds: 5/5
Suspensions
Front Suspension: McPherson Strut with Stabilizer, Coil Spring
Rear Suspension: Torsion Beam Axle with Stabilizer, Coil Spring
Brakes
Front Brakes: Discs
Rear Brakes: Drums
Wheels & Tyres
Wheel Type: Alloy Wheels
Wheel Size: 15×5.5J
Tyres: 175 / 65 R15
Honda City 1.5 V MT/AT Exclusive- Review
