Honda Automobile (Thailand) has debuted the City CNG subcompact locally, its first model that can use compressed natural gas.

The City CNG, which is powered by a 1.5-litre engine that runs on both petrol and CNG, features electronic fuel injection and a unique suspension design.

The car is produced in accordance with Euro 4 emission standards at Honda's Ayutthaya factory. Safety features include an electronic safety control box and solid cross bar with enhanced stability.

It comes with a warranty that is good for three years or 100,000 kilometres, whichever comes first, and is eligible for a tax rebate under the first-time car buyer scheme.

The City CNG, now available at Honda showrooms nationwide, is priced at 659,000 baht (US$ 21,000) for the S CNG version or 706,000 baht for the V CNG. All versions come in a choice of six colours.

Executive vice-president Pitak Pruittisarikorn said Honda is committed to designing vehicles that are powered by clean and alternative energies.

It is also in line with Honda's global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30% from 2000 levels across all product lines by 2020.

Mr. Pitak said oil price increases in recent years have led to increasing concerns by Honda about the rising burden of costs on motorists.

The City has proved one of the best-selling models over the years. "This latest version maintains all the unique design features as well as superior performance and safety standards," said Mr. Pitak.