2013 Honda Civic aces tough IIHS crash test

After some mixed results from early models tested in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) new small overlap crash test, the latest batch of vehicles earn top scores.

The Volvo XC60 and two- and four-door versions of the Honda Civic earn Good ratings for small overlap protection. Both the Lincoln MKZ and the redesigned 2014 Mazda6 sedans earned an Acceptable rating in the latest test.

For this test, vehicles careen into a 5-foot-tall rigid barrier at 40 mph, replicating the impact with a tree or pole. The simulated crash involves just 25 percent of the width of the vehicle, concentrating the force on essentially the driver-side front corner.

To reward good performers, the IIHS added a "+" to their coveted Top Safety Pick award for those models that earn a Good or Acceptable in this rigorous test. To qualify for a Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle must earn Good ratings in at least four out of five of their tests, which include the moderate front overlap crash, side impact, rollover, and evaluations of how well seat and head restraints protect occupants from neck injuries in rear impacts. Plus, the car has to earn no less than an Acceptable in the small front overlap crash test.

The Honda Civic is the first small car to earn the Top Safety Pick+ award. For 2013, the Civic received significant front structural upgrades in the car body and cabin to improve its performance in the small overlap test. (Honda made numerous other notable improvements to the Civic for 2013, addressing several key criticisms.) To improve the XC60 performance, Volvo engineers changed an algorithm to cause the side curtain airbag to deploy in this type of crash.

Previous models that have earned the Top Safety Pick+ designation include: Acura TL, Chrysler 200, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord coupe, Honda Accord sedan, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Suzuki Kizashi, and Volvo S60.

The recent tests of all five of these vehicles were made at the request of manufacturers. IIHS is currently working through a schedule to get more vehicles tested in this new protocol. As more vehicles are rated, we'll include those ratings in our online and magazine coverage.

Source;
http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2013/03/2013-honda-civic-aces-tough-iihs-crash-test-xc60-mazda6-mkz.html

2012 - 2013 Euro Honda Civic's

Here are a couple of pic's of what may be in store for UK Honda, a Hatchback (like the 2002-2005 Civic SiR that we saw here) and the sedan version of the Civic?!?

Thanks for pointing this out Ron!

Source (via Ron);
http://visions-autos.sport24.com

2011 North American Auto Show: 2012 Honda Civic Sedan Concept

Very nice, can't wait to see what they're going to do to the interior....

Meanwhile, four-door buyers can expect an exterior design very similar to the 2011 Civic. Though the sedan's front-fascia wears a little bit more menace than the current design, the carried-over grille and headlights are more than a little familiar. Out back, new tail lamps and a re-sculpted trunk deck dominate the view.

Honda says that for the first time, buyers in all 50 states will be able to get their hands on the natural-gas Civic. Previously, the green machine was only available in select markets. Additionally, the Civic Hybrid will now boast lithium-ion batteries as opposed nickel-metal hydride. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Source (w/more pix);

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/01/10/detroit-2011-honda-civic-coupe-and-sedan-concepts-are-visions-o/

2012 Honda Civic exposed

CAR Middle East has done it again – we’re the first ones in the world to bring you the first pictures of the next generation of the Civic sedan, completely naked of all camouflage!

We snapped these twin silver prototypes during a spell of early morning hot weather testing. Apart from a few missing ‘H’ badges, this is the Civic you can expect to see in UAE showrooms next year. As our pictures show, it’s very similar in dimensions to the existing GCC model with a comparable midsection; the glasshouse, doors and wing mirrors look to be unchanged.

The front fascia is where the big news is – gone are the old model’s undulating curves over pronounced arches and drooping headlamps, replaced by a sharper, wedgier front end and what looks to be a wider lower air intake. Optional foglight cutouts are on either side, disguised by heavy lashings of pesky silver gaffer tape. That tape is also present at the base of the A-pillar and the C-pillar as well over the rear bumper, so we suspect there may be a few stylistic surprises yet to come.

Out front, the earlier striking chrome moustache framing the central Honda emblem is now a fairly generic three-bar grille, while the angular headlamps look to be the same as the ones found on US market models. Note the character line that starts from the end of the front lights, spears off and extends all the way to the arrow-shaped rear cluster. The latter has lost its former GT-R-ish four circular brake lamps in favour of a squishy hexagonal look that’s vaguely reminiscent of its baby City brother. A slim, almost vestigial spoiler caps the pert rear end.

The unique “folding-hands” wiper arrangement looks to have been retained atop the steeply raked – and vast, start saving up for tint folks! – windshield, but the old printed antenna seems to have been given the heave-ho in favour of a traditional (and probably cheaper) stubby aerial mounted BMW-style above the rear windshield. Suitably-chunky 16-inch five –spoke alloys round off the major exterior changes.

Inside, the two-tier dashboard has been retained, raked even more steeply toward the driver. The steering wheel is still a three-spoke affair but it now sports two four way controllers on each side instead of the earlier toggles. Gone are the knob-based temperature and fanspeed controls, with a slew of buttons taking their place. That’s below what looks like a double-DIN touch-based navigation system – tuners of the world rejoice, your favourite rolling music platform still lives.

On the far left of the dashboard, you’ll notice a single, very large green button that says “Econ”. On overseas models, pressing this switch sets the engine, transmission and cooling functions to maximum efficiency, although judging by our hot climes, it’s unlikely to get much use here. We didn’t get a chance to look under the hood, but our sources suggest that the engine being tested is a 1.5 litre unit, which if true is significantly smaller than the existing 1.8 140bhp one. Hello fuel efficiency, goodbye acceleration.

Overall, outside of the few details we couldn’t discern, it looks to be a blander, more generic version of a car that should be at the very heartland of Honda thinking. The earlier, space-age Civic landed like an atomic bomb in the compact car market, sending arch-rivals like Toyota and Nissan scurrying back to the drawing board to bring out more exciting-looking sedans.

Now Honda looks to be losing faith in its daring design direction, delivering a cheese-wedge sedan that could easily be mistaken for – whisper it – one of the equally wedgy Koreans that are flooding out of South East Asia. Or perhaps it’s merely a reflection of these austere times where sobriety is a virtue. Either way: we want our old Honda back.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.carmiddleeast.com/article-1-2079-2012_honda_civic_exposed

2012 Honda Civic Camo'd VIDEO

I am going to go on the record and say that this is for sure the UK model, I just can't see this car in the US....

Honda Civic Tron Commercial

Here's something I haven't seen before....

Euro-only next-gen Civic hatch spied

Honda may ditch the British-built Civic from the local range, but the factory's working on a replacement

Our spy photographers at Carparazzi have busted the next-generation Honda Civic testing in the Italian Alps.

The test mule shows the upcoming Civic shares many of the same futuristic styling cues as debuted on the current model, which was first launched back in 2005.

With a lineage stretching back to 1972, the Honda Civic is unarguably the brand's most readily recognised nameplate, and with looks like these, that brand recognition is certain to continue making a bold statement for a few more years yet.

Retaining similar dimensions to the existing model, the test mule appears to sport a wider track. The wheelbase remains unchanged.

A new bumper likely hides behind the protruding front bar, a fresh face likely to grace the new model.

Powertrain options will continue unchanged with the same mix of four-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel offerings delivering outputs between 60 and 105kW. The current (85kW) 1.3-litre petrol-hybrid will also be carried over to the new model.

The new four-door Civic hatch is due to go on sale in Europe and the UK in late 2011 or early 2012. With exchange rates placing the British Civic at a disadvantage, there's a strong chance we won't see this car here, but Honda Australia is expected to continue offering the Thai-built Civic sedan variant.

There's no word yet on revisions to the white-hot Civic Type R.

Source;

http://ninemsn.carpoint.com.au/news/2010/small-passenger/honda/civic/euroonly-nextgen-civic-hatch-spied-19519

Next-generation Honda Civic delayed until 2011

News, but not unexpected news, the current Civic is still extremely competitive....
We’re in dire need of a redesigned Civic (gotta admit, we're coming due....); however, according to John Mendel, American Honda Motor Co.’s executive vice president, the redesigned Honda Civic won’t arrive until 2011 (as a 2012 model of course). The schedule is well past the typical five-year product line for the compact car.

Mendel said that changing market conditions and tougher fuel-economy regulations have affected the development of the next-generation Honda Civic, which was originally scheduled to arrive this fall.

Mendel now says that the redesigned Civic will be unveiled sometime next-year, although he declined to give a specific timeline.

“In general, we are not changing cycles,” he said. “We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change [based on] what you see happening in the marketplace.” (in other words, they don't want to just put something out to stay competitive, they want to make sure that they stay ahead of the pack....)

The Honda Civic sells about 1 million units a year globally, with the U.S. accounting for one-third of those sales.

Source;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/05/17/next-generation-honda-civic-delayed-until-2011/

Next Generation Honda Civic Rendering

Hmmm, not sure what to say about this one, looks an awful lot like that small car sold in Asia by Honda.... if what they're saying is true, the code name for the new Honda Civic project is "2 HC"....
2011-2012 Honda Civic (2 HC codename) Rendering and speculationThere are reports emerging concerning the next generation Civic (nine generation) that is set to be introduced in september 2011 as a 2012 model year car. Knowing the traditional way of doing things by Honda, the different markets in Japan, Europe, and America, will be getting their own variant of the famous Civic.

rumore to reduce width from arond 1750 mm to 1695 mm as the car that width below 1700 mm will get a special reduce tax benefit in japan. the Next generation Honda Civic (2 HC codename) will not get the big revolution in term of styling as the current model (Eighth generationor codename FD) is big revolution from Seventh generation

2012 Honda Civic hybrid to get a 1.5-liter gasoline-powered engine From Honda CR-Z
As you would expect, there will be a hybrid version of the 2012 Civic, and it’s again slated to get a 1.5-liter gasoline-powered engine mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist technology. This powerplant will reportedly be shared with the upcoming CR-Z hybrid hatchback where it will be available with either an automatic CVT transmission or six-speed manual.

Source;
http://autoten.com/2010/03/08/2011-2012-honda-civic-2-hc-codename-rendering-and-speculation/

2010 Honda Civic Sedan SPORT: A compact for the ages

Globe rating 8.5/10 View Rating breakdown
No break on pricing here – you buy this runabout on its merits: No other car in this class has crisper steering, better brakes or superior ergonomics

For six million years, the Honda Civic has been Canada's best-selling car. Just kidding.
Actually, the Civic has been the top dog in passenger cars for 12 years running now – even though in 2009, Civic sales were down 13.5 per cent. (Note: the new-vehicle market overall was down 10.7 per cent, so the Civic managed to beat the market in exactly the wrong way.)

Make no mistake about the made-in-Canada Civic; it's a very good compact car. Let me count the ways:

Excellent crash test scores (a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety);
Top-notch resale value (Automotive Lease Guide ranks the Honda brand second overall here);
Outstanding quality (Consumer Reports argues that only the Hyundai Elantra is a better-rated small car overall with an automatic transmission; and the Civic is tops among small cars with manuals).

In all the right rational ways, the Civic is a very good runabout. Except on pricing. Honda tries hard not to discount its vehicles with sales sweeteners and the like and that means you will likely pay more, feature-for-feature, to buy a Civic than most rivals.

Take the $23,475 (freight included) Civic Sport sedan I just test drove. It does not come with any sparkling “deals” – no incentives that I could find, according to the pricing service www.carcostcanada.com.

Now compare that with the Hyundai Elantra, a direct rival and the fourth best-selling car in Canada last year. Elantra sales were up 151 per cent in Canada in December. This is in no small part because the Elantra comes with a $2,850 factory-to-dealer rebate, says carcostcanada.com.

The Elantra already starts at a lower price, too.

Or the Ford Focus, No. 8 in sales last year. If you take advantage of the Extended Term Finance Allowance, the factory-to-dealer rebate is $4,000. The Focus is an older design, but it's still a recommended pick from Consumer Reports.

The Civic? You buy this car on its own merits. The so-called “deal” is not what Honda pushes here – unless, again, you factor in the strong resale value and the fact that, last November, Honda Canada cut the Civic's price by $1,000.

That price cut applied to both body styles – coupe and sedan – and all five trim levels. The Sport version is one of them and it replaced the previous LX. As Civics go, it lands right in the middle of the range.

The name “Sport” generally implies performance, yet under the hood is the same 1.8-litre, four-cylinder motor in all the other Civics, save the Si (197 hp). Transmission: five-speed manual or automatic.

Frankly, that's more than enough power. The Sport weighs only 1,226 kg, so there isn't much bulk to move. Obviously, fuel economy is good, too – 8.2 litres/100 km city and 5.7 highway.

What does make the Sport sportier are 16-inch alloy wheels (versus the 15-inch on lesser Civics) and P205/55R16 all-season tires. They are reasonably grippy. Honda says the disc brakes have been upgraded, too, with anti-lock standard.

For a bit of visual flair, body-coloured door handles are standard and there is a different exhaust outlet. The side mirrors are heated and a power glass moon-roof is standard. But you get the latter at the cost of 34 mm of headroom.

What's missing? Standard electronic anti-skid system.

But there is other standard stuff, and the list runs longer than on the base Civic: 60/40-split/folding rear seat with centre armrest, leather-wrapped steering wheel, variable intermittent windshield wipers, remote entry system with electric trunk release, auto-up/down driver's power window and iPod plug-in. The extra dough for a Sport also gets you map lights, an outside thermometer and rear cup holders.

But if you want a better sound system, you need to spend more. The stereo in the Sport is the same four-speaker affair sold with base Civic models.

All those details aside, there is no denying that the Civic is a really fine little car. No other car in this class has crisper steering, better brakes or superior ergonomics.

For a small car, the cabin is comfortable and roomy. The seat cushions have dense foam that makes a long drive palatable. Aside from the odd-looking, two-level instrument cluster, the controls and readouts are perfectly sensible, too.

Honda may not be throwing around the deals here, but I'd bet that even six million years from now, most buyers would say, in 2010, they got good value for their money.

2010 Honda Civic Sport sedan

Type: Compact sedan
Price: $23,475
Engine: 1.8-litre, four-cylinder
Horsepower/torque: 140 hp/128 lb-ft
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel-drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 8.2 city/5.7 highway; regular gas

Alternatives: Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Chevrolet Cobalt, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Volkswagen Golf, Nissan Sentra, Dodge Caliber, Mitsubishi Lancer

Source;
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/reviews/a-compact-for-the-ages/article1474902/

Honda Civic GX the Greenest in USA for Seventh Successive Year

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its environmental ratings for model year 2010 vehicles. The “greenest vehicle” title goes once again to Honda’s natural gas-powered Civic GX. With a ‘green score’ of 57 points, the Honda Civic GX continues its dominance over nearest rivals the Toyota Prius on 52 points and the Honda Civic Hybrid on 51 points. The top ten green vehicles ranged from 57 down to 45 points out of a maximum 100.

The outcome is a repeat of last year’s result, and the year before that, in fact way back to 2004, when the Honda Civic GX was first named the ‘greenest vehicle’ sold in the US by the ACEEE, beating all gasoline vehicles, including all the gasoline hybrids. 2010 is the 10th annual “Green Book(R) Online” ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles.

ACEEE vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan noted, “While clean diesels once again perform well on our annual ranking, high prices both for the vehicles and for diesel fuel have kept them from really catching on thus far. They’re not having the impact in the U.S. that they have had in Europe, and as a result, manufacturers are scaling back production and promotion of diesels.”

ACEEE’s website greenercars.org provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2010 model. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a “Green Score,” a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that cause global warming.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection.

Source;
http://www.ngvglobal.com/honda-civic-gx-the-greenest-in-usa-for-seventh-successive-year-0121

On the road: Honda Civic Type R 2.0 i-VTec

This hot hatch is so bright, you've got to wear shades

Why do they always come in white, these hot hatches? Ouch! Even the wheel rims are white. And so white. Whiter not just than snow. Whiter not just than white. But whiter than a soap star's teeth. Normally, a pair of sunglasses are a standard accessory when dealing with a revved-up boy-mobile. But in the case of the ultra-white Honda Civic Type R, they're more a health and safety necessity. Tinted windows don't really do the trick – the dazzle from the bonnet on a sunny day could easily laser your eyeballs. A full crack dealer's blackout appears a more sensible option.

Sometimes it does seem as if the highways are jammed with broken heroes on a last-chance power drive. There they are in their Golf GTIs and Ford Focus RSs and Toyota Priuses (OK, just kidding about the last one), full of an aching desire to floor the accelerator and break free from… what? Suburban convention? Come on. Is there anything, aside from multiplex cinemas and DIY warehouse centres, more conventionally suburban than a hot hatch?

And now Honda is squeezing in on all those clogged arteries of the urban sprawl with its very own fat slice of road cholesterol. The Honda Civic Type R 2.0 i-VTec lacks the iconic frame of the GTI and the noisy styling of the RS. It also lacks their handling. But, as these sorts of cars go, it's not unattractive. Because, let's face it, ugliness is seen as an aesthetic virtue in this area of the car market, a mark of seriousness and authentic sense of purpose.

The Type R doesn't convince on this front. The rear spoiler hardly spoils the line of the boot. The front spoiler can barely muster a stroppy pout. Nothing really says, "Get out of the way or I'm going to ruin your life and terrorise your family" the way we've come to expect from a hot hatch. But there you go, times change and new fashions emerge, and we shouldn't necessarily assume that psychopathology should be the only suitable visual language for fast-accelerating hatchbacks.

Indeed, I found the brothel-red interior of the Type R almost cosy, as though Cynthia Payne had brought her distinctive eye to the seats and floor carpet. But it's the predominance of the rev counter on the dash that most boldly states the car's, or its notional owner's, true ambitions. It sits centre stage, all but daring the driver to see how far the indicator will swivel round the dial.
To what end, though? Where is it leading, this obsession with ordinary small cars being transformed into monsters of the suburban id? I mean, this town rips the bones from your back. It's a death trap, a suicide rap. We've got to get out while we're young. That said, the Type R is a joyride to drive, if a tad stiff in the suspension.

Source;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/09/honda-civic-type-r-review

Honda Civic Canada’s top-selling car for 12th consecutive year

Honda Civic Is Canada's Top-Selling Car for a 12th Consecutive Year

TORONTO, Jan. 6 /CNW/ - With sales of 62,654 units in 2009, Honda Civic retained its honour as Canada's top-selling passenger car for a 12th consecutive year. Since 1973, more than 1.5 million Honda Civics have been sold in Canada, making the Civic a leader in the Canadian automotive landscape.

"We thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who bought Honda Civic models in 2009 to make it Canada's top-selling car for the 12th year in a row." said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president of Honda Canada Inc. "We thank these new car buyers for their vote of confidence in the Civic with its strong resale value, excellent fuel efficiency, class-leading standard safety features and fun-to-drive character."

"With the exception of the Civic Hybrid, all other Civic models that are sold in Canada are made right here in Canada. We are proud of our investment in Canada as a vehicle manufacturer. More than half of all the vehicles we sold in Canada in 2009 were built in Canada, including the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, CSX and the all-new ZDX."

Of the more than 5.3 million Honda and Acura vehicles that the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly plant in Alliston, Ontario, has produced over the past 23 years, more than 3 million of those have been Honda Civic models.

Now in its 40th year of operation in Canada, Honda Canada builds the Honda Civic and Acura MDX, the all-new Acura ZDX and the Canadian-exclusive Acura CSX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario, and produces 4-cylinder engines at an adjacent engine plant.

Source;

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2010/06/c6603.html

Honda Releases the Civic TypeR Euro Premium Sports Model in Japan

Nope, this isn't for us in North America....

Looks like a special limited edition car to be sold, follow the link for more....
http://www.wheelsunplugged.com/ViewNews.aspx?newsid=4766#

Honda Goes back to the Drawing Board for a smaller, lighter next-gen Civic

If you introduced an '80s-era Honda Civic to its modern counterpart, it couldn't recognize what it's become. But after decades of growing dimensions, Honda's going back to the drawing board for the next-gen Civic.

The change in direction was reportedly ordered last year before the global economy took a nose-dive by product chief Tsuneo Tanai who observed a rise in oil and raw metal prices. Once the financial sector hit rock bottom, the Civic emerged as a strong player, out-selling the Ford F-Series pickup as the number one vehicle in the United States in May 2008. Not satisfied with sitting back and seeing how things shape up, though, Tanai ordered his engineers and designers to scrap their plans and redesign the next-gen Civic to be smaller, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient.

The move coincides with Honda's re-strategizing vis-a-vis hybrids and electric vehicles, not to mention the cancellation of its V8 and rear-drive programs. But despite having put more people on the job, the decision to restart the Civic's development halfway through the process is sure to be a major setback for the company's lifecycle schedule. And not just for the Civic itself, but also for vehicles that share its platform, including the CR-V crossover (the CRV no longer shares the same platform, as of 2007), the Element sport-utility-box, the JDM Stream and European-market FR-V minivans, to say nothing of the upcoming CR-Z, Acura RDX, and of course the all-important Canadian-market Acura CSX.

Source;
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/report-honda-goes-back-to-drawing-board-for-smaller-lighter-ne/

Canadian Driver: Honda Civic – 36 years in Canada

Alliston, Ontario, Honda Plant

By Paul Williams

Photo Gallery:Honda, Alliston, Ontario

While many vehicle models (and some manufacturers) come and go, the Honda Civic celebrates its 36th anniversary in Canada in 2009, where it has been an unequivocal success story.

The first year for Civic in Canada was 1973, with the company selling 747 1973 models here. Annual sales in Canada have risen to 72,463 Civics in 2008, at which time it was the best selling vehicle (cars or trucks) in the country. It was also the top-selling passenger car in Canada for the 11th consecutive year.

Another milestone, the five-millionth vehicle rolled off the assembly line at Honda Canada’s Alliston, Ontario manufacturing plant in April, 2009. Fittingly, it was a Honda Civic.

Honda Canada Manufacturing (HCM) has been a fixture in the Simcoe region of Ontario (about 100 kilometres north of Toronto) since 1986. It’s one of several Honda manufacturing facilities outside of Japan that the company has established over the past 30-plus years. It comprises two plants and a new engine manufacturing facility that opened in 2008.

Honda Canada Public Relations Manager Richard Jacobs says that even now, it comes as a surprise to many people that Honda Civics (both sedans and coupes) are built in Canada.

“And not only Civics,” he adds. HCM also builds the Acura MDX, CSX and ZDX, with 79 per cent of our output exported to the United States.”

Operating at full capacity, HCM builds 390,000 vehicles in Alliston annually, and 200,000 four-cylinder engines. In 2008 Honda was the second largest builder of combined cars and trucks in Canada, employing 4,500 Associates. The facility sources parts from 268 North American suppliers, of which 21 per cent are Canadian.

Visitors to HCM will immediately notice that plant associates (workers) all wear the same simple white uniforms (jacket and pants). In fact, every employee at HCM wears the uniform, including senior management (Jon Minto, Vice President of HCM, addressed our group our group of invited journalists while sporting the same corporate whites). The egalitarian theme extends to the parking lot, where there are no executive spaces, and to the cafeteria, which all employees use. Senior management, therefore, are regularly accessible to workers in the day-to-day operation of the plant.

On the shop floor, associates work in teams that perform a set of tasks as each vehicle moves along the assembly line. Team members rotate through the tasks every two weeks, which has the dual benefit of reducing boredom and increasing skills and experience.

Over the years, the vehicles that HCM manufactures have evolved dramatically. Back in 1973, for example, the Japan-built Honda Civic was powered by a four-cylinder, 1,200-cc engine that made 60 horsepower. The three-door hatchback car (there was no sedan) weighed a mere 640 kilograms and rode on 12-inch wheels.

By 1986, weight for the Civic Hatchback was up to around 800 kg, and the 1.5-litre engine made 90 horsepower.

At 1,200 kg, today’s Civic weighs almost twice as much as its 1973 ancestor, and is bigger in all dimensions than the (formerly) midsize Honda Accord of 1986. It uses a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 140 hp and rides on 15-inch wheels (16 and 17-inch wheels are available). There is no Civic hatchback available in North America anymore, although auto writers look wistfully at the Type R GT 3-Door available in Europe, along with other interesting Civic variations that are not offered in Canada.

One thing that doesn’t seem to have changed is the design of those white uniforms. Functional as they may be, they appear to be the very same style as those worn by workers in Japanese plants 40 years ago. I think they could use an update.

Paul Williams is an Ottawa-based automotive writer and senior editor for CanadianDriver. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

Source;

http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/10/26/feature-honda-civic-36-years-in-canada.htm#

Honda and Ford take top sales spots in August

Richmond Hill, Ontario - The Honda Civic and Ford F-Series topped the Canadian car and light truck sales in August, according to industry analyst Dennis DesRosiers. Civic sales were down 18.5 per cent when compared to August 2008, but the F-Series was up by 7.6 per cent.

“This month I noticed that, at least on a year-to-date basis, that almost all the top ten passenger cars have substantial sales declines,” DesRosiers said. “Only two of the top ten vehicles are up this year, the Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Fusion. Also notice that almost all the top-ten cars that are down so much are smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. I thought fuel efficiency was a critical buying variable with consumers? Entry-level vehicle sales as a group are actually underperforming the market a little this year.”

The top ten best-selling passenger cars in August were, in order, the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Accent, Ford Focus, Toyota Matrix, Nissan Versa, Ford Fusion, and Pontiac Vibe. There were 68,383 passenger cars sold in August 2009, down from 80,932 in August 2008.

Year-to-date, the top ten were the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, Ford Focus, Nissan Versa, Toyota Matrix, and Ford Fusion.

The top ten light trucks in August were, in order, the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Caravan, GMC Sierra, Ford Escape, Dodge Ram, Ford Ranger, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Honda CR-V. There were 66,968 light trucks sold in August 2009, down from 66,046 in August 2008.

Year-to-date, the top ten were the Ford F-Series, Ford Escape, Dodge Caravan, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe, Ford Ranger, and Honda CR-V.

Source;
http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/09/21/honda-and-ford-take-top-sales-spots-in-august.htm

The Next Generation Honda Civic: My Take

There's been alot of talk about when the next generation Honda Civic is to come about, will it be a 2011 or a 2012 FMC? Regardless whether this 9th Generation Civic's official debut year, here are a few things suggestions that I think could be (and some that should) realistically done....

-Keep the size of the vehicle to where it is now, the roof line is good, great size trunk, and the flat rear floor really makes the rear seats spacious for almost anyone.

-Aerodynamics are good, but there's got to be a way to see that front hood, even just by a little bit, there are a few people that can't get past it.

-I haven't had any complaints with regards to power (fine line between more power and gas mileage), so I say hang onto the 1.8L but increase the hp to 148-150.

-Make Bluetooth standard on all trims. (Safety for Everyone....)

-Every generation of Civic has had some kind of unique change, be it the flat rear floor in the 01-05's, the heads up display in the 06-current, what are we going to do this time? I say, if there's a way to make the rear seats fold up like the FIT (yeah, I know the gas tank issue), that could go a long way to differentiate the vehicle from its competitors.

-Honda is going to be deadly once they figure out that people want heated seats (especially in the northern states and here in Canada!), 3 words - Cloth Heated Seats.

-Vehicle Stability Assist on all trim levels (fortifying the 'Safety for Everyone' slogan). The competitors are starting to use that one against us (even though I am not the biggest fan of this feature).

-XM Satellite Radio should be available.

-Navigation Systems should be available.

-The 5 speed Automatic Transmission is fine, please stay away from the CVT's. (google CVT reliablity issues....)

-Keep the heads up display, just update it.

-Have a performance upgrade kit (chip, intake, etc.) option for the Si model to go from (200-210hp range to the 240-250 range) regardless of price, people pay crazy money for the Mazda Speed and the Subaru WRX's....

-Power Seat available on the Leather models.

-Manual height adjustment on the passenger side (pipe dreamin' here....).

-Change tray on the left side of the steering wheel like in the 01-05's, not just some open square.

-Projector lenses on the front for upper models (or all). More upscale in appearance.

-Do not stray too far from the overall lines of the current model, it is a very good looking car (KIA seems to agree....ah, ah, ah-choo-Forte!!!!).

-Put a digital compass on the dash, much like the Accord's.

Anyway, that's all I can think of for now, if you have any ideas, please, put them down in the comments section - maybe Honda's listening!

TOV: Next Generation Civic *Update*

Over the past few months, we have heard rumors coming out of Japan that the next generation Civic's introduction could possibly be delayed by as much as a year. Now we have heard some stuff coming from sources in the US that seem to support these earlier rumors.

First, I would like to emphasize that what we've heard comes from a source who A) is NOT a Honda associate, B) not in any way affiliated with any of Honda's competitors, and C) has provided reliable information in the past. With that said, this information definitely falls into the unsubstantiated RUMOR category, so take it at face value until we have a better feel for its validity.

The rumors suggest that there has been some internal debate concerning the scope of the 9th generation Civic redesign. This debate has taken place between the American team and their counterparts in Japan, and word has it that the American team wanted to take a significant step forward with the 9th generation Civic while the Japanese team was more interested in making incremental improvements. This difference in opinion is said to have resulted in several redesigns, which have delayed the development. There are prototypes said to be running around doing testing in the USA, but even if a spy were to snag shots of these prototypes, supposedly there is little chance that the finished product will look much like the prototype.

At this point, details are few, but we're hearing that the 9th generation Civic will be dimensionally very close to the current model (Hopefully that means it won't gain any weight). Power is said to be up by 5-8% across the board, with an increase in displacement from 1.8L to 2.0L (R20?) for standard Civics. The Si will reportedly end up with around 210-215hp.

Even if the car were on track for a model year 2011 introduction, with an autumn 2010 introduction (which is still entirely possible), it's pretty early to be hearing these sorts of details, so things are obviously subject to change.

Source;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=853379

the Honda Civic from Crank: High Voltage

A little slow on the news front, so I thought I'd include something I stumbled across on another blog....
Crank: High Voltage, the sequel to 2006’s equally action packed Crank, was released on DVD yesterday and we came up with some interesting ways to be inspired by the high adrenaline film. If horse racing and adrenaline junky stunts weren’t enough for you we’ve got you another Crank inspired blog. Not only do the movies have an awesome array of gadgets (including an AbioCor Artificial heart!) but since they’re always on the move they’ve got some pretty cool vehicles too. And so this week our auto spot is the Honda Civic used by Johnny Vang and his gang in the movie.

During the film Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is desperately searching for Vang and his cohorts as they have something very valuable to him – his heart! As Chev races around searching for the gang and trying to keep his artificial heart charged up, they use their Japanese coupe to escape him. Their Civic is a sixth generation 1996 coupe, in ‘New Vogue Silver Metallic’ with blue decals, and a rear spoiler. To be the perfect getaway car for a gang it needs to be big enough to fit in the members, but compact enough to move quickly. With their coupe being 175 inches long, 67 inches wide and only 54 inches high it’s just that. It features front double wishbone suspension, inspired by Hondas racing research. With its 1.6 litre engine its fast, but not quite fast enough to escape the charged up Chev Chelios.

The Honda Civic is the perfect car for anyone who wants something speedy but practical, and since they’re currently producing their eighth generation of Civic it’s obvious it’s a popular model. Grab yourself a cool car in the form of the Civic now, but remember it’s not properly equipped for transporting organs.

Source;
http://boxwish.com/blog/view/1104-auto-of-the-week-the-honda-civic-from-crank-high-voltage