integrated safety systems Archives

Honda City V-SENSING added to range, priced from RM90,212.36

Even with just two months remaining of a difficult year, Honda Malaysia continues to surprise with new variants being introduced and the latest one to be announced is the City V-SENSING. This is the second variant of the latest City generation, introduced in 2020, to have Honda SENSING after the City RS e:HEV. The new variant is priced at RM90,212.36, without insurance and without sales tax (the exemption has been extended till June 30, 2022).

Honda SENSING + Honda LaneWatch
Honda SENSING, introduced with the CR-V four years ago, is an integrated suite of active safety systems which help the driver to avoid an accident, prevent or reduce the effects of a collision and also generally reduce driving stress. The systems in Honda SENSING are: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Honda LaneWatch (shown below), a camera-based blindspot system, is also standard for this variant. It uses a small camera on the left door mirror to capture images of the area along the side of the car. The imagery is displayed on the infotainment screen in real-time, providing the driver with a clear view (even at night) of the blind spot so that any approaching vehicle can be spotted.

“Safety is predominantly Honda’s priority and the City has always been the forerunner in offering safety features for both drivers and passengers using advanced technology. We are delighted to introduce this new variant to the Malaysian market, enabling them to now have more options to choose from in the City line-up with a total of 5 variants available,” said Honda Malaysia’s Managing Director & CEO, Madoka Chujo.

“The City V-SENSING appeals to more targeted audiences such as young families or young working adults who seek for ample performance as well as advanced safety features for their daily commute. It has the most complete advanced safety features in the B-segment with an attractive pricetag that is below RM100,000. We believe this model will continue to receive much recognition for its overall package of class-leading advanced features, space, comfort and unparalleled performance,” she said.

1.5-litre i-VTEC engine
The City V-SENSING has a 1.5-litre DOHC i–VTEC engine – the most powerful in its segment – coupled with Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). The engine output is 121 ps with maximum torque of 145 Nm, enabling the car to travel up to 18.5 kms per litre or around 750 kms per full tank.

Standard exterior features include LED Headlights and LED Day Running Lights (DRL), LED foglights, LED taillights, and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Premium materials inside
As with the other City variants, the interior has premium high-quality textures. The combination leather upholstery for the seats has ivory highlights for a touch of class. The infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity so many of the smartphone apps can also be brought to the dashboard and used from there.

For the driver, who has a 7-inch TFT meter display, there are paddle shifters to use when manual shifting is preferred and the Remote Engine Start allows the engine to be started from outside the car so the air-conditioning can be activated to cool down the cabin first. Rear occupants also enjoy more comfort as there are vents behind the centre console box to bring cool air to them.

“Since we launched the 5th Generation City in October 2020, we have recorded total sales of more than 23,300 units. To date, the City has contributed 34% to Honda Malaysia’s total sales between January and October 2021, making it the best-selling model in Honda Malaysia,” Ms. Chujo added.

For more information on the City V-SENSING or to test-drive Honda models in Malaysia, visit any authorized Honda dealership. The locations can be found at www.honda.com.my or by calling Honda Malaysia’s Toll-Free number at 1-800-88-2020.

New vs Old Honda City: Why current City owners should trade up!

Complete coverage around the vehicle with Honda SENSING 360

Where active safety systems like ABS, traction control and vehicle stability control used to work independently, the new approach over the past 10 years has been to integrate many of the systems, which also share sensors, to increase proactive performance. Many manufacturers have such integrated systems now and they have various names, with Honda calling its system Honda SENSING.

Honda SENSING was developed as part of the company’s long-standing R&D program to realise the global concept of ‘Safety for Everyone’. This aims to have a collision-free society encompassing all the different road-users. While the driver’s responses are still major factors in preventing an accident, Honda SENSING can also take independent action if the driver fails to do so.

The current CR-V was the first model in Malaysia to have Honda SENSING when it was introduced in 2017, Since then, Honda Malaysia has included the system with other models in its range, including the latest City (below).

For example, if sensors detect a vehicle ahead and a collision is likely to occur if the car does not decelerate or the driver does not brake, then the system will activate the brakes to bring the car to a stop before it hits the other car. During cruising at set speeds, the system can also ensure that a safe gap is maintained between vehicles by varying the speed.

With Honda SENSING, first introduced in 2014, motorists have gained an intelligent ‘co-driver’ to help with some of the driving work, making motoring safer and also reducing stress and fatigue. Now Honda has upgraded the system to Honda SENSING 360. This is an omnidirectional safety and driver-assistive system which removes blind spots around the vehicle and contributes to collision avoidance and the reduction of driver burden while driving. Further evolved from the previous system, Honda SENSING 360 features an expanded sensing range not only in the front and rear, but omnidirectionally around the vehicle.

Honda SENSING 360 will be introduced next year in models sold in China, and then offered in other markets in following years. No doubt it will also be available in models in Malaysia in due course, upgrading the Honda SENSING system that was first introduced with the CR-V in 2017.

Honda SENSING 360 2022 — *The upgraded Honda SENSING 360 system has more sensors for greater situation awareness around the vehicle body.*

Honda SENSING 360, as the name indicates, provides 360-degree sensing which means complete coverage all around the vehicles. This is achieved by adding a total of 5 millimetre-wave radar sensors in front and at each corner of the vehicle, in addition to the monocular camera mounted at the top of the windscreen (already used in the present system). With the additional sensors, there is expanded sensing range which covers blind spots around the vehicle.

Advancement of Collision Mitigation Braking System
More advanced than the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) of the current Honda SENSING, the new CMBS has a broader range of detection that is expanded from in front of the vehicle to include all directions around the vehicle. When making a right or left turn at an intersection, if the system detects other vehicles or pedestrians and recognizes the risk of a collision, the CMBS will activate assist the driver in the avoidance and mitigation of a collision with the other vehicle or pedestrian.

Front Cross Traffic Warning
When the vehicle is driving at a low speed or starting from a stop at an, the system notifies the driver of information about vehicles approaching to cross the intersection from the sides and front. Should there be a risk of a collision with the crossing vehicle, the system provides audio warnings and visual warnings on the meter to alert the driver and prompt collision avoidance actions.

Lane Change Collision Mitigation
With multi-lane highways, vehicles move at varying speeds in each lane and there are also occasions when a driver may wish to overtake a slower vehicle. This requires changing lanes to get past and when executing such a manoeuvre, the system can help avoid a collision with a vehicle in the adjacent lane approaching from behind. When the system detects a vehicle approaching from the blind spot behind the vehicle, it provides audio warnings and visual warnings on the meter to alert the driver and also assist steering for collision avoidance.

Active Lane Change Assist
While driving with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow and the Lane Keeping Assist System activated and when certain conditions are satisfied on a highway, if the driver activates the turn signal, the system will assist with steering for the lane change.

Cornering Speed Assist
Although ACC is a more intelligent form of cruise control, it was only applicable for straight roads. When a tight corner was encountered, the driver would have to take control and reduce speed to drive around the corner safely. With Honda SENSING 360, the system will adjust vehicle speed accordingly (if ACC is on). Using a front camera, it detects the curvature of the lane before reaching the curve and assists the driver to drive around it smoothly.

Just as systems like ABS and Vehicle Stability Assist have limitations, Honda SENSING 360 also has a limit to the capabilities (eg recognition capability and control capability). Honda reminds drivers of this and that they still need to pay attention and be ready to act accordingly. The day when the driver can be totally uninvolved in the operation of the vehicle is not here yet, but such systems are taking motorists towards it.

Honda SENSING Elite adds more advanced autonomous capabilities to Legend flagship

Piston.my