Honda has begun road-testing the next-gen Amaze ahead of its global debut. The new Amaze, which has been spotted for the first time, is expected to go on sale by the end of this year, with deliveries likely to commence in January 2025. Despite the test mule being heavily camouflaged, the spy shots have revealed a few details about the upcoming generation of the Honda compact sedan that rivals Maruti Dzire and Hyundai Aura. Here’s the lowdown:
- New Amaze will continue to be petrol only
- Will continue to rival Dzire, Aura
- Expected to get more features and tech
The test mule was seen on Delhi’s outskirts. Even though the design isn’t clearly visible because of the camouflage, one can see that the overall shape appears similar to that of the outgoing model. The slab-sided looks of the current car could be carried forward in the next-gen Amaze, albeit with some modern design touches.
Also, the mule partially shows the smokey-finished tail-lamps and confirms the presence of a reverse camera, a shark fin antenna and three fixed headrests for the rear passengers, similar to the City. Going by the equipment attached to the mule, it seems that Honda was testing it for powertrain and emission checks.
The new Amaze will shift to the Honda City’s platform but will have a much smaller wheelbase to accommodate its sub-four-metre length. The current Amaze’s wheelbase is 2,470mm long, much shorter than the City’s 2,600mm.
As far as powertrain options go, the new Amaze will continue to be sold with a 1.2-litre petrol engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic. There are talks of CNG-powered variants as well, which could join the line-up later.
The new Honda Amaze has its work cut out as its arch-rival, the all-new Dzire, will arrive in the market just a few months before it. The entry-level sedan also faces competition from a long list of similarly-priced compact SUVs and sub-compact models such as the Tata Punch and the Hyundai Exter, among others. The Amaze, which is currently priced between Rs 7.20 lakh and Rs 9.96 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi, accounts for almost a fourth of the company’s total sales.
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