What's the news?
Honda is betting on increased levels of safety to give it a sales edge for the upcoming 161 numberplate, and so it's going to fit its new City Brake Active system as standard on all models.
Using a combination of laser and radar guidance, the City Brake Active works between speeds of 5- and 32km/h and scans the road ahead for obstacles such as other cars, pedestrians and cyclists. If it detects a problem, it'll make noises and flash lights, and if that doesn't make the driver brake, it'll take over entirely and throw an electronic anchor out the back, either stopping the car before it hits something or someone, or at least reducing the severity of the impact.
Honda, which now has full five-star NCAP ratings for its entire range, is also offering a couple of safety tech options packs on some models. The Dynamic Safety Pack comes on certain Jazz, HR-V and CR-V models and comes with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, High-beam Support System and Traffic Sign Recognition.
Then there's the Honda Sensing pack, which can be ordered on some versions of the CR-V. It has Collision Mitigation Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Keep Assist and intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control.
Emmet Kavanagh, Marketing Manager at Universal Honda Ltd. commented: "Honda is very proud to once again be taking a lead in fitting important safety equipment as standard across our full Irish range. Honda was one of the first brands to make Vehicle Stability Control standard across its range a number of years ago, and once again we are showing our commitment to advanced safety features by making another important and potentially life-saving new safety feature standard across our new range in the form of the City Brake Active System."