Review: Honda's new diesel car 'Amaze'

New Delhi, Nov 25: Japanese auto major Honda Motor's first diesel car ‘Amaze' is all set to hit Indian markets in early 2013. The car will mark the entry of the car maker into the fast growing diesel engine market, a segment which it wanted to capture fast. Taking note of what they need to do to move forward in the Indian market, Honda engineers toiled for three years to come out with a new 1.5 litre diesel especially for India which will debut in Amaze. In developing the diesel engine, the company made no shortcuts and it did not re-engineer any of the numerous diesel powertrains available in the world. It also not even formed any association with Fiat or Nissan. The engine of the Amaze sedan has been developed by former Honda's F1 team.The Honda Amaze, will be the cheapest sedan from a company that is renowned for making three box cars. The Amaze's petrol version has been unveiled in Thailand for 454,000 Baht (Rs 8.2 lakh). The Amaze, essentially a sedan based on the Brio hatchback, has been designed entirely from scratch. It has new body panels, a longer wheelbase, and a redesigned front grille. There's more chrome on the grille and it even has a different bumper. The side of the car has sharp lines flowing downward from the rear, which adds to its muscularity. The first crease starts from the front bumper and ends at the rear door, whereas the second crease starts from the rear door and runs right up to the tail lamps. Honda has placed the now ubiquitous chrome strip on the rear of the car. It's fairly large and meets the tail lamps at either end. However, you'll find tail maps quite similar to Honda City. Just like the sides, the rear bumper has many cuts and creases, that makes the car quite edgy. The car's rear is one of the best you can find in this segment. On the inside, the car has got everything to surprise you. The cabin is far more spacious and there's enough kneeroom. There is also improvement in the rear legroom and the ample boot it now offers. Up front, the dashboard is identical to the Brio. There is little that has changed as far as the steering, instrument panel or dashboard is concerned. The only real change is the tachometer that is marked till 5,000 rpm only. In addition, there's also height-adjustment on the driver's seat which could have been done because of many Brio owners complaining of low seat position. The steering is a standard 3 spoke design, unlike the Jazz & the City whose wheels are Civic-inspired. Overall, for an entry level sedan the interiors are pretty much okay, and in fact far better than in cars like the Etios and Verito. The color palette of the inside is similar to other Hondas sold in India and popular with customers. The Amaze is roomier than the Maruti Dzire with legroom at the back being adequate for a 6 foot tall passenger. The car can seat five people comfortably and the quarter glass windows at the rear reduces the claustrophobic feeling found in compact sedans.Under the hood, the all-new 1.5L i-DTEC motor will come from a new family of diesels that consists of 1.5L, 1.6L and 2.2L displacements. The 1.6L & 2.2L are primarily for the European market. The 4-cylinder 1.5L i-DTEC is basically a scaled-down version of the 1.6-litre diesel that Honda sells in Europe, so this four-cylinder unit has a twin-cam, 16-valve head. While Honda didn't reveal the power ratings, it is likely to be in the range of 90 - 100 BHP and 200 - 210 Nm of torque. The gearshift and clutch action, both of which are smooth and light, adds to the smooth movement of the car in the city. The heavier diesel engine at the front meant Honda stiffening the front springs though the rest of the suspension is the same as the Brio's. Few highlights of the new engine:• The engine is called "Earth Dreams Technology" • The development work on the new engine started in 2007• It is lightest diesel engine in its class. • It has vertically mounted intercooler.• Features an aluminium block, high strength narrow crankshaft, lightweight pistons and high swirl and high flow rate head design• Engine is mounted on liquid-filled mounts, instead of rubber units, to reduce vibration.• BS-4 compliant. The diesel version of Amaze will be made in its unused factory at Tapukara in Rajasthan. Overall, it is a fabulous diesel debut for a company that is not known to make diesel engines. However, the consumers must be having high expectations from the Japanese carmaker which is known to deliver featured loaded and performance driven cars. If Honda can price the Amaze at par with the Dzire then it surely has the potential to shake up the Indian saloon car market. Indeed Honda is on the front sear now!The new Honda Amaze will be available in four variants: S MT, S AT, V MT and V AT. Prices in Thailand for the Honda Brio Amaze are:Brio Amaze S-Manual – 454,500 Baht (Rs 8.2 lakh)Brio Amaze S-Automatic - 493,500 Baht (Rs 8.9 lakh)Brio Amaze V-Manual- 483,500 Baht (Rs 8.7 lakh)Brio Amaze V-Automatic- 521,500 Baht (Rs 9.4 lakh).