NEW DELHI — Japanese automaker Honda and its local affiliate, Honda Siel Cars India, will challenge Toyota in the small-entry segment with a prototype dubbed simply New Small Concept.
The Honda NSC is designed for emerging markets, as is Toyota's Entry Family Car (EFC). Both will be formally unveiled in early January at Auto Expo 2010.
Honda describes its NSC as "a concept model of a new small-sized vehicle which Honda is currently developing especially for India and other emerging nations."
Neither the Honda NSC nor the Toyota EFC is targeted at the extreme low end now occupied by Tata with its $2,500 no-frills Nano or the future Renault/Bajaj Auto model.
Both Toyota and Honda plan to build their new entry small cars in India. Observers expect prices to start above $5,000, but well below $10,000.
Honda has said its NSC will be smaller than the company's City and Jazz models.
Inside Line says: The biggest difference between the Honda NSC and the Tata Nano, aside from price, is that the Honda is being designed to appeal to buyers in a number of emerging markets outside India. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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jew931 says:
01:35 PM, 01/17/2010
Just moved to Australia from Oregon, and test drove the City. It's been out on the market for a year, and sales are 'Average'...Offered here with the 1.5L engine offering 88kW or ~120hp. Made in Thailand. ~40.5 mpg on the highway, which is impressive. When mated to a automatic, the power is fine around town, but when you punch it..sounds like you just turned on a blender when the engine revs.
Nice combination of equipment, steering wheel controls, hugh trunk, side air bags, NO stability control. About $2500-$3000 more than a base Jazz of Fit.
auto_guy says:
04:41 PM, 12/22/2009
$100 bucks says Honda is going to call it the Life or the Zest.