The Honda Civic is
an
automobile manufactured by
Honda. It was introduced in
July
1972 as a two-door sedan, followed by a 3-door hatchback
version that
September. With the
"east–west" placement of its 1169 cc engine and
front wheel drive, like the British
Mini, the car provided good interior space despite
overall small dimensions.
Early models of the Civic
were typically outfitted with a basic
AM radio, rudimentary heater, foam cushioned plastic
trim, two-speed wipers, and painted steel rims with a
chromed wheel nut cap. The current Civic has become somewhat
more luxurious. Still, many regard the Civic as representing
a good value for the money, combining good performance,
reliability and economy, as well as a very low rate of
depreciation, resulting in a low total cost per mile or
per year.
Models and equipment
Initially the Civic was
sold with either a four-speed
manual or a two speed "HondaMatic" model. Later models
went to a five-speed manual and a full four-speed automatic
transmission. Like the Mini, the transaxle was
integrated with the engine unit, but
driveshaft technology in the Civic was well ahead of the
universal joints of the Mini.
The Civic evolved from
having a 1335 cc engine (1980)
to having engines with larger capacities and more creature
comforts (air
conditioning,
power windows, etc.) through the
1990s and into the
2000s.
Beginning in 1997
[1], Honda produced the first iteration of Civic to
receive the "Type-R" appellation (applied first to the
Integra Type-R), with the EK9 chassis Civic Type-R. The
EK9-generation Civic Type-R had a maximum output in the
range of 180 hp (143 kW), increased over the more common
160 hp (119 kW)
B16A engine in the SiR/VTi models, and included various
alterations to the chassis to improve handling and reduce
weight (such as better welding of the frame, and removal of
the radio and noise-suppressing materials).
In 2001, Honda announced
the release of the Civic Type-R for the EP chassis, a more
sporty variant of the most recent model of Civic and
successor to the EK9 Civic Type-R. Unlike the EK9 version,
which was produced solely in Japan, the EP Civic Type-R is
produced in the
United Kingdom and exported to Japan. The EP Civic
Type-R has a specific output of 200 PS
(197 hp/147 kW) at 8000 rpm, a six-speed manual
transmission, a reworked exterior with a bullet-like
hatchback design, aeroform bumpers, spoiler, and 17 in
wheels. The interior of the Type-R includes Recaro seats and
a Momo steering wheel, and the model also includes
Type-R-specific badging, a helical limited-slip
differential, and has been reported to accelerate from zero
to 60 mph in about 6.8 seconds (6.6 in facelifted model).
The
hybrid version became available in 2003, which uses both
a small (1.3 L) main
gasoline engine and auxiliary
electric motors. The electric motors are powered by a
battery array which is charged by
regenerative braking during deceleration, which reduces
exhaust emissions and extends fuel mileage.
The new Sport Hatchback
model with futuristic styling was unveiled in August 2005
for the European market only. This model featured from
launch a 1.3 L I-DSI and a 1.8 L i-VTEC rated at 86 PS and
140 PS respectively, with 108 and 130 mph top speeds and
14.2 and 8.6 sec 0-100 km/h sprint. The Sport Hatchback is
also available with a 2.2 L I-CTDI
diesel engine from the Accord, F-RV and CRV, rated at
140 PS and is capable of 129 mph and accelerating from 0-60
mph in 8.4 seconds.
International marketing
While the Civic is sold in
largely the same form worldwide, differences in the name of
the models exist between markets. In Japan, the
hatchback Civic is just called "Civic" while the sedan
model is called "Civic Ferio" - however with the current
release of the new Civic in Japan only in sedan form, this
naming convention has stopped. In Europe and the United
States, "Civic" generically refers to any of the coupe,
sedan or hatchback models, though in Europe the coupe is
branded the "Civic Coupe". A five-door station wagon model
called the Civic Shuttle (also Civic Pro in Japan) was
available from the early to late
1980s until the early
1990s (this brand name would later be revived for the
mid-1990s Honda Shuttle people carrier, known in some
markets as the
Honda Odyssey).
Other models have been
built off the Civic platform, including the
Ballade, the
CR-X, Quint,
Concerto,
Domani,
CR-X Del Sol, and the
Integra. Also, at various times, the Civic or
Civic-derived models have been sold by marques other than
Honda — for example,
Rover sold the 200, 400 and 45, each of which were
Civic-based at some point (first 200s were the second
generation Ballade; from 1990 the 200 and 400 were based on
the Concerto; the 400 was the 1995 Domani), as was their
predecessor, the
Triumph Acclaim, based on the first Honda Ballade. The
Honda Domani, another series based on the Civic, was
sold as the
Isuzu Gemini in Japan (1992–2000),
and confusingly the 5-door Domani was sold as the Honda
Civic (along with the "real" EK Civics) in Europe from
around
1995 to
2000. In Thailand, the Civic was available as the
four-door Isuzu Vertex (1995–2000).
The sixth-generation station wagon was sold as the
Honda Orthia (Honda Partner) as the downmarket
commercial variant). The seventh-generation minivan model is
called the
Honda Stream or the Honda Civic Stream. In
Canada, the sixth and seventh generation Civics where
mildly redesigned to create the
Acura EL until the advent of the eight generation Civic,
which was used to create the
Acura CSX.
The three-door hatchback
body style has been somewhat unpopular in the
United States, but has achieved wide acceptance in
Canada, as well as popularity in Japan and European
markets. Starting in 2002, the Civic three-door hatchback
has been
built exclusively at Honda's manufacturing plant in
Swindon,
England - previously a five-door "Civic" (essentially a
rebadged Domani as sold in Japan) and the "Civic Aerodeck"
(probably based on the Japanese model Partner or
Orthia) were built here for sale in Europe along with
the Japanese EK series Civics. Accordingly, all instances of
the current model (left or right hand drive, anywhere in the
world) are British-made cars designed with Japanese
engineering, except for the US-built two-door coupe.
Historical development
An interesting engine
development used in some 1975 to
1983 models as well as all carbureted models through
1987 was the
CVCC system, where a small auxilary inlet valve allowed
a rich fuel/air mixture into the cylinder near the spark
plug, while the main charge was lean. This design could meet
clean air emission standards without the power robbing
emission control devices fitted to many cars of that time.
This engine was a rare example of commercial development of
a
stratified charge engine.
Some current generation
Civics use
VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic
Control), and are approaching the size and weight of the
early
Honda Accord models, which were initially introduced as
a larger, upmarket alternative to the Civic in the mid
1970s.
Modifications and the enthusiast
community
In many areas, the Civic
is popular as a platform for modification and customization
by an
enthusiast community. Civics prior to the fifth and
sixth generation had a high power-to-mass ratio compared to
many competitors which allowed for naturally better
acceleration, braking and handling given similar parts. As
well, advanced four-wheel independent suspension inspired by
Honda's racing research allowed class-leading handling in
the 1988-1991 series which continued on until the 2000 model
update. Also, because of parts interchangeability, many
Civics which were originally equipped with lower-power
engines can later be equipped with a newer Honda engine, a
turbocharger, or even fitted with a non-Honda engine. The
City Turbo engine is a good fit to the Civic engine bay in
many models, and provides a significant increase in the
power-to-weight ratio compared to the non-performance
engines, thus boosting performance.
Also, many fourth, fifth,
and sixth-generation Civics can be similarly upgraded by
replacing their original economy-oriented engines with a
DOHC
VTEC engine — commonly one of the
B-series engines such as a B16A, which was also original
equipment in some performance models of the Civic.
The most recent models,
while still competitive as tuner projects, have succumbed to
added weight, reduced suspension technology and higher
centres of gravity which has significantly reduced their
appeal amongst passionate drivers. These changes made the
car safer on the whole though, and helped the Civic sell
better to the average consumer.
In its 2006 Civic Si
concept models, however, Honda strongly indicated that the
Civic line would see a return to sportiness and performance.
This newest generation of the Civic Si offers a 197 hp (150
kW) K20Z3 powered engine.
Awards
The Civic was
Motor Trend's
Import Car of the Year for 1980, as well as its 2006
Car of the Year award. The Civic has been on
Car and Driver magazine's annual
Ten Best list six times, in 1985, 1988 through 1991, and
1996. The Civic GX, a natural gas version of the vehicle was
named Greenest Car of 2005 by the American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy.
Honda claimed 5 of the top 10 Greenest car slots, 3 of
which were models of the Civic. The Civic Si was named "Best
New Sport Car" and the sedan was named "Best New Economy
Car" in the
2006
Canadian Car of the Year awards. The Civic was also
nominated for the
North American Car of the Year award for
2006.
Trivia
Honda Civic
