Honda Australia made a rather peculiar move in the recent Australian International Motor Show by revealing a production car as a "concept" car. The City, already in its 3rd generation (since 1996) has already gone on sale in Singapore and Thailand.
Honda has confirmed that the City will go on sale in Australia in February next year, priced between the Jazz and Civic. In contrast to other Asian markets, the City sedan is priced higher than the Jazz hatch. Markets in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are more used to seeing things the other way round, where the Jazz is positioned as a slightly more premium compact hatch as compared to the bread and butter City. The other market where the Jazz is priced lower than the City is in Indonesia, but that's due to regulatory issues as Indonesian legislators classify Jazz as a mini-MPV, which attracts a lower tax structure.
More images at TMR.
Honda Australia lobbied hard with Honda Motor Co. to have the City introduced there. The main idea behind City's introduction in Australia is to fill the gap left as the Civic grew bigger and more expensive with every new generation. The Jazz is mainly catered for pensioners. In Australia (and Europe), Honda is perceived as a pensioner's car, which a very different image from how buyers in USA or Asia perceive the brand (younger, sporty). The average age of an Australian Honda owner is 50, while the average age of a Jazz customer is 55. Honda Australia hopes to change this with the City, to draw a newer, younger group of customers.
The Australian City is sourced from Honda Thailand plant in Ayutthaya, which is currently selected as "leader plant" for the Asia-Ocenia region. The Aussie City will come in two variants, but with only one engine option (1.5-litre i-VTEC) mated to either a 5-speed automatic or manual. Prices will range from AUD 17,990 to AUD 21,990. Specs details have not been confirmed but it is understood that the Australian City will come with higher specs - 6 airbags including side curtain units and ABS as standard items. Electronic stability control will only be included in 2010. The adoption of ESC has more to do with regulatory requirements rather than Honda's sudden concern for safety.
As Australia is a signatory to the UNECE WP29 Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on ESC, all new light duty (including utes) and passenger cars sold in Australia from 2011 onwards must be fitted with ESC. The signatory was signed on June 26 2008, during the UN World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.
And by the way, the MD and CEO of Honda Australia Mr. Yasuhide Mizuno was previously CEO of Honda Malaysia, where the City was among the best selling cars in the country. Prior to his assignment in Malaysia he was assigned to improve sales in Taiwan in the newly established Honda Taiwan Co. Honda suffered from years lacklustre sales in Taiwan after its relationship with its distributor SanYang soured over equity issues but things improved significantly after the arrival of Mizuno.
Related post :
Honda City price (ASEAN region)
Honda City First Impression
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