HONDA BALLADE RETURNING TO SOUTH AFRICA

One of the most iconic nameplates on the South African motoring landscape is set to return when Honda SA launches an all-new Ballade passenger car in the first quarter of next year.

The new Honda Ballade will follow in the tyre tracks of a motoring legend that not only established Honda as a passenger car brand in SA, but also set new, elevated standards for small cars in terms of quality, service and luxury.
 

The original Honda Ballade made its local debut in 1982, and was assembled and marketed under the auspices of Mercedes-Benz South Africa. This unique collaboration allowed the Honda passenger car brand to establish a foothold in SA.

At the same time, the Ballade provided MBSA with a uniquely positioned compact car that was able to meet the needs of its discerning customer base.

The Ballade, sold and serviced through MBSA dealerships, became instantly popular among Mercedes-Benz owners wanting to add a second, smaller and more affordable quality car to the family garage.

The Honda Ballade quickly established itself as an important player in the burgeoning compact sector, pioneering features such as air-conditioning and optional automatic transmissions at a time when these were unheard of in small cars.

The car’s sales were driven by a motoring public increasingly aware of the unique combination of quality, comfort and convenience offered by the Ballade model range.

The Ballade collaboration spanned 19 years, during which 171 100 vehicles were sold. During that period, six generations of the Ballade were launched, representing a total of 45 variants.

In its first year, the Ballade only attracted 1 500 customers. But by 1992, sales had risen to a monthly average of a 1 000 cars.

The original 1,3-litre engine was gradually augmented by more powerful engines, including 1,6 VTEC and 1,8-litre units,  however the core of the range were 1,5 and 1,6-litre units which provided a good combination of performance, economy and durability.

As the world’s largest engine builder, Honda was able to equip the Ballade with advanced powerplants, while MBSA’s exacting assembly standards ensured a degree of quality unique in the compact car sector at the time.

“The original Honda Ballade was a small-car pioneer that established many of the core values SA customers associate with the Honda passenger car brand to this day – quality, reliability and high levels of ownership satisfaction,” says Graham Eagle, director of sales and marketing at Honda SA.

“For that reason, we are delighted to reintroduce the iconic nameplate to the local market. After an absence of 10 years in South Africa, the Honda Ballade returns to offer another quality sedan option to the Honda customer bridging the gap between the Honda Jazz and Honda Civic ranges. We are convinced that it will have a significant impact on the small car market, much like the original did all those years ago.”

Eagle says the new Ballade will make its debut in the first quarter of 2011, and will reflect Honda’s commitment to bringing the enjoyment of motoring to a broader audience through products that are relevant, affordable and environmentally responsible.

More details about the model line-up, drivetrain and specifications of the new Honda Ballade will be announced closer to the launch date.

STORY BY HONDA