In response to increasing demand for a compact car yet powerful enough to satisfy the need for speed of the local consumers, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. answered the call of the times by unveiling the most powerful sedan in its class: the 2004 Honda City 1.5 VTEC. A next-generation sedan empowered by the Honda advances in VTEC engineering for surpassing performance, with outstanding seating flexibility and safety shielding.
Honda heightens driving pleasure with powerful engine response and fuel economy that lets you go further with far fewer stops. Whenever you want acceleration, the City responds instantly in a smooth, linear fashion that gives you a sense of total control. Clean emissions are ensured by Honda’s advanced technology. It’s a new type of performance for a new type of sedan.
The new City is powered by a 1.5 liter SOHC VTEC engine capable of 110 ps @ 5,800 rpm maximum power and 14.5 kg-m @ 4,800 rpm. It is available in 5-speed manual transmission and 7-speed Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with AT shiftlock, sports mode, and steermatic system which allows for manual shifting of seven pre-selected ratios controllable via two buttons on the three-spoke steering wheel. The car’s turning radius is 4.9 meters.
The City’s suspension is composed of Independent strut with lateral force canceling springs and stabilizer up front and an H-shaped torsion beam at the rear. Brakes are conventional ventilated disks in front and solid disks in back. Available as part of an optional package are seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, dual SRS airbags, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, and Brake Assist. The VTEC variants roll on 15-inch, 185/55-series tires with alloy rims.
Honda retained the revolutionary i-DSI-powered City variants. Short for Intelligent Dual and Sequential Ignition, the engine features two sparkplugs per cylinder for either simultaneous or sequential ignition depending on the engine load. Offered in 1.3 liter, 16-valve SOHC design, this highly fuel-efficient power-plant produces 82 PS at 5,700 rpm and 11.8 kg-m of torque at 2,800 rpm. The based i-DSI “A” model is fitted with 13-inch, 80-series tires with steel rims and hubcaps, while the “S” gets 14-inch, 65-series tires and alloy rims.
Standard on all variants are power mirrors, windows, and locks, defogger, LED-type water temperature indicator, front and rear cupholders, and front seatbelt shoulder-height adjusters. Gravitational Force Control Technology (G-CON) with arch-shaped front side frames improve crash energy absorption and reduced cabin intrusion. The car also features a safety structure composed of a wiper pivot slide system, impact absorbing bonnet, collapsible bonnet hinge, and easily deforming fender structure that’s supposed to reduce pedestrian injuries in the event of an accident.
Prices for the “V” series are P619,000 (MT) and P659,000 (CVT). For the high-end “V” series with the safety equipment package, the prices are P659,000 (MT) and P699,000 (CVT). The based “A” MT model is priced at P549,000, and the “S” variants are priced at P579,000 (MT) and P619,000 (CVT).
Like the rest of the locally available Hondas, the City also benefits from reduced maintenance costs and an increased warranty period. Replacement schedules for engine oil, automatic transmission fluid, engine coolant, air cleaner element, fuel filter, etc. have been extended. The City also comes with a three year / 100,000 kilometer warranty.
