honda-amaze-india

Honda will be introducing its first diesel-powered car in India with the Amaze, which is just a few days away from its official launch. The Honda Amaze is of course the sedan version of the Brio hatchback that is called Brio Amaze in Thailand, where the car was launched in late 2012.

But while the Brio Amaze gets a 1.2 litre petrol engine in Thailand to keep it within eco car boundaries, Honda will be launching the sedan with a 1.5 litre diesel engine in India. The brand new i-DTEC engine, part of Honda’s new Earth Dreams Technology family, is a variant of the 1.6 i-DTEC used the the Honda Civic Euro, with a shorter stroke.

Vital stats include max power of 100 PS, max torque of 200 Nm and headline grabbing 25.8 km/l economy. The stunning Indian Driving Cycle FC figure makes it the country’s most fuel efficient car, and the 200 Nm on tap (10 Nm more than a Honda CR-V 2.0) from 1,750 rpm means it won’t be a slouch either.

brio amaze

The diesel is paired to a five-speed manual gearbox. Indians who want a self-shifting Amaze will have to opt for the 1.2L petrol (88 PS/109 Nm), which is also available with a five-speed automatic gearbox, unlike the CVT-equipped Thai Brio Amaze. The i-VTEC’s best FC is recorded with the manual gearbox – 18 km/l.

Our Anthony Lim has driven this diesel-powered Honda Amaze last year in Japan – click here to read his report. More pics of the Brio Amaze, snapped during its Thai launch, can be had here and here.

Unfortunately, the i-DTEC won’t be coming here anytime soon – it’s a Euro 4 engine. A small car with a modern diesel, that’s a motoring experience many Malaysians will never know, unfortunately.