Honda Cars Philippines Inc. inaugurated the New City and the New Brio on Thursday, 13 July, unveiling a fresh take on two of their top-selling models. The grand unveiling took place at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, graced by Honda car clubs, dealers, media representatives, and partners from banking and insurance sectors.
A four-day event followed the grand launch, alongside live streaming on HCPI’s official Facebook page for broader accessibility.
“Over the years, customers have come to appreciate the exceptional value and fuel efficiency of both models, allowing extra driving distance while minimizing environmental impact. Surpassing mere essentials, these best-selling models provide an enhanced driving experience with above-class engine power and features, premium interior comfort and space, in their distinct classy and sporty styles. Honda will always be dedicated to giving more joy and confidence to customers through our products such as the new Honda City and new Honda Brio” said Rie Miyake, president of HCPI.
THE new Brio line is refreshed with better tech and sensible upgrades.
New City unveiled
The New City is a revelation in technology, elegantly blending safety, design and performance in one sensible package. Its refined exterior, premium and spacious interiors, and the integration of Honda Sensing technology as standard across all variants highlight Honda’s intent to elevate your driving experience. Moreover, the New City introduces an expanded palette of colors and a new variant to cater to diverse customer preferences.
The newly designed RS front grille with RS Emblem and the front and rear bumpers, sporting a carbon-wrapped lower molding, accentuate the vehicle’s sleeker, wider look. With improved LED Daytime Running Lights, Fog Lights, and LED Headlights on the RS (Halogen Projector Headlights for the rest), the new design greatly enhances driver visibility.
These new enhancements are complemented by an Auto On/Off headlight function with a 15-second auto-off timer after the engine is turned off.
CURRENT platform’s 1.2-litre SOHC i-VTEC engine continues on in the New Brio.
The New City’s side view still showcases its sharp horizontal character lines, merging simple elegance and a sporty demeanor. Power adjustable door mirrors are available across all variants, with power folding door mirrors integrated with side turn signal lights on the RS and V. Sporty 16-inch Alloy wheels (Black Cut for RS, Silver Cut for V) and 15-inch wheels (Silver Paint Alloy for S, and Steel with Cover for E) round off the new look.
The City’s rearview boasts a redesigned bumper featuring a sporty carbon-wrapped diffuser. The LED tail lights, LED High-Mount Stop Lamp, and a High Gloss Black-colored Trunk Spoiler for the RS are carried over for an enhanced sporty style.
Stepping inside, the New City’s interior showcases premium design and function, with spacious comfort for both driver and passengers. Changes in windshield shape minimize blind spots, enabling easier and safer maneuvering.
New Brio debuts
Since making its debut in the Philippines in 2014, the Honda Brio has grown into a beloved favorite, winning over 30,000 proud owners and multiple accolades. Renowned for its nimble handling, fuel efficiency, advanced tech, and comfortable ride, the Brio stands apart in the small hatchback market. As the model enter’s a new refresh, it’s clear that Honda has been keen to evolve and refine this best-seller, augmenting its features to meet the ever-diversifying needs of first-time or alternative car buyers.
The new Honda Brio has received a makeover, most notably visible in its stylish Piano Black RS Design Front Grille. The grill’s revamped design features a larger opening and is matched with new LED headlights (RS), fog lights, and fog light garnish (RS), plus DRLs for the RS and V variants.
Further enhancing the vehicle’s exterior, the Brio has been outfitted with power folding and adjustable Crystal Black Door Mirrors. On the rear, a tailgate spoiler, RS design rear bumper lower garnish, and tail lights highlight the RS variants. To complete the striking exterior, Honda has fitted the Brio with updated 14-inch Alloy Wheels (V), 14-inch Steel with Cover Wheels (S), and 15-inch RS Design Alloy Wheels (RS).
Inside the cabin, the Brio maintains its commitment to comfort and style. Honda has graced its A-segment hatchback with Black Fabric Seats, highlighted with Red Accents in the RS variants, for a more premium, sportier feel. The Brio also boasts enhanced convenience features, including speed-sensing auto door locks (RS, and V) and power windows with auto up/down features, available across all variants.
A noticeable change in the Brio’s latest iteration lies in the entertainment department. All variants of the new Brio come with a 7-inch Capacitive Touchscreen Audio, more user-friendly with the new illuminated audio controls in the RS and V. Furthermore, connectivity is made easy with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, a USB Port, AM/FM, and Android smartphone mirroring. The RS variants are equipped with a six-speaker audio setup, with the V and S variants boasting a four-speaker setup for an immersive audio experience.
Under the hood, the new Brio retains its reliable 1.2 Liter 4-cylinder SOHC i-VTEC engine, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission. This engine-transmission pairing ensures smooth and powerful acceleration, with optimal fuel economy for this compact hatchback. A 5-Speed manual transmission option is available in the 1.2 S MT Variant, catering to those who prefer the tactile feedback of manual shifting.
Honda has also kept safety at the forefront in the new Brio. The car comes standard with Honda’s G-CON technology for enhanced impact absorption in the event of a collision. All Brio variants feature Drive and Front Passenger Airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with EBD. Now, rear parking sensors have been added to all variants to further bolster safety and convenience.
