Kuala Lumpur, 20 JUNE 2012 – Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. today unveiled the long awaited New City, which debuts as the first Completely Knocked-Down (CKD) model from Honda Malaysia after the resumption of its factory production in April 2012.
The New City is set to exceed expectation while offering the best package to Malaysian motorists. This new compact sedan is attractive in styling, advanced in performance and comes with enhanced safety features.
Speaking at the Launch of the New City, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Malaysia said, “Since the launch of the first generation Honda City in 2001, this model has been well received by the market. As at April 2012, Honda Malaysia has sold 113,005 units. In fact, the Honda City is our best selling CKD model in Malaysia. With our production currently operating at full speed, we are pleased to announce that we have cleared the 3,000 Honda City back orders that we received during the production halt.”
The New City not only maintains the City’s three key qualities - performance, style, and practicality; but has also exceeded expectations with its attractive design and augmented safety features. Powered by Honda’s signature i-VTEC 1.5 litre engine which provides the perfect balance of performance and fuel efficiency, the New City achieves lower fuel consumption without compromising on engine output. Efficient driving is easier to maintain with the new ECO indicator lamp. The ECO Lamp lights up when the vehicle is driven efficiently.
The 5-speed Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shift increases the enjoyment of sporty driving with fingertip gearshift control on the steering wheel. In addition, this transmission system is combined with the Drive-By-Wire (DBW) technology in the New City, which controls the engine, to provide smoother shifting for reliable acceleration and linear driving performance at regular speed range.
Exterior wise, the City’s aerodynamic futuristic design is improved with a new front chrome grille, new front bumper and new rear bumper. The New City’s interior offers superior level of comfort with its stylish and generous cabin space. The new sleeker dashboard colour goes well with the sporty design metallic meters, which are lit up by a blue light, providing superior visibility while enjoying the thrill of precision performance. The speedometer displays a wide range of information including odometer, trip meter, fuel consumption and range indication. The stylish central console is now sleeker with new colour and stylish dials to control the air-conditioner temperature and air flow system.
“The New City is an ideal car for Malaysians who appreciate attractive styling in a compact sedan, while maintaining practicality, comfort and an economical driving experience. It caters to both work and leisure activities,” Mr. Ueno added.
Spaciousness has always been a trademark of the City. During long journeys with the New City, passengers will never be restricted of space. The new center headrest and center seat, with three-point ELR seat belts are now available in the New City. The New City’s seats are designed for extreme comfort and practicality. Rides are comfortable with the seats’ soft cushioning and textured seating upholstery. The rear seats also retain City’s unique 60:40 seat configuration which extends the cargo space of this popular compact sedan even more. The unique and useful under seat tray feature remains in the New City. The audio system in the New City is enhanced with an integrated audio system with build-in connectivity USB and AUX port, for that added pleasure and entertainment while travelling.
The New City is now equipped with additional safety feature that offers drivers a peace of mind. The New City is enhanced with a long list of safety features, which includes dual SRS airbags system, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), ISOFIX, Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
The New City is available in five stylish colours: Sparkling Brown Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Polished Metal Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl and Taffeta White. Honda Malaysia targets to sell 2,000 units of the New City per month by end of this year.
At the launch, Mr. Ueno also introduced Honda Malaysia’s new service package. “In line with the launch of the New City, Honda Malaysia now offers 5 years warranty with unlimited mileage* for the New City customers who maintain their vehicle according to schedule. This new offer will enable customers to enjoy six free labour service alternate with paid service until 100,000km. The new after-sales package combined with our established network of 60 dealers nationwide, which are part of our ongoing efforts to make the ownership experience for our customers more enjoyable and even more affordable.
The launch of the New City coincided with the official opening of the new warehouse of Honda Malaysia in Shah Alam last Friday. The investment of RM50 Million in the warehouse marked a new beginning of a greater commitment from Honda to their customers in Malaysia. Honda Malaysia is positive that the strategically located warehouse will enable them to serve their customers in Malaysia more efficiently and effectively.
With the New City, Honda Malaysia continues to excite the market with quality products. Customers can test drive and place their booking for the New City at any authorised Honda dealers nationwide. For more information, please call Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, or log on to www.honda.com.my
Mr. Yoichiro Ueno, Managing Director and CEO of Honda Malaysia delivering his speech at the launch of the New City
