Sydney show: Honda in the City

HONDA presented one of the few world premieres at the Australian International Motor Show this morning in the shape of the City Concept – although, in a highly unusual move, it wheeled out a ‘concept’ version of a vehicle that has entered production and which GoAuto drove in Thailand last week.

Australian sales are slated for the first quarter of next year, with the ‘proper’ production version expected to debut at the Melbourne International Motor Show in March.

The Thai-built four-door sedan is a rebodied version of the second-generation Jazz that made its debut in Australia in early September, and uses the larger of its two petrol engines – a 88kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit, mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic gearbox.

Among the light car sedan competitors the City has in its sights are the Holden Barina, Toyota Yaris, Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent.

Honda also took the opportunity this morning to announce that all Civics from early next year will include electronic stability control – or VSA in Honda-speak.

It will be one of the most welcome changes made to the facelifted Civic sedan when it goes on sale in around February 2009. Like the Jazz, City, Accord VTi and V6, and CR-V models, the Civic sedan is sourced from Thailand.

On the subject of facelifts, the other notable on Honda’s Sydney show stand is the revised Honda Legend that was announced in August.

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