Honda City 2GC prototype exported to Japan for testing

The Honda City facelift (codenamed 2GC) is currently under development to take on the incoming next gen Hyundai Verna. The mid-life refresh is expected to offer some significant updates to keep the product relevant in an increasingly competitive environment.

According to Zauba.com, Honda Cars India has exported a 2GC prototype to Japan for testing purpose. The export log shows that the prototype in question is powered by the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine.

While we don’t expect the engines to change much, the petrol motor is most likely to receive the 6-speed manual transmission that was introduced in the BR-V instead of the existing 5-speed manual unit. The CVT with paddle shifters will continue to be offered as an option. The 1.5-litre i-DTEC diesel engine too is expected to be retained, albeit with NVH improvements.

Visually, we can expect the facelifted City to feature bolder grille, additional chrome garnishes, reprofiled bumpers, new alloy wheels and new detailing for taillights. The interior is expected to undergo subtle improvements.

The Honda City recently lost its segment leadership to the Maruti Ciaz in a closely fought battle. The significant update is expected to give Honda the crown back. We expect the Honda City facelift to be launched in 2017.

This article first appeared on Rushlane.com