Honda City e:HEV To Be Available In Two Variants

The new Honda City e:HEV is set to debut in India tomorrow and prior to that we have some new details to share. The City e:HEV is Honda's third hybrid sedan to come to India following the Honda Civic Hybrid from a decade ago and the more recent Honda Accord Hybrid. As per a filing with the Delhi Transport Department, the new City e:HEV will be available in a choice of two variants when it goes on sale in India.

Unlike the standard Gen 5 City which is available in three variants- V, VX and ZX, the City Hybrid will be available in only the entry V and the fully loaded ZX trim levels. Expect all the equipment from the standard City V and City ZX to be carried over to their hybrid counterparts with Honda also offering additional equipment as well.

The filing also reveals that the fully-loaded City e:HEV ZX will get Honda's Sensing tech – Honda speak for advanced driver aids. This will make the City e:HEV the first compact sedan in the country to receive the tech.

Teaser suggests that the City e:HEV could get sportier design tweaks.

Honda's Sensing package includes tech such as adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, front collision warning, lane keep assist and lane departure warning.

Recent teasers have suggested that the City e:HEV will get sportier cosmetic tweaks as compared to the standard City though it remains to be seen if this will be limited to just the fully-loaded ZX or on both variants.

Coming to the engine, the document reveals that the 1.5-litre petrol engine will develop 97 bhp – down from the standard petrol City's 119 bhp. The petrol engine will be complemented by an electric motor capable of developing a peak 80kW (107bhp). The motor will be paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and allow for limited all-electric driving. The sedan will also get three drive modes – EV, hybrid and petrol.

Expect the City e:HEV to be positioned at a premium to the standard petrol and diesel Gen 5 City.