Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

The next-gen Honda City will be powered by a petrol-hybrid powertrain according to media reports. Honda has reportedly revealed that it is developing a smaller, more compact hybrid system for the City to keep costs in check.

Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

The new Honda City is expected to debut in 2020 with all-new styling and new powertrain as well. The future belongs to electric vehicles and many automotive manufacturers have already launch electric vehicles in India. Honda though isn't rushing into this.

According to Honda, the infrastructure in India and the driving conditions favour hybrid electric vehicles more than pure electrics. This is also the reason for the Japanese auto giant to continue the development of hybrid vehicles.

Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

Honda has a premium line-up of cars in India and one of them is a hybrid. The Honda Accord Hybrid is the car in question and Honda intends to sell it as much as it possibly can. However, its price tag of Rs 43.21 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) prevents the company from doing so.

The Accord features Honda's i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) that turns it into a hybrid vehicle. According to a report by Autocar, Honda has confirmed development of a smaller version to fit smaller cars.

Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

The more compact version of i-MMD is set to make its debut in the next-generation Honda Jazz that will be revealed at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. According to the report, the same system will be implemented in the next-gen City as well.

The next-gen Honda City has already been spotted testing and is well under development. It will be an all-new car with new powertrain options as well. Earlier reports had mentioned that the next-gen Honda City would come with a petrol-hybrid engine option as well. With this new announcement, things are clearer.

Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

What makes it interesting is that Honda already sells the City in the Japanese market with a hybrid engine. But this engine option could be more expensive to make in India, hence Honda has made the choice of developing a smaller version of the one in the Accord. More details about the engine are scarce at the moment.

Takahiro Hachigo, Honda Global CEO was quoted as saying, "In light of the required infrastructure and how people use automobiles, we believe that hybrid technology is, at this moment, the most effective way for us to comply with CAFE standards. Therefore, we will electrify our products mainly with hybrid technologies."

This makes Honda's stand on hybrids and electrics very clear. Honda Car India will be introducing a hybrid variant on all the cars in its product line-up.

Honda Developing Compact Hybrid System For 2020 Honda City: Petrol-Hybrid Variant Coming To India

Thoughts On Next-Gen Honda City To Be Introduced With Petrol-Hybrid Engine Option

The Honda City has a cult following in the Indian market. The first-gen Honda city introduced in India two decades ago still has many fans and the generation after that has a greater following. Over time though, the Honda City has carved itself a niche in its segment.

It is not the best selling car in its segment or for Honda, but it has a sense of class and elegance that other cars struggle to carry. The next-gen Honda City with its sleek design and the hybrid powertrain is expected to carry forward the legacy.

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Read more on: #honda
Article Published On: Wednesday, August 7, 2019, 18:32 [IST]
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