City Turbo
| City AA/VF/FA | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Also called | Honda Jazz |
| Production | Nov 1981–Oct 1986 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact |
| Body style | 2, 4 or 5-seater 3dr hatch/van 4-seater 2dr convertible |
| Layout | FF, transverse engine |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1231 cc ER inline 4; 33 kW (44 hp) at 4,500 rpm to 110 PS (81 kW) at 5,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 4/5 speed manual 4+3 speed Hypershift manual 2 speed + overdrive Hondamatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,220 mm (87 in) |
| Length | 3,380 mm (133 in)–3,420 mm (135 in) |
| Width | 1,570 mm (62 in)–1,625 mm (64.0 in) |
| Height | 1,460 mm (57 in)–1,570 mm (62 in) |
| Curb weight | 640 kg (1,410 lb)–810 kg (1,790 lb) |
The first generation Honda City (Honda Jazz in Europe) was a subcompact hatchback aimed mainly at the Japanese domestic market. The somewhat ungainly designed City, referred to by Honda as "Tall Boy" style, was also marketed abroad and was available in a number of versions. First introduced in November 1981 it carried the model codes AA for sedans, VF for vans, and FA for the widetrack Turbo II and Cabriolets. It was sold at the Honda Japan dealership sales channel called Honda Clio.
While the City's layout was traditional for its category, with front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted engine, the innovative tall seating arrangement created comparable legroom to a car many times its size. This, combined with class leading fuel economy led to it being a rapid and considerable success in the Japanese domestic market. In spite of the creativity and novelty of its design, the City was narrowly pipped for the Japanese motoring journalists' Car Of The Year Award by the luxurious Toyota Soarer. The engine was the CVCC-II 1,231 cc four-cylinder "ER", specifically designed for the City. It was also available together with the , a special 50 cc 'foldaway' scooter constructed to fit in the City's small luggage area, itself designed around the Motocompo. Originally a sportier R version, the economical E and two commercial van versions ("Pro") were introduced. In September 1982 a turbocharged version of the Honda ER engine was added to the lineup.
Designed by Pininfarina and introduced in August 1984, a drop-top Cabriolet utilized the wider track, fenders, and bigger bumpers of the Turbo II "Bulldog", but was only normally available with the naturally aspirated 67 PS (49 kW) engine. These widetrack models were designated "FA" rather than "AA". The Cabriolet was well equipped, with a glass rear window and twelve pastel colors not available on the hatchback versions. Part of a worldwide eighties' wave of convertibles based on family cars, this was the first car of this kind built in Japan.
A March 1985 light facelift brought a new asymmetrical grille (although not for the Cabriolet) and some interior improvements. The E and E II models were replaced by the new E III, while a lower priced U model joined the lineup. The U was the only non-commercial City to be available with a four-speed manual in the Japanese domestic market. Naturally aspirated engines in the AA Citys also gained a new fiber-reinforced aluminum alloy connecting rods ("FRM"), a world first in series production. One month later, the R became available with the interesting Hypershift transmission, a four-speed with an electronically controlled overdrive on second, third, and fourth gears - in essence creating a 7-speed gearbox.
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