Honda Ballade,Pope's ride in Kenya

By Karuga wa Njuguna and agencies

The Holy Father arrived in Kenya on 25th November 2015 and shocked millions of Kenyan's after he left JKIA in a Honda Ballade to the State House. Few know about these Honda models due to Toyota domination in the Kenyan market. Any Honda is well built and have won several awards in Europe due to their reliability in their VTEC engines. The few that understand a Honda embrace them. So what is this Honda Ballade? The name of the car was taken from "ballade", the French word for a ballad. Because both the four-door Ballade sedan and the five-door hatchback Quintet were both high luxury content vehicles derived from the Honda Civic, the Ballade represented a type of music, and the Quintet represented a musical group. The Ballade competed in Japan with the Toyota Sprinter, and the Nissan Laurel Spirit .

Honda Ballade is 1500cc small car with an i-VTEC engine which has an ultra low friction system and fast combustion to improve fuel economy and yet still has power when you need it. With Pope's support in environment then this proves to be a less contributor to global warming. The dynamic, sleek form of the new Ballade is sporty and powerful. It’s low stance and crisp, provocative lines not only add to the visual appeal of this family sedan, but enhance aerodynamic performance and improve fuel efficiency. The unmistakable new front-end styling accentuates the attractive and aggressive solid chrome wing face. The shaping is both elegant and robust with aerodynamics that sharpen performance and improve fuel economy. Ballade comes in three models namely Trend, Elegance and Executive and a choice of four colours. The car has very nice features which include 15” alloy wheels not only add to the dynamic and sporty look of the Ballade, but hug the road for added traction, safety and performance.. When it comes to perfecting aerodynamics, Underpinning its crisp, sleek styling, the Elegance comes with an unobtrusive shark fin antenna. On the dashboard Scroll, slide and pinch the 7” Touch Screen Display in the Ballade Elegance. Integrated with the Multifunction Steering Wheel, the Touch Screen Display not only lets you control your audio system and GPS navigation, but links with Smartphone apps, Bluetooth, HDMI and USB. Control your surroundings with the multifunction steering wheel. It allows you to control Audio, Cruise Control and Bluetooth, as well as paddle shift transmission in the CVT option.

Reversing is a breeze with the Multi-angle Rear View Camera. Dynamic Guidance lines on the 7” Touch Screen Display ensure safe, precision parking, every time. The Ballade Elegance CVT offers paddle shift transmission for swift, smooth shifting. Boasting fully automatic, semi-automatic and fully manual transmission options, you can select your degree of Paddle Shift control. By activating Econ mode, the driver can further maximize fuel economy. Riding in comfort is a plus in the ballade because it has a generous rear legroom, passenger mobility and comfort come standard in this sporty yet spacious family sedan. For a more relaxed driving experience, the Ballade Trend comes with the option of CVT automatic transmission, boasting a smooth and perceptive drive without the extra leg work. The Pope's safety is paramount and while making a choice of the car, perhaps the following was looked at. The car is equipped with Anti Lock Breaking, Break Force Distribution, and Emergency Break Assist, the Ballade comes with standard features that help reduce speed as quickly and safely as possible in an emergency. Not only can you stop fast, but with maximum vehicle control and stability. With Vehicle Stability Assist, your Ballade is always working to keep maximum traction on the road. Not only making the drive smooth and comfortable, but more importantly increasing vehicle control and overall safety. With Hill Start Assist, the risk of rolling backwards during a stationary uphill start is reduced dramatically. The ballade makes safe, stable driving as simple. Accidents happen, but in the new Ballade front, side and curtain airbags are ready to protect you. Combined with Anti-Whiplash Headrests and Seatbelt Load Limiters that reduce pressure on the chest, safety is the Ballade’s priority.

The Honda is not new on Kenyan roads since there was a dealership that closed down several years ago and only came back in 2012.Ballade however was a subcompact automobile built by Honda of Japan in 1980 and began as a four-door higher equipment content version of the Civic. This explains the close similarities even today. The Ballade was developed at the same time the Honda Vigor appeared, which was a higher content Honda Accord. The Ballade was sold exclusively in Japan at Honda Verno dealerships alongside the Vigor, Prelude, CR-X, and Quint. In the UK it was launched at the same time as the very similar Triumph Acclaim with which it shared a Honda built engine. The car is available at a Local Honda dealership which is along Mombasa Road opposite Panari Hotel and comes with a 3 year warranty or one hundred thousand kilometers whichever comes first. On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2015 there is an open invitation at Garden City Mall along Thika Road for a test drive of the Pope's preferred car.Be there to find out more.