Autonews; Honda readies more sporty, luxurious Civic

Lane Watch Passenger Side Mirror Blindspot Camera.

Gone is the two-tiered dash.

Heated Rear Seats, Touring Model only?

Rear Window.

Buttons on the Radio again!

Projector Lenses.

by David Undercoffler of www.autonews.com

With the official debut of Honda’s redesigned Civic just a few months away, the latest spy shots show the 10th-generation model will come with luxury features normally reserved for fancy German sedans, not practical Japanese family cars.

Prototypes caught during hot-weather testing look to offer features like front and rear heated leather seats, and back up Honda’s promise that the Civic would offer its LaneWatch camera system for passenger-side visibility, and at least a few elements of Honda Sensing -- a suite of semi-autonomous safety features like lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and pre-collision braking.

The redesigned interior also gets a simplified center console that sheds the current two-level display on the dashboard.

The spy shots also indicate the exterior of the new Civic -- scheduled to go on sale later this fall -- will also come with some high-zoot gear. Think LED headlights (similar to the recent Accord refresh and the Civic concept that debuted earlier this year), dual-exhaust on some models, and a sporty, fastback profile.

We’ve seen these camouflaged prototypes ourselves on the roads around Honda’s Torrance headquarters and the new Civic looks noticeably larger than its predecessor. It also loses the current model’s cab-forward look for a more refined, graceful silhouette and longer hood.

Honda has made it clear it wants this 2016 Civic to amp up the sportiness, and has promised some versions will come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission.

The Civic will also be the first model from Honda to ride on its new modular platform, one that will eventually underpin the next-generation Accord and CR-V.

Honda has also promised a coupe will follow this sedan, and then a sportier Si model, a five-door hatchback, and -- cue high-fives from tuners -- the much-revered Type R hatchback that’s long been forbidden fruit in the U.S. market.

The production Civic sedan is expected to debut in August or September.

Source;
http://www.autonews.com/article/20150728/OEM04/150729890/honda-readies-more-sporty-luxurious-civic

Honda Civic Type R could take a while for North America

The title pretty much says it all, here`s a link to the artical;
http://driving.ca/honda/civic/auto-news/news/honda-civic-type-r-could-take-a-while-for-north-america

NEW HONDA CIVIC TYPE R THROWS DOWN NÜRBURGRING GAUNTLET

• Honda announces Nürburgring lap time for Civic Type R development car
• 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time is unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch class
• Lap time achieved in development car with technical specifications representative of the final production car

At the world premiere of its all-new Civic Type R at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (5 - 15 March; Stand 4250, Hall 4), Honda announced that a development car had achieved a 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time of the legendary 20.8 km/12.9 mile Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.


This time is unmatched by any other front-wheel drive performance hatchback.

The lap time was achieved during the final phase of pre-production testing in May 2014 by a Civic Type R development car. The development car was in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, brakes and the aerodynamic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R.

The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front passenger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifically for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).

During the test cycle, the development car used production-specification high-rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels. These were fitted with 235/35R19 road tyres being developed in conjunction with a major European tyre manufacturer especially for the new Civic Type R. The test cycle during which the 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time was achieved was part of the tyre’s development and testing process.

Honda has now vowed to follow up this achievement by sending a production Civic Type R around the Nürburgring Nordschleife later this year with the aim of setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.

Highlights of the latest generation in Honda’s cult car dynasty is a world-first application of Honda’s new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, aggressive function-led styling, and advanced new chassis technologies, combining to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector.

The new Civic Type R goes on sale across Europe in summer 2015.

Source;
http://hondanews.eu/eu/en/cars/media/pressreleases/44029/new-honda-civic-type-r-throws-down-nrburgring-gauntlet