You could almost hear it. There was a furor. And it all had to do with a transmission. On September 16, Honda showed the all-new, tenth-generation Civic. Fitted
with a turbocharged engine for the first time, enthusiasts were
excited. Until they realized the new 1.5-liter Earth Dreams
four-cylinder turbo would only be offered with a continuously variable transmission, something that elicits a passionate, all-consuming, and utterly unquenchable hatred among (most) enthusiasts.
Honda was listening. On the recent Civic
Coupe launch, the company confirmed to us that a manual transmission
will soon be offered on turbocharged Civics, regardless of body style.
And then we drove a prototype.
Now, let's be very clear, the car we drove was an early test vehicle. It
was camouflaged, cobbled together – it was born with a turbo and an
automatic before Honda's engineers got their hands on it – and to cap it
all off, we got approximately five minutes of seat time. We couldn't
even shoot the darn thing, which is why you're looking at one really bad
iPhone picture up top. But five minutes is better than nothing at all,
right?
2016 Civic Coupe set to launch in March as the latest addition to Honda's expansive and sporty new 10th-generation Civic lineup
Lower roofline, more compact form and signature taillight differentiate the more personal and sporty Coupe design
Two powerful and fuel-efficient powerplants, including first ever Honda turbo engine for Civic Coupe
State-of-the-art connectivity with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay™ and new Honda embedded navigation system by Garmin
Sporty and spacious, interior space grows by 8.4 cubic feet and rear-seat legroom is up more than 5 inches.
The newest member of the completely reengineered and reimagined
10th-generation Civic lineup – the 2016 Civic Coupe – will make its
first public appearance at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Launching in
March, the 2016 Civic Coupe delivers an even sportier and emotional take
on the new Civic design while benefitting from the multitude of
upgrades to the 10th-generation Civic lineup, including a sophisticated
and sporty new chassis, a more spacious and quieter cabin, class-leading
fuel-economy ratings and targeted top-in-class crash safety ratings.
The new 2016 Civic Coupe, like its sedan counterpart, will feature
two advanced new engines, including the first-ever turbo engine for the
Coupe, delivering more power, performance and fuel efficiency. All new
Civic Coupes, from the well-equipped LX to the new, line-topping Touring
trim, also receive significant upgrades to interior style, with
soft-touch materials and high-grade finishes, along with a bevy of new
standard and available features, including the Honda Sensing™ suite of
safety and driver-assistive technologies as well as both Apple CarPlay®
and Android Auto™.
“We continue on our epic 10th-generation Civic journey with the
sportiest, most sophisticated and tech-savvy Civic Coupe yet,” said Jeff
Conrad, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and
general manager of the Honda Division. “I think our customers are going
to be utterly surprised by what this new Coupe delivers in terms of
refinement, safety, efficiency and fun-to-drive performance.”
The 2016 Civic Coupe is the second in a series of new 10th-generation
Civic models that Honda is launching over the course of the next 18
months, including the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe, the first-ever Civic
5-door hatchback for the U.S. market, Civic Si performance variants and
for the first time in the U.S., the radical new Civic Type-R.
Civic Coupe Styling The 2016 Civic Coupe carries
forward the sporty and premium character of the 10th-generation Civic
design, including the bold front fascia, fast-back profile and
sharp-edged detailing, as well as its more athletic wheels out
proportions – its longer wheelbase (+2.9 inches), wider body (+1.9
inches), shortened front overhang (-1.4 inches) and wider stance. The
new Coupe also benefits from the lower seating position, or hip point,
of the new Civic platform, which amplifies the Coupe's low, wide and
planted dynamic driving character.
From the A-pillars rearward, the Coupe features unique exterior
styling with a lower and more steeply raked roofline, nearly 1 inch
lower than the Sedan, and more compact proportions, with the rear
overhang and overall length shortened by 5.5 inches. The new Coupe also
features an exclusive rear taillight design that carries the arch of
the distinctive C-shaped LED taillights across the full length of the
rear deck lid.
Sporty and Spacious Coupe Interior The 2016
Civic Coupe's sportier design does not come at the expense of passenger
comfort, as interior space grows by 8.4 cubic feet and rear seat legroom
is increased by more than 5 inches, compared to the outgoing Coupe
model. The new Civic Coupe interior strikes a more premium tone with
high-quality materials and high-contrast finishes. These include a new
one-piece, soft-touch instrument panel with molded stitching; more
premium seat fabrics; a new full-color TFT center meter (EX and above
trims); door inserts with real stitching; an LED shift indicator and LED
overhead lighting; and for EX and higher trims, a leather shift lever
boot.
Civic Coupe Feature Upgrades All new Civic
Coupes, from the well-equipped LX to the new line-topping Touring,
feature upgraded interiors and an expanded list of standard and
available technologies and features. New standard equipment includes
auto on/off headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights,
acoustic glass windshield, automatic climate control (dual-zone in upper
trims), Electric Parking Brake with Brake Hold and Walk-Away auto door
locks. New available features include Honda LED headlights, Remote
engine start, heated front seats and side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers,
full-color TFT center meter and seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen.
Civic Coupe Audio and Connectivity The new Civic
Coupe delivers the latest in audio and connected-car technology,
including more powerful audio systems; an available new Android
OS-based, 7-inch Display Audio touch screen interface; a bevy of
streaming audio options such as Pandora®, SiriusXM® and HD Radio™; and
for trims with Display Audio, full compatibility with both Android Auto™
and Apple CarPlay® platforms. The Civic Coupe highest trims will also
feature a new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in
cooperation with the experts at Garmin.
Advanced New Powertrains The 2016 Civic Coupe
will launch with two more powerful and fuel-efficient powertrains, Lower
trims receive a new 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC™ engine turning out 158 horsepower and 138 lb.-ft. of torque1 (+15 HP and +9 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) with anticipated EPA fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg2
(city/highway/combined) for models equipped with CVT. This engine can
also be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission on the lowest trim.
Civic Coupe mid to highest trims are powered by a new 1.5-liter DOHC
direct-injected TURBO – the first-ever turbocharged engine for Civic
Coupe – putting out a peak 174 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque3 (+31 HP and +33 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) with anticipated EPA ratings of 31/42/35 mpg2.
Advanced Safety Performance The 2016 Civic Coupe
utilizes Honda's next generation Advanced Compatibility Body Structure™
(ACE™) working in conjunction with advanced airbags and seatbelts to
provide a high degree of safety performance. Utilizing these systems in
conjunction with the available new Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced
safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2016 Civic Coupe with
Honda Sensing™ targets the highest available U.S. safety ratings – an
NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
About Honda Honda offers a complete lineup of
Honda cars, trucks and service with a network of more than 1,000 Honda
dealerships within the United States. Eight Honda auto plants in North
America, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92
million automobiles each year. In 2014, more than 97 percent of the
Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North
America using domestic and globally sourced parts.
1Peak power: 158 HP @ 6000 rpm (SAE net), peak torque: 138 ft-lb @ 4200 rpm (SAE net). 2Based on internal testing; 2016 EPA mileage ratings not
available at time of publishing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your
mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle,
driving conditions and other factors. 3Peak power: 174 HP @ 5500 (SAE net); peak torque; 164 ft-lb from 1800 to 5500 rpm (SAE net)
Nobody
can drag you down, especially when you’re behind the wheel of the sleek
new 2016 Civic. Watch Honda Civic Tour headliner, One Direction, put
the all-new Civic to the test and see if it’s up to their discerning
standards.
The all-new tenth generation Civic launches with benchmark-setting
levels of performance, fuel efficiency, interior space and premium
quality
-
TORRANCE, Calif.
The 2016 Civic Sedan, a completely new-from-the-ground-up redesign of America's most popular compact car1, launches Nov. 12 at Honda dealerships nationwide with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)2
starting at $18,640 – an increase of just $150 from the outgoing model.
The 2016 Civic Sedan benefits from the most extensive and ambitious
redesign in the 43-year history of Civic, a global development effort
led for the first time by Honda's U.S. R&D team, which set their
sights on creating the world's best compact-class car with
benchmark-setting levels of quality, fuel efficiency, interior
spaciousness and fun-to-drive performance.
"The new Honda Civic offers incredible value and a fun-to-drive
spirit that will take a lot of customers by surprise," said Jeff Conrad,
senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. "This
tenth generation Civic exemplifies the incredible engineering strength
of Honda and our capacity to deliver something altogether new,
unexpected and thrilling for our customers."
The 2016 Civic Sedan offers buyers more choices than ever before with
two all-new powertrains and an expanded range of features and trims.
Civic LX and EX trims feature a new 158-horsepower, 2.0-liter i-VTEC™
engine—the most powerful base engine ever offered on Civic, while Civic
EX-T, EX-L and new line-topping Touring models are powered by a
174-horspower, 1.5-liter DOHC TURBO engine with unprecedented levels of
power, refinement and class-leading fuel economy ratings.
EPA fuel economy ratings for the 2016 Civic Sedan are 31/41/35 mpg3 (city/highway/combined) for 2.0-liter models with continuously variable transmission (CVT) and 31/42/35 mpg3 for 1.5-liter TURBO models with CVT.
Additional design and engineering highlights of the all-new 2016 Civic Sedan include:
Dynamic new styling – with a bolder, more
aggressive face; sharp and sophisticated body lines; a sporty fastback
profile and premium features, including the expanded use of LED exterior
lighting
All-new Civic platform architecture – with a
1.2-inch-longer wheelbase, a nearly 2-inch wider body and wider track
that gives Civic a more athletic and aggressive stance while
contributing to its more refined ride quality and larger cabin,
including 1.2 inches of added rear-seat legroom
A more rigid, lightweight and tightly sealed body – featuring a new Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™)
body structure, supporting Civic's fun-to-drive performance,
class-leading cabin quietness and targeted top-class crash safety
ratings: NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+
A more spacious and premium-quality cabin – with
premium, soft-touch surfaces and refined detailing that exceeds the
mainstream compact-car class, along with an expanded list of standard
and available features, including heated front and rear seats, automatic
climate control, remote engine start and eight-way power driver's seat
Honda Sensing™ – available suite includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™,
Lane Keeping Assist and Road Departure Warning, and adds, for the first
time, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, setting a new bar
for advanced safety and driver-assistive technology in the mainstream
compact class
Advanced connected-car capabilities – enabled by a
new and more intuitive 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface with
Android operating system, also featuring Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility for seamless integration of smartphone features and functions
The 2016 Civic Sedan is the first in a series of new 10th-generation
Civic variants that will include a sedan, coupe, sports-minded Si
models, a five-door hatchback and the first-ever Civic Type-R model for
the U.S. market, comprising the most diverse and innovative lineup in
Civic's 43-year history. This 10th-generation Civic was benchmarked
against the world's best C-segment vehicles, including luxury-class
cars, as engineers sought to deliver a truly world-beating compact-class
car – the most refined, sporty and sophisticated Civic platform ever
made.
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 2.0-liter engine
Avail.
•
1.5-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, direct-injected and turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine
•
•
•
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) for 1.5-liter TURBO
•
•
•
Exterior
Honda LED (inline-style) headlights
•
Auto on/off headlights
•
•
•
•
•
LED daytime running lights
•
•
•
•
•
LED rear taillights
•
•
•
•
•
Triple-sealed doors
•
•
•
•
•
Flush-mounted, acoustic glass windshield
•
•
•
•
•
Full underbody covers
•
•
•
•
•
Smart Entry
•
•
•
•
Chassis
Fully independent front Macpherson strut-type suspension with hydraulic compliance bushing
•
•
•
•
•
Multi-link rear suspension with rigid rear subframe
•
•
•
•
•
Rear hydraulic compliance bushing
•
•
•
Interior
Push-button start
•
•
•
•
Automatic climate control
•
•
Dual-zone automatic climate control
•
•
•
Heated driver and passenger side mirrors
•
•
•
•
Remote engine start
•
•
•
•
7-inch full-color touchscreen Display Audio with Android operating system
•
•
•
•
Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility
•
•
•
•
Heated front seats including heated seat backs
•
•
•
HD Radio®
•
•
•
8-way-power driver's seat
•
•
Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (in addition to leather seating surfaces)
•
•
Honda satellite-linked navigation system by Garmin
Avail.
•
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
•
4-way-power front passenger seat
•
Heated rear outboard seats
•
Safety and Driver-Assistive Technology
New Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure
•
•
•
•
•
Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
w/ optional Honda Sensing™
•
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
•
Road Departure Mitigation (RDM)
•
Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
•
2016 Civic Sedan – Pricing and EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Trim
Engine
Transmission
MSRP
EPA Ratings (city/hwy/comb)
LX
2.0L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder
6MT
$18,640
27/40/31
CVT
$19,440
31/41/35
LX w/ Honda Sensing™
CVT
$20,440
31/41/35
EX
CVT
$21,040
31/41/35
EX w/ Honda Sensing™
CVT
$22,040
31/41/35
EX-T
1.5L DOHC Direct Injected TURBO
CVT
$22,200
31/42/35
EX-T w/ Honda Sensing™
CVT
$23,200
31/42/35
EX-L
CVT
$23,700
31/42/35
EX-L w/ Honda Sensing™
CVT
$24,700
31/42/35
EX-L Navi
CVT
$24,700
31/42/35
Touring
CVT
$26,500
31/42/35
Sporty Civic Design The dramatic and sporty new
Civic design is grounded in its more athletic stance and low and wide
proportions. Compared to the current model, the 2016 Civic Sedan is
nearly 2 inches wider and 1 inch lower with a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase,
featuring a more compact and sporty front overhang; a longer, more
aggressively sculpted hood and fastback-style tail.
The taut and tidy proportions of the new Civic Sedan are complemented
and accentuated by refined design details, including sleek and
swept-back bodylines, a sharp and aggressive face and bulging wheel
arches. The new Civic's more premium character is also highlighted by
its available LED exterior lighting, including standard LED running
lights, distinctive C-shaped LED taillights and featuring LED headlights
on the Touring trim.
Two All-New Powertrains The 2016 Civic Sedan
features two all-new, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines: Civic
Sedan LX and EX trims are powered by a 2.0-liter, port-injected DOHC i-VTEC™ inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm4(+15
HP and +9 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) and mated to either a six-speed
manual (LX trim only) or continuously variable automatic transmission
(CVT). Civic Sedan EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims are powered by a
1.5-liter, direct-injected DOHC TURBO inline 4-cylinder engine producing
174 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 162 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,800 to
5,500 rpm5(+31 HP and +33 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) and
mated to an all-new CVT with torque converter designed specifically to
complement the turbocharged engine.
Both engines feature a wide array of friction-reducing design and
engineering features that support both high performance and high fuel
efficiency. These two ultra-efficient engines, married to the 2016 Civic
Sedan's highly aerodynamic body, help to garner class-leading EPA
fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg (city/highway/combined) for models
equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and CVT, 27/40/31 mpg for the 2.0L
with manual transmission and 31/42/35 mpg for models equipped with the
1.5-liter TURBO.
Advanced and Sporty New Body and Chassis The
2016 Civic sets a new standard for dynamic handling, steering, ride
quality and cabin quietness in the compact class, courtesy of its
all-new platform, featuring the most rigid and tightly sealed body and
the most sophisticated chassis in Civic history.
Advancing the sporty character of this all-new Civic is its more
sporty driving position, with a lower hip point compared to the outgoing
model. The Civic's all-new platform design and lower floor and engine
enable the lower hip point. The new Civic chassis features a redesigned
strut front suspension and a new multi-link rear suspension mounted to
an ultra-rigid rear subframe.
Torsional rigidity of the new body is improved by 25 percent aided in
part by more intensive use of ultra-high-strength steel. Fifty-nine
percent of the unit body is composed of high-strength steel, including
14 percent hot-stamp steel. Aerodynamic efficiency is improved by 12
percent to class-leading levels through detailed CFD modeling, wind
tunnel testing and tuning, and from the use full underbody covers (a
Civic first).
Despite its larger size, the new Civic unit body is 68 pounds lighter
than before, while new body-sealing techniques result in a 58 percent
reduction in cabin air leaks. Class-leading cabin quietness is further
improved by the use of premium noise-reducing features, including a
flush-mounted acoustic glass windshield, a more tightly sealed engine
compartment and triple-sealed doors.
To achieve the Civic development team's high targets for dynamic
performance and refined ride quality, the new Civic Sedan utilizes
hydraulic compliance bushings; a technology typically reserved for more
expensive vehicles, aiding the isolation of road vibration. Additional
new chassis technologies include variable gear-ratio steering, beefier
front and rear stabilizer bars and standard four-wheel disc brakes,
along with the application of new Agile Handling Assist brake-torque
vectoring technology for more precise and agile cornering.
Spacious, Sophisticated and Advanced Cabin The
new Civic interior is designed to offer the most comfortable,
sophisticated and premium-feeling cabin in the compact class. An
additional 3.2 cubic feet of interior space translates into the largest
cabin in the compact segment with 1.2 inches of added rear-seat legroom
versus the outgoing model. In front, new ultra-thin front roof pillars
enable class-leading forward visibility. At the rear, trunk space has
been increased by 2.6 cubic feet a configuration with a lower lift-over
height, larger opening and wider and taller cargo area. Civic Sedan EX
and higher trims will feature a 60/40 split and folding rear seat. All
Civic Sedan models also feature a larger, reconfigurable new center
console with up to 7.2 liters of secure storage space; approaching SUV
levels of console utility.
The new Civic interior strikes a more premium tone with high-quality
materials and high-contrast finishes. These include a new one-piece,
soft-touch instrumental panel with molded stitching; more premium seat
fabrics; a new full-color TFT center meter (EX and above trims); a
center console with piano black finish and high-contrast silver bezel;
door inserts with real stitching; an LED shift indicator and LED
overhead lighting; and for EX and higher trims, a leather shift boot.
The 2016 Civic Sedan offers customers more premium features than ever
before. New standard equipment includes automatic climate control,
auto-up/down front-power windows, an electronic parking brake with Brake
Hold and Walk-Away auto door locks. Additional available premium
features, depending upon trim, include heated side mirrors (EX and
above), remote engine start rain-sensing wipers (Touring), heated front
seats (EXT and above) and heated outboard rear seats (Touring), an
eight-way power driver's seat (EX-L and Touring), a four-way power front
passenger's seat (Touring) and an adjustable driver's seat thigh
support with 14 degrees of tilt.
Civic Audio and Connectivity Civic EX and higher
trims come equipped with a new 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with a
higher resolution Android-based operating system. The Civic joins the
2016 Accord as two of the first high-volume models in the industry to
incorporate both the Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
platforms, providing seamless integration of smartphone features and
functions. Smartphone connectivity for the Civic Sedan is now
accomplished using a single USB cable connection.
The new Civic Sedan also delivers on the audio front with more
powerful systems and expanded listening options, including SiriusXM®
Radio, Pandora® compatibility and HD Radio™. Civic LX trims
feature a 160-watt, four-speaker sound system and 5-inch LCD screen for
control of audio functions, while EX and EX-L trims feature a 180-watt
system, eight-speaker system and utilize the new 7-inch Display Audio
touchscreen as the nerve center for audio and climate control. The
new-line-topping Touring trim features a 450-watt, 10-speaker audio
system—the most powerful in its competitive set—integrated with Display
Audio.
Finally, while all Civic models with Display Audio provide for
smartphone-powered GPS navigation via the Apple CarPlay® and Android
Auto™ platforms (with compatible smartphone and customer data
plan), for customers who want an embedded navigation capability, the
Civic EX-L Navi and Touring trims are equipped with an all-new Honda
Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in cooperation
with the experts at Garmin – offering more intuitive operation, improved
graphics and enhanced mapping capabilities.
Civic Safety Performance The 2016 Civic utilizes an advanced body structure – including a next generation Advanced Compatibility Body Structure™ (ACE™),
a high-strength steel floor and tailor-tempered, ultra-high-strength
B-pillars and rear frame rails – to provide a high degree of occupant
protection while minimizing weight and aiding fuel efficiency. The new
body structure works in concert with advanced front-side and side
curtain airbag technology, including SmartVent® technology for the
driver and front passenger side airbags.
Utilizing these systems in conjunction with the new Honda Sensing™
suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2016
Civic Sedan targets the highest available U.S. safety ratings – an NCAP
5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Civic Manufacturing The 2016 Civic Sedan marks
the first time Honda's North American manufacturing operations have
served as the global lead plant for a model like Civic, sold worldwide.
Further, all 2016 Civic Sedans for the North American market are
manufactured at the company's Alliston, Ontario, and Greensburg,
Indiana, auto plants6. The two new engines for the 2016
Civics are manufactured at Honda engine plants in Anna, Ohio, and
Alliston, Ontario, with the new turbo engine produced exclusively at the
Anna Engine Plant. The two continuously variable automatic
transmissions are being produced by Honda plants in Russells Point,
Ohio, and Celaya, Mexico.
About Civic Civic is Honda's best-selling car
globally, the best-selling compact car in America with individual retail
car buyers for the past eight years7 and the most popular car with U.S. millennials8.
The first-generation Civic debuted in America in 1972 and Civic has
played a leading role in advancing fuel efficiency, small-car safety
performance, design, technology and fun-to-drive performance for nine
generations. American car buyers have purchased more than 10 million
Civics throughout its 43 years in the U.S. market and Civic has been
manufactured in North America since 1986, with cumulative Civic
production in North America exceeding 9 million units.
About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of Honda cars, trucks and service with
a network of more than 1,000 Honda dealerships within the United
States. Eight Honda auto plants in North America, including four in the
U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year.
In 2014, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in
the U.S. were produced in North America6.
1Based on IHS Automotive, Polk new retail vehicle
registration data for CY2010-2014 in the non-luxury traditional compact
segment. 2MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) excluding
tax, license, registration, $880 destination charge and options. Dealer
prices may vary. 3Based on 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison
purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and
maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors, 4Peak power: 158 HP @ 6000 rpm (SAE net), peak torque: 138 ft-lb @ 4200 rpm (SAE net). 5 Peak power: 174 HP @ 5500 (SAE net); peak torque; 164 ft-lb from 1800 to 5500 rpm (SAE net). 6Manufactured using domestic and globally sourced parts. 7Based on IHS Automotive, Polk new retail vehicle
registration data for CY2010-2014 in the non-luxury traditional compact
segment. 8Based on IHS Automotive, Polk new U.S. retail vehicle registration and age of head of household data for 2015CYTD June.
There are few roads more famous than Mulholland Highway. Cutting its
way through the Santa Monica Mountains, it's a road you see in movies,
hear about in songs, and – most importantly – read about in car magazines.
Journalists
have headed to Mulholland for years for the opportunity to flog the
daylights out of some of the best street legal performance cars they
could get their hands on. It was only a matter of time before I got the
opportunity to do the same thing, and it was something I had
been looking forward to for years.
The
biggest question I had, though, was always what car I'd be driving when
I finally made it to Mulholland. Would it be an Alfa Romeo 4C? Would it
be a BMW M4? Would it be a Mercedes-AMG GT S? Perhaps an American classic like the Ford Mustang?
After
years of buildup, that question was finally answered when I got invited
to attend a recent vehicle launch in California. A large part of the
drive route took place on Mulholland, and believe me when I tell you
it lived up to the hype. It was all I could have hoped for in a
legendary driving road.
The car, on the other hand, was a bit different than what I had imagined I'd be driving on my first Mulholland experience – a 2016 Honda Civic.
The
1.5 liter turbo Civic certainly wasn't the drift machine of my dreams,
but you have to admit there's something satisfying about completely
abusing a car so clearly ill-equipped for spirited driving. The squeal
of the low rolling resistance tires and the flashing of warning lights
that weren't worth paying attention to were a constant reminder that I
was behind the wheel of an economy car, but yet somehow, I still had
fun.
Most
of the turns were extremely tight, giving the Civic plenty of
opportunities to trip over itself. But it just didn't. I
definitely wasn't going to set any hillclimb records, but it still felt
remarkably nimble, especially for a Civic.
If
you've driven a Honda Civic in the past few years, I highly doubt you
used the word "fun" to describe the driving experience, so I understand
if you're a little bit skeptical that the new one might be significantly
different. Believe me when I tell you, though, that the new Civic
drives much more like the Mazda3 than the Toyota Corolla.
In
case it's not clear, that's a good thing. I would gladly take the
Mazda3 on any great driving road, and I would even choose a loaded
version over a base Audi A3. Anyone who has driven the latest Corolla
can attest to the fact that trying to drive it on a road like Mulholland
would be the kind of mistake you don't make twice.
Thankfully, Honda had no intentions of attempting to out-Corolla the Corolla with the latest Civic.
The
turbocharged version is no budget Civic Si replacement, and the manual
transmission isn't available on higher trim levels, but who cares?
Economy cars need to get great gas mileage, and only a handful of people
buy manuals these days. Besides, a new Civic Si and Civic Type R are
coming soon enough, and those will be the versions enthusiasts will be
interested in anyways.
Regular
versions of the Civic are for people who care more about fuel economy
and reliability than performance, and that's perfectly fine. At the same
time, though, driving even the base version of this new Civic transports you back to a time when Hondas were actually sporty, cool, and even fun to drive.
The
days when the Civic Si was cool are gone. The Prelude is gone. The CRX
is gone. The S2000 is gone. The Acura NSX is coming back, but for now,
it's gone too. The cool, fun Hondas of years past are all gone, and yet
even though it wasn't a performance version, the Civic I drove was the
first real indication I've seen in a long time that Honda legitimately
intends to bring fun back to its lineup.
Yes, the Civic Si is still around, but when was the last time you saw
someone driving one, much less heard of an enthusiast cross-shopping one
against other affordable performance cars like the the Subaru WRX, the
Toyobaru twins, the Volkswagen GTI, or either of Ford's STs? Heck, when
you consider Honda's lineup over the past few years, I'm a little
surprised it even offers the Civic Si at all.I also found myself oddly hopeful.
If
you strip away the CVT and near-luxury options on the new Civic, what's
left is a fairly attractive car with an excellent chassis and strong
brakes that even non-enthusiasts might accidentally find themselves
having fun driving. Thanks to the fact that Honda sells hundreds of
thousands of Civics per year, there's even a chance that Honda will end
up creating new enthusiasts with this latest generation.
After
all, while it's definitely not a canyon carver, it's a mainstream car
that has the potential to show drivers that there's more to driving than
simply getting from point A to point B without breaking down. Who knows
where that little taste of joy could lead?
I'm not convinced that everyone who drives a new Civic will
immediately follow it up with a Miata project car and regular attendance
to their local autocross or track days, but some of them will at least
end up interested in cars and the thrill of driving. In a time when
autonomous vehicles are seemingly inevitable and everybody and their
brother drives a crossover SUV, a mainstream car that might stem the
tide is a welcomed relief.
If it were my money, I'd skip the base
2.0 liter engine in favor of the 1.5 liter turbo, even though you can
get the base engine with a manual (but one that isn't the greatest
ever). 174 horsepower isn't that much more than 158 horsepower, but you
can feel a real difference in how the two engines pull thanks to the
turbo's 24 extra pound-feet of torque and its more favorable torque
curve. The manual is only rated at 31 miles per gallon combined, though,
which is considerably less than the CVT's 35 MPG combined rating.
In
the Civic EX-T, you get the vast majority of the features offered on
the top-level Touring trim, including Apple CarPlay, and even if you
choose to add Honda Sensing, the MSRP is only $23,200. It's probably
going to be the volume seller and the one I recommend. Then again, if
you're buying this car for your teen, the base model offers a good
bargain at $18,640.
My time behind the wheel left me legitimately
looking forward to what the performance versions of the new Civic will
be like to drive. Real tires, a sportier suspension, more power, and a
solid manual transmission should make the Civic Si a serious contender
in the sub-$30,000 performance car segment, and the next Civic Type R
should be an absolute monster.
We'll have to wait a bit to get to
drive those cars, but when was the last time you heard someone say they
were excited to drive an American Honda ? Maybe times really are
changing.
The
new 2016 Honda Civic was unveiled at the Alliston manufacturing plant
Tuesday, Oct. 20. Pictured from left is Dan Smith, president of Honda
Canada Mfg. and Jerry Chenkin, president and CEO of Honda Canada Inc.
The new 2016 Honda Civic was unveiled at the Alliston manufacturing plant Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The new 2016 Honda Civic was unveiled at the Alliston manufacturing
plant Tuesday, Oct. 20. Before the car was rolled out, associates took
the stage to talk about their experience building the new vehicle.
by Brad Pritchard of Alliston Herald
Associates at the Alliston Honda manufacturing plants took a break from
their normal afternoon schedule Tuesday to mark an important
achievement.
A celebration was held at Plant 1 to unveil
the next generation of the company’s best-selling vehicle, the 2016
Honda Civic.
With Rush’s rock anthem Limelight blasting
in the background, the shiny white sedan was rolled out in style through
the black curtains.
As it emerged through the fog and strobe
lights, it was welcomed by a throng of proud associates who began
assembling the new model at the facility in recent weeks.
The 2016 model is the 10th design of the vehicle in its 43-year history.
The Alliston plant took the lead in the new
model’s design and manufacturing – a first in the company’s history
outside of its headquarters in Japan.
“I know Honda’s decision was a good call,”
said Dan Smith, president of Honda Canada Mfg. “Honda of Canada’s 27
years of experience building civics right here in Alliston, Ontario, has
really come through.”
Smith said countless hours and weekends went
into designing the vehicle and preparing the facility in order to begin
building the new cars.
From its sporty style to new technology,
including the fuel-efficient turbo engine, Smith said he’s more than
impressed with the end result.
“The Civics coming off this assembly line
are looking really good right now and I’m confident this new Civic will
exceed our customer’s expectations.”
The new model includes the coupe, high
performance SI models, a five-door hatchback and the first ever Civic
Type-R model.
The unveiling of the new Civic comes just
shy of a year since the company announced its two-year, $857 million
investment into the facility to accommodate the new model.
The investment includes an $85.7 million contribution from the province.
Jerry Chenkin, president and CEO of Honda
Canada Inc, said the investment allowed the company to upgrade the
facilities, invest in new equipment and more.
“At Honda Canada, our vision for 2020 is to
be a company that Canadians want to exist, and what better way to live
that vision than to produce cars and trucks right here in Canada for our
customers in Canada,” Chenkin said.
Honda opened the manufacturing plant in Alliston in 1986.
The company currently employs 4,200
associates between its two manufacturing facilities and its engine
plant.
The Alliston facilities produce the Honda Civic Coupe, Sedan and Si models, along with the CR-V.
More than 4.5 million Civics have been built
in Alliston since 1988, with sales in Canada exceeding 1.89 million
units.
Here’s a question we don’t ask ourselves very often: Is more power
better? Yet that’s something we pondered during the launch of the
all-new, 10th-generation Honda Civic,
at which we drove both the new base 2.0-liter engine and the more
powerful 1.5-liter turbocharged four. At the end of the day, there was
no clear-cut answer as to which version is best. What was abundantly
clear, however, is that the base engine isn’t bad.
Nor is the rest of the 2016 Civic, but we’ll get to that. The all-new
2.0-liter engine is offered only in the entry-level LX model and in the
one-rung-up EX. It is said by Honda to both weigh less and have reduced
internal friction compared with last year’s 1.8-liter, while kicking out
an additional 15 horsepower and 9 lb-ft of torque. The totals are now
158 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 138 lb-ft at 4200 rpm. In true Honda
i-VTEC fashion, power builds in a linear crescendo, with no lumpiness or
lag. Just as sweet is the 2.0-liter’s rorty Honda sound—that’s pure
sound, without synthesizing or amplification—which permeates the
Civic’s well-insulated cabin with every full-tilt run up to the engine’s
6700-rpm redline.
And rev it hard we did, since it’s none too quick—expect a zero-to-60-mph time in the low-eight-second range. We just clocked the turbocharged 2016 Civic
at 6.8 seconds to 60, with its 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.
The 2.0-liter also has an old-school Honda charm that the 1.5-liter’s
standard CVT automatic dulls a bit; if character counts, the 2.0-liter
makes a case for itself.
There’s Still a Stick
The other reason to respect the base Civic is that it offers a manual
transmission (like last year, though, it’s restricted to the
price-leading LX). Honda representatives have told us that we can expect
more Civics—including the 1.5-liter turbo—to offer a stick shift in the
future, but that development resources for now are focused on bringing
out the other Civic variants yet to appear, including the coupe, the
four-door hatchback, the Si, and the Type R.
While the new six-speed gearbox doesn’t feel quite as sweet as the one
in the 2016 Accord Sport, it’s far from sloppy, with clearly defined
gates and short throws, and it's paired with a nicely progressive
clutch.
It certainly beats the CVT, which is optional on the LX and standard on
EX models and above. The lack of any form of manual ratio selection—via
paddles, shift lever, or otherwise—seems a bit of an oversight on
Honda’s part, although a Sport mode keeps the engine whirring closer to
its power peak if you’re feeling frisky. (And no, it’s not the same CVT
that has recently been recalled in the 2014 and 2015 Civic and Fit.)
Like other Civics, the base model turns in quickly and rotates with
heroically little front-end push, although all of the models we drove
would benefit from more tire grip. Other than 16-inch wheels and
215/55-series tires versus 17-inch wheels with 50-series tires, there is
little that separates the chassis of 2.0-liter cars from their
turbocharged brethren. They do weigh some 150 pounds less, however, much
of which comes off the front axle for somewhat improved front-to-rear
weight distribution (59.6/40.4 for the 2.0-liter compared with 61.3/38.7
for the 1.5-liter). The Civic 2.0 also has a refreshing sense of
lightness and sharpness, the slight dead spot in the steering
notwithstanding.
Designers, Arise!
As for the rest of the 2016 Civic, the improvements cannot be
understated. Its design is sleek and fastback-like, with a large,
severely raked greenhouse that no longer includes frumpy front
quarter-windows. The front fenders feature bulges over the wheel arches,
and the body overall has plenty of sculpting. The rear-three-quarter
view is the most distinctive, owing to the standard C-shaped LED
taillamps, tapering windows, and sunken backlight. This is a highly
styled automobile. After years of sleepy aesthetics from Honda, we can
now consider the automaker’s design team to be fully awake.
The cabin environs seem simultaneously more modern and more intimate,
thanks to the wide dashboard design, one-inch-lower front hip point, and
taller two-tiered center console that cossets the front passengers. An
old Honda trait has returned in the form of the remarkably low
windshield cowl, which has dropped 1.6 inches and allows an expansive
view of the road ahead.
Civic pricing
starts at $19,475 for the LX and $21,875 for the better-equipped EX,
with prices for the turbo models rising from there. But even at the LX
level, the Civic is no stripper, with its standard digital speedometer,
automatic climate control, comfortable cloth seats, electronic parking
brake, automatic headlamps, and more. Opting for the EX yields a full
digital dashboard, Honda’s nifty LaneWatch camera system, remote engine
starting, a power sunroof, heated mirrors, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto,
alloy wheels (versus steelies with wheel covers), and the aforementioned
CVT. The EX also brings Honda’s annoying flat-panel “Display Audio”
system that begs for a volume knob; thankfully, the Civic’s new
steering-wheel-mounted audio controls help minimize the use of said
touch screen.
We offer more opinions about the Civic’s newfound goodness (and some of its shortcomings) in our instrumented test of the top-dog Touring model,
which comes with many more gadgets and gizmos, as well as the 1.5-liter
turbocharged engine. Whether that engine is the more desirable of the
two is debatable, but our positive experience with the 2.0-liter models
suggests that Honda has once again taken up the cause of building basic
transportation that doesn’t feel basic.
Completely
redesigned, the 2016 Civic aims to regain the model's reputation as a
premium small car. Sleek styling, new engines, and high-tech features
all play their part.
DEXTER, MI – After being eclipsed last year by its longtime rival the Toyota Corolla, Honda is looking to take back leadership in the compact-car segment in the U.S.
It believes it has just the vehicle to do it in the 10th-generation Civic, the first variant of which, the sedan, goes on sale next month in the U.S.
“I think in time we will get back to No.1 in segment,” Michael Willrich, product planner for the new Civic, tells WardsAuto here during a media preview of the car.
Willrich
bases his belief on the car reembracing its athletic roots for ’16, in a
larger, stylish and more technologically advanced package.
While
Civic sales were down just 1.5% through September, the Corolla has seen
a 7.7% increase in the same period, thanks to 278,742 deliveries this
year, roughly 20,000 more than the Civic.
That volume makes the Corolla No.1 in WardAuto’s Upper Small car segment through September. The Civic is No.2 and the Hyundai Elantra, with 193,962 sales, is No.3.
Focusing
too heavily on the notoriously softer-riding Corolla and the North
American market in general is partially why the outgoing
ninth-generation Civic got watered down, says the car’s assistant chief
engineer, Gary Evert.
“Somewhere
along the line something happened,” he tells media here. “We lost the
vehicle’s character, and we began to focus only on the North American
mass-market competitors like the Corolla. We wanted to change that. We
wanted to make something truly special with this new Civic,” he says of
the development team targeting sportier European luxury C-cars,
including its benchmark, the Audi A3.
Honda
also has cited the post-recessionary mood of the country for the
ninth-gen Civic’s less-than-stellar interior materials and ride and
handling. That version debuted in spring 2011, two years after the Great
Recession.
Despite New Turbo, LX Still Seen as Best Seller
Willrich’s
contention the Civic will again be the top-selling C-car in the U.S.
“in time” refers to the sedan being just the tip of the iceberg.
The
next-gen Civic coupe goes on sale this coming winter, while a 5-door
hatchback, the Civic’s Si sport variants and a Type R, a competitor to
the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R, debut later. Honda promises the wait won’t be too long.
Type R launch timing for the U.S. reportedly is 2017, although a Honda spokeswoman suggests 2017 could mean the ’17 model year.
In
the meantime, Honda will have five grades of the sedan to sell: LX, EX,
EX-L and the new EX-T and Touring models. The EX-T has Honda’s first
turbocharged engine in the U.S., while the Touring is being billed as
the highest-end Civic ever.
Willrich
says the LX model, which replaced the DX discontinued with the launch
of the ’13 Civic, has been the most purchased grade, with a 50% take
rate since the recession ended.
He expects that to continue initially, but notes the mix will change with the launch of the forthcoming variants.
Honda continues to offer a manual for the LX grade, which has a 2.0L 4-cyl. Willrich estimates 5%-7% of ’16 Civic buyers will opt to shift their own gears.
While
manuals are declining as a transmission choice – automatic-transmission
fuel economy typically is better than that of manual-equipped models
and younger drivers don’t know how to drive a stick, Willrich doesn’t
foresee a day the Civic won’t offer a manual.
“The market’s moving that way, but if I had my way we’ll always have a manual,” he says.
The
Civic Hybrid is discontinued with the close of the ninth-gen model and
Willrich sees buyers who might have opted for another migrating to
future Honda green cars, such as forthcoming dedicated plug-in hybrid
and electric vehicles.
Young and Young at Heart
Honda
is targeting “young-at-heart” buyers, projecting two generations will
opt for the Civic, Generation Y and older empty-nesters with a youthful
mindset.
For Gen Y, buyers will be
split 50/50 between along gender and single/married lines, with a median
age of 29 and an annual household income of $63,000.
Consumer research done earlier this year in Texas convinced Willrich Honda
has a winner on its hands, as about 400 people cited the car’s
unexpected styling and its image shift from practical to “distinctive
and exciting” as alluring attributes, along with Honda’s longtime lures
of dependability, quality and reliability.
“We
want to continue building lifetime owner loyalty, we want to continue
conquesting sales and we want to improve the overall opinion of the
Honda brand with this car.”
Honda
executives previously have stated they don’t see the rise in CUVs
impacting compact sales, expecting the new Civic to light a fire in the
segment whose 2% growth through September lags Small CUV growth of 43%
and Middle CUVs gain of 11%.
Honda
isn’t talking sales expectations for the Civic in the U.S., but last
month one of the automaker’s top American executives cited a company
goal to maintain 800,000 global sales.
The
U.S. has long been the top market for the Civic. The car reached its
pinnacle in 2008, when unleaded gasoline prices hit $4 per gallon in the
U.S. and Honda sold 339,289.
If Honda wants to outpace Toyota
it may have to hit that number again. Toyota sold roughly 340,000
Corollas in the U.S. last year while Honda delivered 325,981 Civics.
Enthusiasts excited about the new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the 2016 Honda Civic might not be too happy with the transmission options.
A color matrix for the 2016 Civic leaked on AutoGuide.com‘s 10thCivicforum.com suggests
that a six-speed manual transmission will only be available with the
base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and not with the more expensive and
powerful 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. What’s worse for
drivers looking for a fun experience, the turbo engine is rumored to
only be available with a CVT.
The base engine is expected to offer 158 horsepower, the most ever
offered in a base Civic, while the turbocharged 1.5-liter should deliver
174 hp.
When asked about the rumor, Honda spokesperson Robyn Eagles said, “We
have not confirmed it publicly, yet.” This seems to suggest that the
rumors are true and Honda simply hasn’t announced it yet. All of the
details on the Civic will officially be released on October 19.
Honda says this Civic was designed from the start to bring back the
car’s fun-to-drive roots. Honda claims body rigidity is up 25 percent,
while weight is down 68 pounds, for the body at least. Also helping in
the handling department is variable gear ratio steering, larger front
and rear stabilizer bars and brake-torque vectoring.
