Sedans aren’t selling like they used to, but is there space in the Philippine market for a small, budget-friendly one? We ask this because Honda has just revealed a teaser for its next-generation Amaze.
Formerly known as the Brio Amaze, it’s set to make its world premiere in India soon. Over there, its main competitor is the Suzuki Dzire, also due for a redesign this year.
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For those who remember, the Amaze was sold in the Philippines from 2015 to 2018. Since then, the model was never offered in the country again. The second generation was revealed in 2018, but mainly for South Asian and African markets.
Now that it’s six years old, Honda has decided to give its smallest sedan a full model change. With that, we can expect a sportier, sharper look, as well as more aggressive stance. There are some elements from Honda’s bigger sedans, namely the City and Civic. If you squint hard enough, you’ll also spot a large hexagonal grille and chiseled bumper corners.
Specs are unknown at the moment, but it’s likely to use a 1.2-liter engine that’s also found in the Brio. If so, we could see 89hp and 110Nm of torque, along with the choice of a five-speed manual or CVT. For dimensions, we’re expecting it to be under four meters long as India doesn’t impose heavy taxes on cars under the said length.
With that in mind, does this mean the Amaze will give us an idea of the next-generation Brio? We’re 50:50 on that. See, the current Amaze doesn’t share the same platform as the Brio. That said, the all-new model could bring the hatch and sedan under one chassis again.
