Next generation Honda City to be launched in 2020, to get CVT automatic for diesel engine.
Honda recently unveiled the second generation Amaze at the 2018 Auto Expo with a unique diesel-CVT engine-gearbox combination. The 1.5 diesel is among the most fuel-efficient motors around and with a CVT, the compact sedan will be more convenient to drive around and is likely to dish out a good fuel-efficiency number as well. However, we have bad news for those expecting the same CVT gearbox in the diesel-powered City sedan.
The current generation Honda City will continue with a manual gearbox only for the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine as the company feels the time and investment required to engineer the CVT into the City would not be justified by the volumes sold. Moreover, the current City is well into its life cycle. The next generation of the City is expected to be launched sometime in 2020 and that is when Honda is likely to fit in the CVT gearbox in the mid-size sedan. Besides the City, company officials have stated that other cars too from the line-up will get the option of a CVT automatic gearbox.
The Japanese automaker has already started testing the upgraded and BS6 compliant version of the 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine and has stated that diesel-powered cars will be an integral part of its line-up. Apart from the diesel cars, the company is also focused on cars with hybrid technology and in a contrarian approach is planning to drive in hybrid versions of the Jazz hatchback and the City sedan post-2020 as it already has a hybrid powertrain solution to the Jazz and Grace (mid-size sedan) in Japan.
The carmaker has committed that 2/3rd of its global fleet will be electrified by 2030 which includes electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell cars. Out of these cars, half will be hybrids while the others will be EVs and FCVs (fuel cell vehicles).
Next Generation Honda City
– Next gen Honda City India launch in 2020
– Likely to come with a diesel-CVT engine-gearbox option
– Honda is also planning hybrid versions of the Jazz and City
Source – ETAuto.com
