Honda City facelift India launch likely in January 2017
Honda City facelift India launch likely in January 2017. In picture: Honda GreizHonda

It looks like now there is more clarity on the launch of Honda City facelift in India as the emerging reports on the web suggest that the sedan in its new avatar could hit the showrooms in early 2017.

While previous reports indicated that the City facelift could come to the Indian market sooner than expected, the latest is that it could come to the market as early as January. As we have known for sometime, the work on the City facelift, which is internally called as 2GC, is progressing at a rapid pace and the early prototypes of the new models are also sent to Japan for testing purposes. Reports had said that the City facelift has also been patented in India.

Honda Accord Hybrid: Full specifications, features, price, bookings and more

From what we know so far, the facelift City is likely to get the same engine of the current model. Currently, the City comes powered by 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine that is tuned to churn out 117bhp and 145Nm of torque mated to five-speed manual and CVT gearboxes, and a 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine that can develop 99bhp and 200Nm of torque mated to six-speed manual transmission.

As far as the changes in the facelift City are concerned, the sedan is expected to get design inspiration from the Crider and Greiz sedans, which are sold in the Chinese market. While the silhouette of the current City would remain unchanged, the car could get new front grille and headlamps with re-worked rear bumper.

As for features, the City facelift is expected to get 5.7cm touchscreen, an automatic climate control system, audio and hands-free telephone controls, paddle shift, cruise control, automotive sunroof and satellite-navigation system.