Impact of 2014 Honda City on the Indian Auto-Sector

Honda, the Japanese auto-giant, renowned globally for its exquisitely crafted exterior designs and elegantly moulded interiors, has finally unveiled its premium sedan, Honda City. As expected, it has left no stone unturned to make it a one-of-its-kind vehicle, which will be very difficult to match. It is a delightful moment for a lot of auto-enthusiasts, whose anticipation was at the peak concerning its unveiling. This impeccable product from Honda bears the stamp of supreme confidence. Furthermore, it reflects the trust that Honda has in their reigning fan base.

This unveiling event has left quite an impact on Honda's contemporaries as they are witnessing the arrival of the fourth generation Honda City, which has taken the Indian auto world by storm. What unsettled some major nerves, is the fact that the advance booking of this premium sedan has been doing exceptionally well in the entire nation. The company confirmed that it will commence the deliveries of this sedan by January 2014.

During the unveiling, Honda announced that the City would be presented with both petrol and diesel fuel trims with the highly acclaimed 1.5-litre i-VTEC and 1.5-litre i-DTEC engines, respectively. Going by what Honda had to say, this vehicle seems to have the best fuel economy in the entire segment with incredible driving experience. This time round, Honda has also tweaked the wheelbase slightly, extending its length by 50 mm for the sake of spaciousness and comfort inside the cabin. This extended wheel base has subsequently resulted in the enlargement of leg, knee and shoulder room by 60 mm, 70 mm and 40 mm. So, in all, there is no scarcity of space inside the car, which an user rightly deserves, as he has to pay a hefty sum for this beauty.

Directly as well as indirectly, it is going to turn the mid-size segment upside down with its fascinating appearance and flattering performance. It will directly compete with Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea, Ford Fiesta, Maruti SX4, Volkwagen Vento and Skoda Rapid, all of which, are faring moderately well. However, Honda is going to snatch multiple buyers as it has seduced almost every auto-freak with its first impression. The price of this sedan is still not disclosed by Honda and there's no doubt that this will contribute to a larger extent, on the imprint it leaves on the Indian auto-sector.

It will be an evolutionary product in the Indian market as it will redefine spaciousness, irrespective of the fact that it is only a mid-sized sedan and not a completely premium one. Honda has mastered the art of attracting immense buyers by coming up with out-of-the-box products having a qualitative edge, as can be observed in this next generation Honda City. Start/Stop function and LCD infotainment with reverse parking camera acts as the icing on the cake. Such infotainment features are executed very wisely and believe it or not, they influence a buyer's decision a lot more.

Expectations are sky-high and Honda has implemented them well by riding on the shoulders of the City; in the past too, it has reaped outstanding rewards for the company. This time round, the scenario is a bit intriguing, as this segment is packed with several top-notch cars. It will be thrilling to see whether the City gets the same thundering response upon its arrival and maintain the same legacy of Honda, as always or will some other brand ride the wave. One thing is for sure – this car is going to enjoy a roller-coaster ride in middle of this highly competitive industry.

The auto-industry is also not in its best phase currently as several leading auto-makers including Maruti and Honda, are not witnessing the desired rise in their sales graphs. The new Honda City can act as the 'Saviour' for not only its maker but also for the whole industry and can help overcome the current downturn. There's very little time left for the official launch of the much awaited car and going by the status of advance bookings, it may be coined as a dominating product that will leverage the advantage and create newer milestones for the company and its legacy.

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