Honda's diesel car Amaze to hit Indian markets on 11th April, 2013

Honda’s most awaited car of recent times – the Amaze – will hit showrooms near you on 11th April, 2013. The bookings for the Honda's first ever diesel car has also been kick-started across the nation. Honda Amaze will be powered by a 1.5-L i-DTEC diesel engine that is capable of producing 100PS (98-99bhp) of maximum power output and returning 25.8kmpl of fuel efficiency. With this power and mileage, Honda Amaze will become India's most fuel efficient and most powerful sedan in its segment, leaving behind its arch rival Maruti Swift Dzire.

 

The Honda Amaze sedan will be an important car for the Japanese manufacturer. Not only is it going to be the first diesel Honda in India, but it is also entering a lucrative segment; one where the numbers are reasonably high and the profits decent. The car had its global launch in Thailand on the 25th of November 2012. 

 

 

Looks:
The Amaze is based on the Brio but unlike other boot-on-hatch jobs, it has designed from the ground up to be a proper small sedan. It is longer than its hatchback sibling slightly wider and a little taller at the back to increase shoulder and head room. The length is different, though; it will be just under-four meters to avail of the excise benefits of being a small car. The wheelbase is 62mm longer, at 2407mm.

 

The Amaze still has a very unconventional styling – just like the Brio. Unlike most Honda models the design is not subtle. You will either love it or absolutely hate it. But we have a feeling that a larger number will like the looks of this entry-level sedan. In the front, the Amaze has got a completely new grille to differentiate it from its hatchback sibling but shares other components like the headlights and bumpers. The sides and the rear have changed too for obvious reasons. The rear end now has quite a useable boot of around 420 litres which is significantly higher than its chief rival the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire.

 

 

Interiors:
On the inside, not much has changed, other than the upholstery getting a different colour scheme and a bench in the back to seat three if necessary. The interiors will be typical Honda with beige and black combination. The extra 62mm in the wheelbase will go into increasing the rear legroom, making it a much more comfortable.

 

Engine & Transmission:
The Honda Amaze petrol will be powered by an i-VTEC 1.2-litre mill that currently powers the Brio hatchback and the Jazz. The diesel version gets a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged i-DTEC engine that produces around 90bhp. It is based on the Japanese automakers 1.6-litre diesel engine that was launched with the Civic diesel in Europe.

 

 

There will be the option of a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic (petrol only). The sedan is just 26kg heavier than the hatch, so we do not expect a dip in fuel efficiency (believed to be 25kmpl) over the hatch. The same engine will be used in the new 2014 City sedan and a compact-crossover based on the Jazz as well as the brio but with higher power and torque figures courtesy a reworked ECU.

Honda launches the all new Accord

Honda Siel Cars India launched the new Honda Accord with new features. The Accord on the exterior gets a new Chrome accentuated front grille, rear chrome garnish and new front bumper adds to the charm of the Accord. The Sunroof now comes as standard across the Accord range.



The new feature list also includes steering mounted cruise control system with one-touch op which enhance the looks of the car. The inside wooden panel makes it look even more exquisite. The Accord now comes with an improved audio system for improved usability & readability and a Jackknife key have also been added to the Accord.

Honda Accord is equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden maneuvers. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Takashi Nagai, President & CEO, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd., said "Honda Accord has been one of the most successful premium sedans in its category with over 25000 units sold since its launch in India setting new standards in exclusivity, comfort and safety. Our belief in constantly upgrading our products based on customer feedback prompted this launch of an upgraded version of the Accord with unique styling in combination with luxurious features."

The Honda Accord is available in 2.4L and 3.5L V6 engine and comes with a 5-speed Manual Transmission and 5-speed Automatic transmission with Paddle shift. The Automatic Transmission has Shift Holding System which avoids unnecessary gear shifting on winding roads and helps in hassle free drive.



The 3.5L V6 engine features an advanced Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system that switches between six-, four-, and three-cylinder combustion depending on the driving conditions and thereby delivering maximum power of 275 PS during six cylinder operation and impressive fuel economy in VCM mode while cruising. The new alloy wheels of the Accord V6 enhance the looks of the car even more.



The Honda Accord is equipped with six airbags, including side curtain air bags, Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body and G-Force Control Technology (G-CON) for enhanced safety of the vehicle occupants during a collision. Honda Accord V6 3.5L and Honda Accord 2.4L also have a provision for Bluetooth connectivity and customers can buy it as a Honda Genuine Accessory.

The variants are priced as below:
Accord 2.4 MT – Rs.19.60 lakh
Accord 2.4 AT – Rs.20.36 lakh
Accord 3.5 V6 – Rs.25.41 lakh

New Facelifted 2011 Honda Accord To Be Launched In India Soon

Honda as we all know is one brand which every Indian customer looks up to when he/she considers buying a luxurious sedan or a high end SUV and has gathered a lot of appreciation with highly acclaimed products like the Honda City, Honda Accord and the Honda CR-V.

Its been a while since the brand launched these cars in the Indian market and fortunately brought the face lifted models of the City and the CR-V pretty soon and also launched a completely new 7th generation Accord. But after the new accord in 2008 a long time has passed since the brand made any changes to it, and now after 3 years the all new face-lifted 2011 Honda Accord is all set to hit the market.

Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda Motor Co. said,”For 2011, the Honda Accord evolves again with sharpened styling inside and out, fuel economy gains and a broader application of popular features. The Honda Accord is designed to deliver a consistently rewarding ownership experience in the areas that matter most to sedan and coupe drivers.”

The EPA fuel economy of the vehicles has been drastically increased by 2 MPG in the city and 3 MPG ion the highway owing to the changes made to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and transmission gear ratios.

The new redesigned alloys give a better appearance and its radius will now fall between 16” – 17” inches. The car looks bolder now and makes its presence more renowned in the crowd and the credit solely goes to the upscale design with new 3 step front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid and features minor changes on the interior as well.

The car will go on sale in the US by 2010 August and we hope that Honda brings it to India soon.

Honda Jazz launch ontrack, Accord 3.5 V6 slated for next month roll out

Honda Motors India has reaffirmed its commitment to launch its latest small car Jazz in June as per prior schedule, even though it will go slow on its production. The Jazz is powered by a specially developed 1.2-litre engine crafted keeping in interest of the Indian customer. It will share its platform with the Honda City.

Furthermore, it is gearing up to roll out a 3.5-litre V6-engined luxury sedan-Accord, by next month. The i-VTEC-powered 6-cylinder car, which is likely to be retailed at around Rs. 19-21 lakh (ex-showroom India), will be pitted against Toyota Camry. The company has, however, refused to share any details of the product.

Honda Motors India Ltd president and chief executive officer Masahiro Takedagawa revealed to the media that the trial production of the Jazz had already started. Talking about the upcoming Accord he said that the company aims to occupy the top spot in the luxury car segment as confirmed and its entire team is working towards attaining leadership in the premium segment. He concluded by saying that HSCI has already become the number one player in the D-segment, with the tremendous response received by both its D-segment offerings - Accord 2.4L and CR-V - launched last year. He further added that Honda is confident that the Honda Accord V6, which promises to set new standards in the segment by delivering an unmatched driving experience, will only strengthen its lead further.