The new City presents cutting-edge design and technologies that shall set new standards in it class. Bearing refined and class-leading features that are once reserved for luxury vehicles, the City neatly merges modernism with practicality for an ultimate driving pleasure. It simply changes the rules on how subcompacts should be like.

Taking inspiration from an arrowshot form design concept, the All-New City ascertains sleek and powerful stance from any angle. It features streamlined grille, harmonized with sharp headlights, smoother contours with rooflines that finish off to a higher rear deck and a 15” tire size to enhance its over-all sporty design.The new City retains its compact form, despite the increase in interior space, in order to maintain its maneuverability. Taking pleasure from its spacious interior, the City radiates a refreshing atmosphere realized with careful selection of design and materials. Honda takes the liberty to compliment the City’s relaxing air with premium sound quality. It comes with an advanced audio system that is compatible with iPod and other MP3 players via USB and AUX ports. Using four high-powered 45 watt speakers, digitally crisp and clear sound quality is achieved.

The entry of the 3rd generation City completes Honda’s all i-VTEC line-up. Sharing the same powerplant as the Jazz, the City is equipped with an i-VTEC engine technology that delivers maximum power output of 120 ps at 6600 rpm and 100 ps at 6000 rpm for 1.5 liter and 1.3 liter variants, respectively. The i-VTEC engine intelligently delivers powerful and torquey yet fuel efficient driving performance by switching valve timing during start-up and acceleration, then delays intake valve closure timing during cruising and other low-load conditions. To further enhance fuel efficiency, it comes with a class-leading 5-speed automatic transmission to reduce engine revolution and stress. Delightful and easy tracking of one’s fuel consumption is now made possible with the fuel economy and range indicators available in the liquid crystal display of the instrument panel.

The 3rd generation City is the only one in its class to be equipped with an F1-inspired paddle shift (1.5 E only) to deliver superb driving pleasure of a manual transmission, right at your fingertips. Also available in other models like the Jazz, Civic and the Accord, the paddle shift option enables manual shifting of gears without the clutch.

Taking cue from Honda’s fundamental values, Honda is ever committed in minimizing carbon footprint on the environment and in ensuring safety to every passenger. Just like any other Honda models, the new City conforms with EURO 4 level emission standards. In going beyond packaging and styling, G-CON body structure, Anti-lock Brake System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist all come standard in the new City. Meanwhile, dual SRS Airbags are available for 1.5 E and 1.3 S variants.

More than the usual subcompact sedan, the new City’s overall sensational package changes the rules in its class, both in style and in performance. No wonder, the All-New City has made waves in neighboring Asian countries as it debuted in Thailand, India, Singapore, Indonesia, China and Malaysia. Intended to be one of Honda’s important global products, the new City is set to expand beyond Asia and Oceania and advance to the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.

“Honda ushers 2009 by introducing a model that shall play a significant role not just in the local but international market as well. As a testimony of Honda’s confidence in local manufacturing operations and commitment to the Philippine government and Filipino people, the much anticipated City shall continue to be manufactured at our plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.” said Mr. Hiroshi Shimizu, President and General Manager of Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.

Fast and emerging demand for automobiles in the Asian market brought about by the economic growth in the region set forth the birth of the City in 1996. Its success continued to grow with the second generation’s sophisticated styling and economical performance using the i-DSI and VTEC engine technologies in 2003. Famous for being high in functionality features yet low in maintenance and fuel consumption, the City’s over-all, value-for-money character gradually earned market acceptance beyond the Asian market and has even spread out to Africa, Middle East and Europe, reaching a total of 39 countries around the globe.

The All-New City comes in four variants with introductory prices starting at:

It comes in a variety of colors:

Polished Metal (1.5 E only)
Crystal Black
Habanero Red
Bold Beige
Bluish Silver (1.3 S and A)
Alabaster Silver (1.3 S and A)

Yesterday, January 7th, the new City took the limelight of Honda’s 5-day exhibition at the Activity Center of the Glorietta Mall in Makati City.

Visit www.citychangetherules.com and www.hondaphil.com to appreciate even better the new benchmark in modern and sophisticated motoring. Rules are bound to change with the All-New Honda City!

Honda Cars Philippines Media Release

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. forecasts over 10 percent increase in sales this year from a negative 17 percent growth last year as it invests P140 million for the local assembly of its all-new City models, which are expected to drive the company back to a growth path despite the turmoil in the global auto market.

HCPI president Hiroshi Shimizu told reporters at yesterday’s launch of the locally assembled City 2009 the global crisis that is harshly affecting the auto market abroad is not seriously affecting Philippine auto operations.

“There is no big impact in the Philippines compared with other countries,” Shimizu said.

In fact, Shimizu said the company expects over 10 percent increase in sales volume this year from last year’s 14,300 units, which was a 17 percent decline versus 2007 sales.

Shimizu said the sales growth would be driven by the expected strong demand of the All-New City model for which the company invested P140 million for new tools, jigs and equipment for the City CKD assembly at its plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

City is expected to sell 7,000 units this year from last year’s 5,000 units.

City and Civic models are HCPI’s volume sellers accounting for 65 percent of its total sales. Both are assembled locally as CKD packs.

Shimizu expects City to outperform Civic this year.

Shimizu said the City would be its only new model introduction for the entire year the rest would be minor upgrades of existing models.

HCPI finished third biggest carmaker this year after Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. grabbed the second slot.

Shimizu said their sales performance was pulled down by the poor performance of its other models.

Shimizu said they are not conscious about market share stressing its priority is always customer satisfaction.

“Can we survive with market share?” he asked.

Instead, the company is expanding its reach with the opening soon of its 25th dealership in Batangas and another Service Center in Tandang Sora.

In terms of exports, Shimizu said they were able to increase its export last year to P4 billion worth of transmissions and other auto parts last year.

But with the global crisis this year, the company is not confident of increase in its exports. It exports to UK, India and Southeast Asia.

Shimizu is confident that its All-New City will pull its sales this year as it has done in the past.

Since its introduction here in 1996, City has generated cumulative sales of over 43,000 units grabbing a fair share in the passenger car segment.

The All-New City comes in four variants with introductory prices starting at:

1.3-liter A MT P676,000

1.3-liter S MT P716,000

1.3-liter S AT P756,000

1.5-liter E AT P806,000.(BCM)

Manila Bulletin