After weeks of teasers, Honda Malaysia finally revealed more information on the brand new 2020 Honda City for the Malaysian market, and it’s very interesting. Not only are we the very first market to receive the City RS intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid model, booking for the new B-segment sedan is now open locally too.

That’s right, Honda Malaysia says that the introduction of the City RS i-MMD on our shores will be the “world premiere” of the hybrid model. On top of that, this range-topping variant is also the most powerful offering: its i-MMD powertrain is able to output 253Nm of torque, thanks to the hybrid’s electric motor.

According to Honda, this allows the City RS to have “a powerful and smooth acceleration that performs better than a C-segment and D-segment model.”

If you’re not keen to get a hybrid model, other variants of the fifth generation City – four of them in total, including the RS trim – will be powered by a new 1.5L DOHC i-VTEC engine. It produces 121PS and 145Nm of torque, and just like the current fourth generation model, it is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Aside from that, there are also a number of improvements to the all-new City, which are touted as a first in the segment. One of them is a Honda LaneWatch camera positioned on the left side mirror: whenever you signal to the left, the infotainment screen in the centre console will display what’s on the left side of the car to allow for safer lane changes. Unfortunately, this feature is only offered on the RS and V models.

Speaking of which, other items that are exclusive to the RS and V trims of the new City include LED headlights and 16-inch aluminium wheels with a two-tone design. Naturally, there are some features that are only offered on the RS model as well, such as black door mirror caps and an electric parking brake.

The all-new Honda City will be launching in Malaysia sometime in the fourth quarter of 2020. Local pricing has not been revealed yet, though booking for the B-segment sedan is now open. To sweeten the deal, those who book the new City will also receive a RM1,000 service voucher with a one-year validity.

To learn more about the fifth generation City, head on to Honda Malaysia’s official website.