Honda Launches The Highly Anticipated Amaze

Honda today launched the highly anticipated Amaze sedan in India. Available with both Petrol and Diesel engines from launch, the Amaze is available in 4 trim levels - E, EX, S and VX in manual gearbox version for both the engines. There is also an automatic version on offer but only with the petrol engine and will only be offered in S and VX variants.As standard, the Amaze comes with 2 years and 40,000 kilometres warranty.

The newly developed 1.5-litre 'Earth Dreams' diesel engine produces 100 ps of power and 200 Nm of torque, and is touted as the most fuel efficient car in the country with a claimed fuel efficiency of 25.8 km/l. The 1.2-litre petrol engine is carried over from the Brio and produces 88 ps of power and has a claimed fuel efficiency of 18 km/l in the manual version, while the auto version is claimed to provide 15.5 km/l.

Honda has also announced a maintenance plan for the Amaze, which is a first in the budget segment. Priced at Rs 9,996/- for the petrol model and 15,375/- for the diesel version, the maintenance package covers the maintenance cost of the car for 2 years or 40,000 kilometres, whichever is sooner.

However, the biggest surprise of the launch was the pricing of the Amaze which has been kept ultra-competitive by Honda, the versions are priced thus:

Diesel: E - 5.99 Lakhs, EX - 6.24 Lakhs, S - 6.67 Lakhs, VX - 7.6 Lakhs

Petrol: E - 4.99 Lakhs, EX - 5.24 Lakhs, S - 5.62 Lakhs, VX - 6.6 Lakhs

Automatic: S - 6.62 Lakhs, VX - 7.5 Lakhs

Interestingly, all diesel and automatic versions of the Amaze are fitted with ABS with EBD as standard. The pricing is definitely very atttractive and coupled with the new diesel engine, expect the Amaze to set the sales charts on fire. Especially given that for certain models the Amaze is priced at almost exactly the same price points as the Dzire, which is its prime competitor in the segment. So expect the B-sedan segment to witness some serious fireworks as Maruti and Honda fight it out.