The HONDA CITY VTEC !

The new Honda City is probably the most successful model marketed by Honda in the ASEAN region. It is a bold new model, featuring what many Honda fans considers a 'futuristic design' that is based largely on the platform of the highly successful Honda Fit/Jazz. Coming out of Honda R&D Asia in Thailand, it was originally launched in only 1 variant, what has now come to be called the 'City i-DSI' featuring the new L15A 1.5l i-DSI engine. I have reviewed the Honda City i-DSI extensively here on TOVA, it is an excellent vehicle with plenty of 'go' and superb fuel economy - a fine all-rounded vehicle. Early this year, Honda Asia launched a new variant, the Honda City 1.5l VTEC. This new VTEC variant turned the City range into a 2 variants line-up by adding the much eagerly awaited performance-oriented variant, what might be called a City 'sports sedan'. Launched first in Thailand as usual, for Malaysia it was launched back in late-July by Honda Malaysia, a very awaited event by Honda and City enthusiasts. A short while after attending the launching, around early August, I got the invitation to attend the City VTEC's media test-drive session to be held at the hill-top resort of Bukit Tinggi. It was a very interesting session where Honda Malaysia also brought in some engineers from Honda R&D who designed the City VTEC to participate.

Timing-wise, the City VTEC launch and media preview was placed smack into the exciting and hectic period where Honda Malaysia was developing their MME Race Civic. Then there was the excitement of being able to cover the HMRT race from their pits at Sepang, the race report and finally the big scoop on the technical coverage of the MME Civics themselves. As a result, I had no time to cover the City VTEC launch at all. I had a number of readers especially in ASEAN impatiently asking me when I intend to review this new City VTEC. I think some might even have given up waiting for it. To everyone who were waiting, I do extend my sincere apologies. Now that I have time to catch up with my quite considerable backlog, here then is my review of the new Honda City 1.5l VTEC.