Honda Canada releases technical bulletin for 2016 Civic

An upper view of the body structure of the 2016 Honda Civic. Steel parts are colour coded based on their tensile strength in megapascals.

Toronto, Ontario -- March 16, 2016 -- Honda Canada has released new body repair information for the 2016 Honda Civic. Please note that the information provided here is for information purposes only. Always refer directly to the appropriate OEM procedures from Honda before attempting any repairs.

The 2016 Civic uses Honda’s Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure. The body construction uses 58 percent high-tensile-strength steel (HSS), including 26 percent ultra-high-strength steel. In addition, a weight-saving steel centre pillar stiffener has been added, and the rear frame has soft zones for crash performance.

The lower front bulkhead assembly is a bolt-on resin composite. The upper bulkhead frame is constructed of mild steel. The bulkhead is attached with 20 bolts. Honda Canada advises that a damaged bulkhead must be replaced, not repaired.

The 2016 Honda Civic also has a wealth of advanced safety and driver assist technologies, including a collision mitigation braking system with pedestrian sensing capability.

Honda Canada cautions that heat must not be applied to any body part during straightening as it may compromise the internal structure and strength of high-strength steel parts. Any part that has had heat applied to it during straightening must be replaced with new parts. Ignoring this directive may significantly reduce occupant protection.

For more information, please see “2016 Civic New Model Body Repair information” at techinfo.honda.com.

Source;

http://www.collisionrepairmag.com/news/18088-honda-canada-releases-technical-bulletin-for-2016-civic

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2016 Honda Civic Trumps Toyota Corolla In Small Frontal Overlap Crash

When it comes to small frontal overlap crashes, the 2016 Honda Civic fares better than the 2016 Toyota Corolla by a country mile. 

Sure, there are literally a dozen or more choices in the small sedan segment but only two reign supreme in sales, the Civic and Corolla. Earlier Tuesday afternoon, Better Car uploaded a video comparing the small frontal crash tests between the 2016 Honda Civic and the 2016 Toyota Corolla.

The differences between the two couldn’t be farther apart. Whereas the Civic maintained the integrity of its driver and passenger cell with little intrusion into the cockpit, the Toyota Corolla’s driver’s space was seriously compromised by intruding structure. Take a look at the video for yourself below.


In the most recent IIHS crash testing between the two vehicles, both cars matched up against each other when it came to the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint and seat tests.

The only major difference between the Civic and Corolla came from the small overlap frontal test where the Corolla received a marginal score with a poor rating on Structure and safety cage while the Civic received a good score overall.  Here are the two side by side.

Even if you go back a generation for the Civic, the 9th Generation Honda Civic outperforms the Toyota Corolla when it comes to crashworthiness. Around the time they were engineering the 9th generation Civic around 2005, Honda was incorporating its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE for short) Automobile body structure design in most of its lineup. The 2006 Honda Civic was the first year this concept was applied and continues on today with ACE ii for the 2016 Honda Civic.
According to Honda,

``ACE is a Honda-exclusive body design that utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute frontal crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This helps reduce the force transferred to the cabin and more evenly disperse the forces transferred to other vehicles involved.``

This video from Hagerstown Honda does a great job of explaining what that means in detail.


In real life, no one wants to encounter what a small frontal overlap impact would feel like, but they occur far more often than you would think.  According to a study by the Medical College of Wisconsin, 40 percent of single vehicle accidents (crashing into a tree or pole) have the characteristics of a small overlap collision. And in many parts of the United States where two lane highways with opposing traffic and no median barrier between the two lanes is the norm, you’ll find this type of collision occurring as well.

So if you’re in the market for a small sedan and are choosing between a Civic and Corolla (or know someone that is) it would behoove you to go with the Civic if safety is important for you. Even more so if you live in a rural area or drive in areas with lots of foliage (trees etc.) to the right and left of your car.

Source;
https://artofgears.com/2016/02/25/2016-honda-civic-trumps-toyota-corolla-in-small-frontal-overlap-crash/

Honda Odyssey Continues Safety Leadership with 14-Year History of Top Safety Scores from U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

• 2014 Honda Odyssey achieves highest Overall Vehicle Score, 5-Stars
• Odyssey is the fifth Honda or Acura vehicle for 2014 to achieve both a TSP/TSP+ from IIHS and an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score

MARKHAM, ON, Feb. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Honda announced that The newly updated 2014 Honda Odyssey, has received a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the top score available, in the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).  This means the 2014 Odyssey is the only minivan to earn the highest possible rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the U.S. IIHS, including a top score of GOOD in the new small overlap front test, and the NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for 2014.

"With a 14-year history of top ratings in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program, even as those top ratings have become harder to achieve, family car buyers have learned that the Odyssey is designed to help take care of their precious cargo," said Dave Gardner,vice president of sales and marketing  at Honda Canada Inc. "For customers looking to buy a minivan that achieves the highest-available safety ratings from the NHTSA and the IIHS, the Odyssey is the one and only choice."

Already the benchmark minivan in terms of fuel efficiency¹ and innovative features, the Odyssey's occupant safety features for the 2014 model year are further enhanced through the application of Honda's next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. The next-generation ACE^™ body structure is designed to improve frontal crash energy management through a wider range of offset and oblique collision modes. In addition, other body reinforcements work in tandem with the strengthened body structure to better maintain the occupant compartment volume during frontal collisions by providing additional crash energy pathways to help mitigate the forces transmitted to the passenger compartment.

In addition to applying the ACE^™ body structure to most of its models, standard safety and driver assistive technology on all Honda models includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags (some vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor as well); dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; and front side airbags.

While Honda has made structural improvements to the 2014 Odyssey, Honda also has applied a new type of side curtain airbag that includes a front chamber design intended to provide additional protection in situations where occupants move in a more angled outboard trajectory, such as those that occur in oblique or offset crashes.

The Odyssey represents Honda's robust product development and manufacturing capabilities in North America. Designed in Los Angeles and engineered at Honda R&D America's in Ohio, the Odyssey is manufactured by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, using domestic and globally sourced parts. More than 93 percent of all Hondas sold in Canada are built in North America.

Source;
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2014/02/2014-honda-odyssey-earns-nhtsa-top-safety-score.html

This Guy Rolled His Honda Fit Seven Times And Walked Away

If I were to roll a car seven times, I can't say I would want to be in a Honda Fit. The thing is, this guy's Fit held up remarkably well when that happened to him, and he even managed to catch the ordeal on his dash camera Russian-style.

This wreck occurred in Alabama in late December but was only recently brought to our attention. The OP seems to indicate that there had been some roadwork on a previous day, and that coupled with the rain caused the Fit to spin out and then flip a bunch of times. The video's pretty scary to watch. 

But, in a testament to just how good modern small cars are, he walked away from it -- and he says he plans to buy another Fit. I hope for his sake that the next one will stay right side up.

Hat tip to Paulo!

Source;

http://jalopnik.com/this-guy-rolled-his-honda-fit-seven-times-and-walked-aw-451932968