Exclusive Preview of the New Civic (Europe)

September 12, 2011 - The new Honda Civic will be launched tomorrow at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). Honda has released the first exclusive photos of the new Civic. Designed and developed specifically for the European market, the new Civic will be offered as a five-door hatchback and will compete in the C-segment. It will reach European showrooms in early 2012.

The designers of the new Civic wanted to keep the sporty and advanced elements of the car’s character but tailor them to express the new model’s even more elegant yet dynamic feel. Sources of inspiration included a ‘blended wing body’ aeroplane * in which the fuselage and wings blend into a single body for superior aerodynamic performance, quietness and habitability.

Nearly all of the body components have been redesigned on the new Civic with particular focus on ride and handling, reduced CO2 emissions, interior quality, while preserving the class-leading cabin and boot space and flexible practicality.

Source;

http://world.honda.com/news/2011/4110912New-Civic/index.html

Link to Honda's site;

http://www.honda.co.uk/cars/campaigns/2011/newcivic/#/hotspot-tooltips

Honda Exec Downplays Impact of Consumer Reports Trashing

No maker can "always hit them out of the park."

by Paul A. Eisenstein on Aug.30, 2011

Timing is everything – and Mike Accavitti was clearly wondering whether he got it right the day he accepted his new job as head of marketing for American Honda, a couple months back.

That was the same day that the influential Consumer Reports magazine took a potshot at the Honda Civic, declaring that the 2012 remake of the long-popular subcompact, normally one of the non-profit publication’s favorite choices, “now…ranks near the bottom of its category.”

As if to drive the knife deeper, the magazine followed up with a second report raising serious questions about Honda itself. And CR wasn’t alone. The 2012 Honda Civic has received a rash of criticism while the maker itself has come under increasing fire from various media – including TheDetroitBureau.com – faulting it for a variety of issues, including timid design.

Further complicating matters, the maker was hit hard by the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11. The subsequent product shortages have probably reached their worst this month, says Accavitti, a former Chrysler executive.

“For a second, I thought, ‘Holy, moley, what did I get myself into?’” he says with a laugh that betrays his initial concerns. But despite Honda’s recent setbacks, the new marketing chief insists he’s in for a good ride.

“We still respect Consumer Reports, though we disagree with some of their findings,” he told TheDetroitBureau.com in an exclusive interview, comparing the criticism of the maker to the way an A student might be chastised for bringing home a B+. The competition, Accavitti suggested, is like a C student being heralded for getting a B. “Every time you step up to the plate you’re not going to hit them out of the park.”

The new Civic simply reflects the changing realities faced by Honda, which has gone from being a niche player to part of the automotive mainstream over the years. Today, “You have to be a little more conservative than when you have nothing to lose and can risk a roll of the dice,” insisted Accavitti.

In fact, Honda continues to take risks, he suggested, with products like the CR-Z, the Accord CrossTour and the Acura ZDX. While industry analysts might agree, they’d also point out that Honda has largely flopped with most of its recent niche offerings. The ZDX barely registers on the sales charts and aiming to spark new life into the hatchback, Honda has dropped the Accord name and will simply call it CrossTour for 2012.

Honda could boost sales, Accavitti asserted, if it wanted to play by the rules of the competition. But the maker has no intention of bumping up its incentives – as even Japanese arch-rival Toyota has done in a bid to revive lackluster sales – nor will Honda start dumping cars into fleet markets, a familiar tactic when Accavitti was at Chrysler.

“We’ve been hit hard,” said the new Honda vice president, and “August will be the worst month of the year from an industry situation,” but as inventories rebuild, he promises, Honda will show that it can overcome short-term setbacks, including criticism from a powerhouse like Consumer Reports.

Source;

http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2011/08/honda-exec-downplays-impact-of-consumer-reports-trashing/

The New Honda Civic (Euro)

Honda will launch the new Civic at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Developed specifically for the European market, the Civic will be offered exclusively as a five-door hatchback and will compete in the C-segment. It will reach European showrooms in early 2012.



In the build-up to the reveal of the new Civic, Honda is releasing a series of short form films detailing its development. The third of these films focuses on noise and refinement.



NEW HONDA CIVIC: class-leading refinement



One of the focuses of the development team for the new Civic was optimising the interior refinement. The engineers worked intensively to hone every detail of the design, build and aerodynamics. The results add to a car that is relaxing to drive on all roads and in all conditions.



The engineers have spent a lot of time testing the car in Europe, tuning the new Civic to suit the distinctive road conditions. The team used Honda's anechoic chamber in its R&D Facility in Swindon, England, to fine-tune the cabin insulation. One of the results of this research was to modify the design and construction of the roof lining, and how it interacts with the bodywork.

The new Civic's aerodynamic efficiency also plays a key role in maximising its refinement. Several members of the development team have Formula One experience, which they used to deliver a car that combines a low coefficient of drag with excellent high-speed stability. Hours of meticulous work in the Honda wind tunnel has improved performance, reduced fuel consumption and resulted in an exceptionally quiet interior.



"We did not improve the noise and refinement of the new Civic through just one technique," says Kazuo Sunaoshi, Development Leader - Chassis. "It was the accumulation of lots of little details. My big challenge was to match the noise and vibration levels of our European competitors. I am proud to say that we have achieved our goals."



Find out more by watching the new ‘noise and refinement' film release. The film is hosted on an interactive media player where all the films will be shown and automatically updated. You can easily download films and images or even embed the whole player in your site http://multivu.com/players/English/51356-honda-motor-europe/

Source;

http://www.hondanews.eu/en/news/index.pmode/modul,detail,0,1939-DEFAULT,21,text,1/index.pmode

Honda Civic Noise & Relaxation 2012

High Levels of Refinement For The New Honda Civic

In order for the new 2012 Honda Civic to provide a quieter and more refined driving experience, the development team focused on sharpening every detail of the design, build and aerodynamics resulting in optimal interior refinement.



The new Honda Civic was tested across Europe in order to tune the car to the varying road conditions found throughout the region. To fine tune the cabin insulation, the Civic was also tested in Honda's anechoic (echo-free) chamber in the Research & Development facility located in Swindon. As a result of the tests in the anechoic chamber, the design and construction of the roof lining and how it interacts with the bodywork was modified.

The aerodynamic efficiency of the new Honda Civic also has a key role for maximising refinement. Formula One experience offered by several members of the development team helped to provide a car combining low coefficient of drag in combination with high-speed stability. Performance, reduced fuel consumption and the quiet interior were the result of hours of meticulous work in the Honda wind tunnel.

"We did not improve the noise and refinement of the new Civic through just one technique," commented Kazuo Sunaoshi, Development Leader – Chassis. "It was the accumulation of lots of little details. My big challenge was to match the noise and vibration levels of our European competitors. I am proud to say that we have achieved our goals."

Source;

http://www.carpages.co.uk/honda/honda-civic-26-08-11.asp

Euro 2012 Honda Civic Test Video

"An updated version of the 2.2-liter i-DTEC four-cylinder will be available when the new Civic goes on sale in early 2012. With around 147 horsepower and upwards of 184 pound-feet of torque, the revised mill – combined with the Civic's improved aerodynamics – will bring CO2 emissions down to 110g/km and should boost fuel economy by around 15 percent." --www.autoblog.com 's Damon Lavrinc



Source;

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/13/honda-releases-more-details-about-european-civic-w-video/#continued

USA Today: Is new Honda Civic as bad as 'Consumer Reports' says?

What a surprise: After years of treating it as a darling, Consumer Reports called the redesigned 2012 Honda Civic "mediocre" and dropped it from CR's "recommended" status. The magazine rated it second from the bottom in the September issue's listing of all the cars in the compact segment.



The blow comes at a tough time for Honda, which plans a new marketing campaign this fall to relaunch the car. The original spring launch -- and the supply of new Civics to sell -- were interrupted by the Japan quake. North American production of the Civic is just beginning to come back.



The only car below Civic in CR's compact car ratings was the new VW Jetta, a redesign CR also panned. We did not agree (see James R. Healey Test Drive here), nor have buyers -- sales are hot. But at least we could see where they were coming from -- that redo into a bigger and less-expensive Jetta split fans of the old model.



While the new Civic hasn't been seen as a huge leap forward, CR reviewers seem out there on their own in seeing it as a step backwards. They didn't like the interior, thought the car was noisy and the ride too harsh, and more.



We cheer their willingness to break from group-think. And CR deserves credit also for buying test cars anonymously from dealers, rather than borrowing cars from automakers, who could prep the cars to perfection.



But the decision not to recommend the Civic -- long a staple of its "best-of" lists -- sounds a little wacky compared with what others have been saying.



Here are some of the other views, with some links so you can judge:



USA TODAY and Drive On's James R. Healey, in a thorough review of the 2012 Civic in April, declared it a "nice car," though it "could have been nicer." He noted off the bat that Civic oddly lacks some now-common features for upscale compacts -- a back-up camera and a six-speed automatic transmission among them. He raised some questions about the interior and thought the car was a tad noisy. But he called the looks "jazzy enough to seem new, restrained enough to wear well over time" and found Civic still sportier to drive than most compact rivals. Overall, he deemed it "better, more satisfying overall than Elantra," which is the new trendsetter in the class and No. 1 in CR's compact ratings.



Drive On's Fred Meier also drove all the versions of the new Civic except the natural gas model, including on the New Jersey Turnpike and Manhattan's rough streets. To recheck, we have one in the Drive On parking lot now. Conclusion: Not without the flaws Healey notes, but a solid update that compact buyers should consider.



Edmunds.com Editor-In-Chief Scott Oldham issued a statement about the Civic, saying it is still on the website's hot list: "Although the 2012 Honda Civic doesn't revolutionize the compact sedan the way it has in the past, it remains a vehicle that Edmunds.com editors would recommend to their friends," he said.



Our friends at Cars.com came to Civic's defense writing that "we recommend it for numerous reasons including its terrific mileage, comfortable cabin, top safety scores, high resale value and a long track record of reliability." It picked nits as well, such as with the interior, but wrote: "While it may have flaws, the 2012 Honda Civic is still one of the best cars in its class and should be on any short list for compact-car shoppers."



In the USA TODAY/Cars.com Shootout for Best 5-seat Sedan Under $20,000 that gets at least 35 mpg, Civic finished second among five new compacts in the testing by experts and a real family. It finished behind Elantra, but ahead of the Chevrolet Cruze, Kia Forte and Ford Focus -- all cars CR rates above Civic.



In a comparison of eight top-selling compacts by Motor Trend magazine in the July issue, the new Civic finished second to Elantra, but ahead of six others: Mazda3, Jetta, Focus, Cruze, Forte and Toyota Corolla.



-- Chris Woodyard and Fred Meier/Drive On



Source;

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/08/consumer-reports-blasts-honda-civic-wrong/1

Euro 2012 Honda Civic Ride and Drive

Burlapp Fine; 2012 Euro Honda Civic?

Not too sure what to think about this one, the front doesn't go with the body in my opinion....
Source;
http://www.burlappcars.com/2011/06/2012-euro-honda-civic.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

2012 Honda Civic 5-door spied testing in Europe

Two 5-door hatch prototypes spied testing in the Alps
Here are the latest spy shots of the upcoming next-generation 5-door hatch Honda Civic caught testing in the European Alps.

These two euro-spec 5-door hatch prototypes (Honda sells the Civic as a sedan or coupe in North America) are wearing some serious camouflage and doing their best to hide the design lines of this new compact competitor.

But in looking at the overall shape we can see there are a lot of changes coming and this Civic's design will be much more in line with the current 5-door hatch paradigm in Europe.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111060934026/2012-honda-civic-5-door-spied-testing-in-europe#ixzz1Omsy5E2C

Statement by Honda Canada Regarding Fuel Feed Line Leak Recall: 2012 Civic

TORONTO - Honda Canada will voluntarily recall 337 units of model-year 2012 Civic vehicles to replace the fuel feed line, which could potentially leak a small amount of fuel.

During manufacture of the fuel line assembly, an O-ring may have been displaced which could potentially lead to a fuel leak at a joint where two segments of pipe attach to each other. Only two of the affected vehicles in Canada have been sold. All remaining 335 affected vehicles will be repaired prior to sale. No injuries or fires have been reported related to this defect.

When Honda identifies concerns of this nature, nothing is more important to the company than fulfilling our obligation and responsibility to alert our customers. To this end, in addition to contacting customers by mail, in mid-April owners of these vehicles can determine if their vehicle requires repair by contacting their dealer or by calling toll free to 1-888-946-6329.

Source;
Honda Canada

Honda Kicks Off The Sounds of Civic Social Media Contest

05/16/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
To celebrate the launch of the all-new, ninth generation Civic, Honda is sponsoring a creative songwriting competition called The Sounds of Civic, encouraging Facebook fans to submit and vote for original songs inspired by the 2012 Civic. The competition is now accepting submissions until June 5. Voting then begins June 8 and will run through July 17. Information on how to submit a song and vote can be found on the Sounds of Civic tab on the Honda Civic Facebook page (www.facebook.com/hondacivic).

"We've seen a high crossover of Civic fans and music lovers. And with the launch of the 2012 Honda Civic we saw a perfect opportunity to give our amazing fans a little bit of both," said Steve Center, vice president of national marketing operations for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We know our talented fans will show off their skills and submit some great Civic-inspired tunes onto our Facebook page."

The contest has already seen a diverse group of musicians posting songs inspired by the Civic Sedan and Coupe, the sporty Civic Si and the fuel-efficient Civic Hybrid. To submit a song, contestants can enter at: http://pub.honda.com/Xqp.

The first round of voting will begin June 6. When the final votes are tallied on July 17, the top eight finalists will each receive $2,500 in music gear from Sam Ash Music Stores. The top vote getter among the finalists will be awarded a brand new 2012 Civic and have the opportunity to perform live on a 2011 Honda Civic Tour date in Los Angeles.

To kick off the contest and inspire artists, Honda reached out to several popular YouTube musicians to create their own songs about the 2012 Civic. Participating artists include Maria Zouroudis, Julia Dales, Greg Holden and Madi Diaz, as well as Los Angeles hip hop artist, Free Will. Their videos can be viewed on the Honda Civic Facebook Page and the Honda YouTube channel. Throughout the contest, fans can follow updates through the #soundsofcivic hashtag on Twitter and the Sounds of Civic tab on the Honda Civic Facebook page.

About the Honda Civic
Redesigned for the 2012 model year, the Civic lineup features six distinct models: the conventional gasoline-powered Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe, two high-performance Civic Si models, a gasoline-electric Civic Hybrid, a Civic Natural Gas and an all-new Civic HF high fuel economy model. For 2012, all existing Civic models achieve higher EPA fuel-economy ratings1 compared to the 2011 models, up by as much as 8 percent on the highway in Civic Sedans and Coupes equipped with automatic transmissions. The Civic Hybrid achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating2 of 44 mpg city, 44 mpg highway and 44 mpg city/highway combined, making it the most fuel-efficient compact sedan currently available in the U.S. Additionally, the all-new Civic HF model debuts as a value-oriented, high fuel-economy sedan with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating2 of 41 mpg, the highest highway rating for a conventional, gasoline-powered vehicle with an automatic transmission.

The Civic went on sale at Honda dealerships nationwide on April 20 with a suggested retail price2 (MSRP) starting at $15,605.

For high-resolution photos, broadcast quality video and media information of the entire 2012 Civic lineup, please visit www.hondanews.com. For information on the Sounds of Civic contest, please visit www.facebook.com/hondacivic.

Connect with Honda:Honda Media Newsroom (for journalists): www.hondanews.comHonda Civic for consumers: www.automobiles.honda.com/Civic
Honda on YouTube: www.youtube.com/honda
Honda on Flickr: www.flickr.com/hondanews
Honda on Twitter: www.twitter.com/honda
Honda on Facebook: http://facebook.com/honda
Honda Civic on Facebook: http://facebook.com/hondacivic

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-kicks-off-the-sounds-of-civic-social-media-contest

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Information Review

Hmmm.... maybe Honda's onto something here....
Honda Revs The Civic For US Natural Gas Push

by Jeff McMahon at Forbes blog

Honda’s plan to sell its Civic Natural Gas in all 50 states this fall positions the Japanese carmaker to take advantage of a market that American industry has been hesitant to enter.

But it’s a market that may blossom if Congress passes T. Boone Pickens’ Nat Gas Act.

The problem with compressed natural gas vehicles has been a lack of filling stations in the U.S. to keep them on the road. The problem with stations has been a lack of vehicles to keep them in business.

For this reason, American government and industry have settled on a strategy of converting fleets to natural gas, including public transit and government fleets, heavy-duty freight fleets that currently rely on diesel, and light-vehicle fleets like taxis that can refuel at a single location.
I

t takes a fleet to support a station, according to the Department of Energy, which offers this advice to people thinking of opening a compressed natural gas filling station:

The first task is to identify customers who will use the station. How many vehicles will use it, and what type? Are there alternative fuel fleets in the area? “In the past some people believed ‘if we build it they will come,’ but many speculative CNG stations have failed,” says Rob Adams, vice president of Marathon, which specializes in CNG station design. “If you don’t know who’s going to use the station, you shouldn’t build it.” There should be a base number of quantifiable customers, such as a local fleet of alternative fuel taxis, to get the station started, says Adams.

via Alternative Fuel News, DOE (pdf)
The U.S. approach has changed little since DOE published that best-practices brochure in 2003, even though the U.S. is much closer to tapping vast domestic sources of natural gas.

In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday, natural-gas-vehicle industry spokesman Richard Kolodziej emphasized the potential of natural gas to displace diesel fuel in heavy-duty trucking:

“While there are many options to displace gasoline in light duty vehicles, there are very few options to displace diesel,” he said. “If the role of the federal government is to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and diesel is one of the problems, natural gas has to be one of the alternatives.”

Kolodziej testified in support of House Resolution 1380 — the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions, or NAT GAS Act — which would provide tax credits for companies to buy and manufacture natural gas vehicles and build refueling stations. The bi-partisan bill, part of the Pickens Plan, has broad support, including 180 co-signers.

In testimony, Kolodziej said the bill would help convert fleets to natural gas:

The market tells us that vehicles are the highest value application of all natural-gas uses. Natural gas is the fastest growing alternative fuel globally…. Most of those are smaller sedans, but for a number of reasons, including the sheer geographic size of America, the strategy of the US NGV industry has been to focus on high fuel-use fleets: trash trucks, transit buses, short-haul 18-wheelers, school buses, urban delivery vehicles, shuttles of all kinds, and taxis.”

More stations for fleets will provide more stations for individual motorists—many stations perform double duty—and the bill should foster the market for natural gas vehicles across all sectors. There are about 112,000 NGVs on U.S. roads today compared to more than 12 million worldwide, according to NGVAmerica.org.

The Nat Gas Act will provide incentives for the production of natural gas vehicles in the U.S. Honda has been doing that since 1998, and the company believes now is the time to roll them out nationwide.

In September, a Honda executive told hybridcars.com the company planned to double sales. In April, it announced it will establish the Civic—long the only natural gas light-duty vehicle manufactured in the U.S.—as the first sold in all 50 states.

For the rest of the article;

http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/05/09/honda-revs-the-civic-for-us-natural-gas-push/

Honda to Limit Orders of Japan-Built Cars, including the Civic

Due to the Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster, shortage of new vehicles possible until end of year
BY: Kristin Craik

Honda announced today the company’s overall production volume will remain significantly reduced throughout the summer months. Although most of Honda’s vehicles are made in North America, overall production is expected to normalize sometime near the end of 2011.

This move comes as a reaction to service interruptions at Honda’s Japanese plants, which were severely affected by the Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster. This is detrimental to vehicle production because of a few critical parts supplied from Japan. Most of Honda’s Japan-based parts suppliers have resumed production and Honda is working hard with a few suppliers that are not yet back to production capacity.

Honda has a few popular car models affected by this situation. The new 2012 Honda Civic will have significantly reduced levels throughout the summer months. The fall launch of the 2012 CR-V will be delayed at least by one month. Only a limited amount of Japan-built vehicles will be available for the remainder of the year. Those models speculated to have limited availability are the Honda Fit, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Acura TSX, Acura TSX Wagon, and the Acura TSX RL.

Additionally, due to a shortage in supply of Japan-sourced paint pigment, certain colors of vehicles will also be in short supply.

Source;
http://www.businessreviewcanada.ca/sectors/automotive/honda-limit-orders-japan-built-cars-including-civic

Honda stays ahead of compact pack with 2012 Civic

Detroit, heed this warning.

Do not underestimate the 2012 Honda Civic.

It was the single most important vehicle shown at the New York International Auto Show this week.

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and 2012 Ford Focus are spectacular compact cars partly because Chevy and Ford engineers benchmarked the Civic. For a decade, the Civic has been the best compact car around, and while others have gained ground, this Honda remains near the head of the class.

It is a nameplate that has been around a lot longer than any American compact car, and don't let anyone fool you: Honda Motor Co. has a lot riding on this little car.

Honda has not raised any eyebrows with many of its recently launched vehicles. The new Accord is dull. The Crosstour is confusing, and the current face of Honda's luxury brand Acura continues to bring the brand ridicule. If Honda had messed up the Civic, it would be time to get out a fork and turn the brand over.

But there was no mistake made with this new vehicle.

Now, as the new Civic arrives, it faces a much tougher climate. The Cruze, the Focus and the Hyundai Elantra have garnered well-earned praise from consumers and the automotive press, including myself.

Although the Civic is no longer alone, underestimating it would be a serious mistake.

Here's why:
Variety: The 2012 Civic offers almost every model variation. There are sedans, coupes, gas-electric hybrids (with lithium-ion batteries), a compressed natural gas model and even a performance Si model. New to this lineup is the Civic HF, which focuses on higher gas mileage.

This follows on the heels of other carmakers such as Chevrolet, Ford and Hyundai, which offer similarly branded vehicles. No other compact, however, comes in as many different variations as the Civic (the only model missing is a hatchback, which is a mistake).

Pricing: With so many different models, the Civic offers a price for just about anyone:
Civic DX sedan (5-speed manual): $15,805
Civic LX coupe (5-speed manual): $17,655
Civic LX sedan (5-speed auto): $18,655
Civic EX sedan with navigation (5-speed auto): $22,005
Civic Si coupe (6-speed manual): $22,205
Civic Si sedan (6-speed manual): $22,405
Civic Hybrid: $24,050
Civic natural gas: Price not released

All of this pricing is on par with much of the competition, which means Honda is certainly in the hunt for compact consumers.

Performance: While I have not driven the new Civic, I expect it to provide performance on par with all of the serious competition. The previous-generation Civic has a quiet, well-tuned ride, with enough power to speed along the highway and enough handling chops to zip through city traffic. This model introduces a new electric power-assist steering system (EPAS), the next-generation vehicle-stability control, improved aerodynamics and a stiffer body for improved handling. Tuning on the steering will be important as EPAS can sometimes create a numb feeling that leaves a driver disconnected from the road.

Additionally, the performance-oriented Si model features a new 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that generates 201 horsepower. It's only four more ponies than the 2-liter engine, but tuners around the world can rejoice that their beloved Si now has peak horsepower over 200. (The Si also features a lower height, a limited-slip front, and 17-inch aluminum wheels that all could add to the driving experience.)

It's Honda's 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that will do most of the heavy-duty work for the brand, and even this engine has undergone a number of improvements to make it more efficient.
It produces 140 horsepower and provides gas mileage from 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway for a DX sedan with a five-speed manual transmission to 41 mpg on the highway for the HF model.

One disappointment with the new Civic comes with the lack of a six-speed automatic transmission, though Honda says this five-speed is more refined and updated. Nearly every competitor has one now, as six-speeds have become the industry norm. It will be interesting to see whether that missing gear hinders its performance in any way.

Exterior styling: While many new compact cars offer extravagant styling, the new Civic does not look dramatically different than the previous generation. But don't mistake this car as simply a refreshed vehicle; it has been redesigned throughout. At first glance, there doesn't seem as dramatic a difference between generations.

Many of the exterior changes were devised to improve the Civic's aerodynamics. They include new mirrors, wipers pushed below the hood line and other changes you can't see at first glance, such as underbody aero panels.

This seems to be a closely followed plan by Honda, which only dramatically changes the Civic's styling every other generation. How much that will affect the Civic will be told over the next year.

Honda's conservative approach to styling follows the lines of the Cruze, whereas the Elantra and Focus are more dynamic.

The winner here is the consumer, who now has a clear choice between dramatic good compacts and more familiar small cars.

Interior styling: The Civic evolves its interior design from the previous generation, with a new two-tiered instrument panel and entertainment system, known as i-MID. Honda has nailed one of the most important parts of any new system by giving it a nonsensical name that starts with a standalone lowercase vowel — i or e — and a full-color screen to display all of the information.

More importantly, the Civic adds more volume inside, increased by 3.7 cubic feet. The previous-generation Civic was comfortable; this one should be even a little more so.

Civic's biggest selling point still reliability

So from the sounds of it, the new Civic is improved inside and out. Whether that adds up to this vehicle becoming the next benchmark will be decided by consumers.

The compact car segment has drastically changed the past 12 months, and everyone wants an edge over everyone else. The real edge for the Civic coming out of the gate is that it's a Honda, which to many consumers means it's as reliable as a late spring in Michigan.

That wasn't always the case for the Civic. Thirty-nine years ago, when the little Civic arrived, Honda had to issue a recall because rusting was so bad the cars were considered unsafe in accidents. Now, Civics are among the safest choices of any car picked.

The competition certainly has gotten stiffer, but to sneer at this Civic too early would be a serious miscalculation. No one should do that.

Source;
http://detnews.com/article/20110423/OPINION03/104230361/Honda-stays-ahead-of-compact-pack-with-2012-Civic#ixzz1KpJ7Sjxy

2012 Honda Civic Review: 2012 Honda Civic: Put to the test

April 27, 2011
By Denis Duquet

The Honda Civic has been the best-selling car in Canada for 13 years running, which is – you have to admit – no small feat in a very competitive environment. Needless to say, the task of updating this model wasn’t easy. When a car is as universally acclaimed as the Civic, the margin for error is relatively low. If you change the car too drastically, you’re going to disappoint a lot of people. Then again, if you don’t change it enough, the car will end up looking the same.

Honda unveiled new generation Civic concept cars at the Detroit Auto Show in January and the reactions were decidedly mixed. The main criticism was that its shape hadn’t changed enough, though this was influenced by the fact that this car was supposed to be introduced months earlier. The delay created an expectation that more significant changes had been made. Alas, this was not the case, and the production models unveiled last week are almost identical to the concept vehicles.

Actually, the approach is hard to criticize in a way. Indeed, a little like at Porsche, Honda chose to make a succession of refinements, improvements and technical revisions to already impressive performance and reliability features. And the same goes for the body, which is a very mild evolution of the 2011 version.

Designed by engineers
When Honda Canada introduced its new Civic, five engineers (none of whom had a hand in designing the car) were invited from Japan. Maybe my conclusions are way off, but I got the impression that the engineers were the ones who took the lead on the whole shebang. All the stylists had to do was follow their instructions, which undoubtedly explains why the front end of the sedan and the coupe are almost unchanged. However, you have to admit that the car was elegant to begin with. In fact, the main changes were made to the tail end, while the lights are completely new, helping you identify the new generation. But for many, this just isn’t enough...

The engineers dedicated a great deal of time to improving the car’s drag coefficient. This meant tilting the windshield significantly toward the back. Its aerodynamics are excellent, but since the base of the windshield is a lot lower than the edge of the hood, there’s at least 5 cm where leaves, debris, snow and ice will undoubtedly collect. Let’s hope that the front windshield wipers motors are robust. A minor detail, you say? Well, this car seems to lose points in the details. This junction between the hood and the windshield is a compromise that suggests they were trying to avoid a complete makeover of the entire front end. At least, that’s how I see it.

The sharp incline of the windshield does wonders for the Civic’s best-in-category drag coefficient, but because it’s so sharply angled, the front seats had to be pushed back so that no one would bump their head on the windshield. The result is a very deep dashboard. That in itself isn’t a flaw, since several other interesting cars are set up like this, but the fact that this dashboard is made of hard plastic with an unimpressive texture is less forgivable. On the other hand, the ergonomics are good, the optional navigation system display screen is excellent and the layout of the controls is simple and efficient. The driving position is also good.

The two-level dashboard offered on the previous generation has been revised. Wanting to offer more information, they decided to widen the upper section. It’s not very elegant, but thanks to a command button on the steering wheel, you can access a multitude of information. Up to this point, it’s practically fantastic. However, I don’t know if it was my driving position, my view or something else, but when I was driving in the middle of the day with the sun at its brightest, it was very difficult for me to see the indicator dials, odometer and other small information screens.

Good news, it’s now roomier, thanks mainly to the 75-mm increase in the vehicle’s width. In back, the occupants benefit from 40 mm more legroom, which is quite impressive considering that the wheelbase is 30 mm shorter while the overall length remains identical.

Improved mechanics
While the shape and the interior presentation leave us wanting, I must mention that the car’s mechanical components have been refined or even greatly improved, especially when it comes to safety and fuel consumption. The base version of this ninth generation Civic is powered by the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. But a bunch of internal improvements help reduce fuel consumption by 12%. That’s noteworthy now that gas prices are on the rise. The engineers managed to reduce fuel consumption with the help of things like reduced-friction brakes, low-resistance tires and a lower-than-average drag coefficient for the category. A six-speed automatic transmission would have produced better results, but it still has a five-speed instead.

The Civic Hybrid is back, and its all-wheel drive has been updated and improved. For starters, it calls on lithium-ion batteries for more power and to reduce the vehicle’s weight. The electric motor’s power has been increased from 15 to 20 kW. What’s more, the CVT has been refined, as have the climate control system and the energy regeneration brakes, which allow Honda to promise fuel economy of 4.4 L/100 km in town and 4.2 L on the highway. However, Honda’s engineers remain faithful to the IMA system that consists of a small electric motor installed between the transmission and the combustion engine. Although this technology is a little less cutting-edge, its average fuel consumption is still impressive. But you’ll have to drive in fuel saving mode to derive its benefits.

On a sportier note, the sedan and the Si coupe are now powered by a 2.4-litre engine that produces 201 horses, four more than the previous version. The six-speed manual is the only transmission available. This model also features two other exclusives: front and rear deflectors and very nice alloy rims.

Still a good car
Despite the fact that some people are disappointed with how few changes were made to its appearance and by the decision to skimp on some of the materials in the passenger compartment, this car remains one of the most interesting to drive. Indeed, during the new Civic presentation, I had the chance to drive all of the models available. And while none of the test drives were exhaustive, at least I was able to take each of the configurations for a short spin. Overall, besides the underwhelming dashboard and the difficulty seeing some of the dials, it remains a good tourer and that can squeeze into traffic easily. On the highway, it has all the same qualities and all the same limitations as before. The engine is responsive and the handling is good, but the soundproofing leaves something to be desired. Note that the new steering wheel is elegant and the information management buttons are within reach and user-friendly.

As though it were asking buyers to forgive the Civic for its lack of dazzling changes, Honda cooked up a very competitive price range. Regardless of the model you choose, 2012 Civic buyers benefit from generous equipment and downward-adjusted pricing. According to Honda, discounts will range from $2,600 to $3,950, depending on the model. You have to admit that this will persuade many people to overlook certain shortcomings. Money talks, and Honda is making sure that buyers will listen. Sure, maybe the company cut costs awkwardly in some areas and the shape could have been refreshed a little more, but this car’s intrinsic value – its refined mechanics and pleasant ride – has been preserved.

Source;
http://www.carguideweb.com/articles/11193/

Autos.net: A Close Look at the 2012 Honda Civic

Here's a really comprehensive article on the 2012 Civic by Paul Williams out of Autos.ca (the new version of Canadian Driver)....
The next generation 2012 Honda Civic is finally here, and those who don’t like change will be very happy indeed. Not that there isn’t anything new about the new Civics, but from a visual standpoint, consumers will be hard-pressed to tell the outgoing 2011 model from the incoming 2012.

The big news about the 2012 Civic is not so much about appearance; it’s more about the pricing, which has dropped substantially. A base Civic DX can now be bought for $14,990, which is $2,000 lower than the price one-year ago.

Granted, not many sedan-only DX models will be ordered (likely because they’re not available with an automatic transmission), but the popular LX and EX models are also boasting smaller MSRPs, a trend among all manufacturers now that the Korean makers Hyundai and Kia have entered the market with bright new products at bargain-basement prices. As well, there are impressive new compact cars from Ford (Focus), Chevrolet (Cruze) and Volkswagen (Jetta) with which to compete.

But the Civic has been and continues to be Canada’s top-selling car, so the company’s response to the new competition is likely a wise one: don’t mess with success, but make the Civic more affordable.

All the Civic models have been re-priced — Sedan, Coupe, Si and Hybrid — with the LX Sedan starting at $17,490 (down $2,090), the EX starting at $19,490 (down $2,290), the top-line EX-L entering at $24,390 (down $490), the LX Coupe starting at $17,990 (down $2,090) and the sporty Si a more Gen-Y-friendly $25,990 (Coupe and Sedan). Hybrid pricing has not yet been announced.

Although the new Civics look much the same as the generation that debuted in 2006, there are subtle exterior and interior changes and, depending on the model, more significant changes under the skin.For the Sedans and Coupes, the rear of the car is obviously different, with a smoother look and revised lights, while the front also receives new lights and bumper treatment.
Honda says 90 per cent of the sheetmetal is replaced and that all Civics are more aerodynamic.

The A-pillars are 12 per cent thinner, and an extra window has been inserted at its base to improve outward visibility. From the driver’s seat, that’s very noticeable and appreciated.

Interior space in the Sedan is increased by 105 litres, with more front shoulder room and additional front and rear hip room, although exterior dimensions remain unchanged from the previous model. Trunk space is also up 4.2 per cent to 352 litres. Civic Coupe owners will enjoy 30 mm more front shoulder room.

The drivetrain is mechanically the same: a 1.8-litre four-cylinder single-overhead camshaft engine making 140-horsepower, and five-speed manual or five-speed automatic — but the engine has been refined to produce a significant 12 per cent improvement in fuel economy. City/highway fuel consumption drops to 7.2/5.0 L/100 km for a combined rating of 6.2 L/100 km when equipped with the automatic transmission. Additionally, all models feature new “motion-adaptive” electric power steering technology and next-generation vehicle stability assist.

The interior also looks very much like the outgoing models, although the front seats have been redesigned to provide more support and the steering wheel is smaller. Bluetooth is standard on all models except the DX.

The distinctive bi-level instrument panel featuring a digital speedometer and gauge array carries over, and a new 12.5-cm i-MID colour display allows the driver to rotate through audio, trip and vehicle information screens. An Econ-mode is standard on all models (except the Si) to maximize fuel economy, but your particular driving style will determine by how much.

The Civic Si (still available in Sedan and Coupe versions) features a new 2.4-litre dual-overhead camshaft powerplant that makes 201 hp (up by four-hp) at 7,000 rpm (down by 800 rpm) through the short-throw six-speed manual transmission and limited slip differential. The engine’s 178 pound-feet of torque represents a 22 per cent improvement, and is available at 4,400 rpm, which is 1,700 rpm lower than the previous model. The Civic Si is very much a performance-oriented car, with more robust acceleration off the line and a slick-shifting gearbox in the Honda performance tradition. Fuel consumption is rated at 10.0/6.2 L/100 km, city/highway.

The Civic Hybrid also features a new engine (now 1.5L), a more powerful motor, and perhaps most significantly, a new battery — now Lithium-Ion rather than the Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery pack used since 2003. The new battery is lighter, more compact and more energy dense than the battery it replaces, enabling the Civic Hybrid to operate in full Electric Vehicle (EV) mode for 73 seconds at full load. Fuel consumption is rated at 4.4/4.2 L/100 km, city/highway, for a combined rating of 4.3 L/100 km.

Unfortunately, the Civic Hybrid’s battery is still located behind the rear seat, preventing the seat from folding or the fitment of a pass-through for long objects like skis or hockey sticks. Unlike the non-hybrid Civics, the drive mode defaults to “Econ,” although the driver can select a more responsive mode at the press of a button.

On the road, the Civic EX-L Sedan and LX Coupe are smooth and quiet, and also familiar if you’ve driven the previous-generation car. Unlike some competitors, interior panels (dash, centre console, doors) are hard plastic, which looks like a cost-cutting measure and may be prone to marking more easily than a soft-touch product. In the new Hyundai Elantra, for instance, it’s all soft-touch.

The bi-level digital instrument panel is an intelligent design; the speedometer and secondary gauges easy to read and positioned almost like a Head-Up Display. But the large, analogue-style tachometer seems like a waste of space in this digital environment, especially in a car with automatic transmission.

The instrument panel is highlighted by red, blue and green illumination that changes depending on engine load. You can use these subtle colour changes to modulate your driving style and reduce fuel consumption. Every little bit helps, right?

The overall impression behind the wheel is of driving a modern, bright and spacious car, despite its compact, although by no means diminutive, exterior dimensions.

Driving the Si is a decidedly sportier experience compared with the standard Sedan and Coupe; everything is more responsive, more immediate, more engaging. The steering and braking is sharper, suspension is firmer, power from the engine is right there, and the exhaust note under acceleration will be music to the ears of enthusiast drivers, especially as the engine shifts from low to high-rpm camshaft profiles (which also lights a red indicator on the dash). The Si looks good, but may benefit from larger wheels (17-inch are standard), or by lowering the suspension to fill in the wheel wells a little more.

The Hybrid’s improved IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system seems to operate more smoothly in the 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, especially under braking. This car is only available with the CVT automatic transmission, and benefits from standard automatic climate control and standard navigation system with satellite radio. Other than its 15-inch alloy wheels, trunk lip spoiler and LED brake lights, there’s very little difference, both inside and out, between the Civic Hybrid and gasoline-powered Civics. The key difference, of course, is the hybrid drive-train, which in our brief test drive provided a genuine 25 per cent improvement in fuel economy compared with the non-hybrid Civics.

The ninth-generation 2012 Honda Civic model line-up is not a radical redesign, but more an evolution from the previous generation. This is to be expected. Having sold 1.6 million Civics in Canada since the model’s introduction here in 1973, Honda has the basic recipe well in hand, and expects the 2012 Civic to retain its current owners, and with its more competitive pricing, attract new buyers to the “Honda Nation.”

Honda Civics are built in Alliston, Ontario (except for Hybrid models) and the new cars will see their official launch at New York Auto Show. Sales will begin in late April, 2011.

Verdict: More of the same from Honda, but when it comes to the Civic, “the same” represents a very high standard. Although billed as “Civic: The Next Generation,” I would like to have seen Honda boldly go a little further when it comes to interior execution and exterior design.

Source;
http://www.autos.ca/first-drives/first-drive-2012-honda-civic

Why Do Subcompacts and Compacts Get Such Similar Mileage?

No longer is 40 mpg only the province of the hybrid.

With four new members from the New York International Auto Show — the Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Mazda3 — the crop of 40-plus mpg, non-hybrid gasoline cars available will creep into the double digits by the end of the year. You don’t necessarily have to downsize to get the best mileage: The 2012 Ford Focus SFE will be rated 28/40 mpg city/highway, while the pint-sized Ford Fiesta SFE gets 29/40 mpg. The entry-level Accent gets 30/40 mpg; the Elantra, its larger sibling, is rated 29/40 mpg. The stick-shift Chevy Cruze Eco gets 28/42 mpg, and GM expects the forthcoming Sonic to secure a 40 mpg highway rating.

In most cases, the compact cars are significantly larger, heavier and more powerful than their subcompact siblings. Why then is their gas mileage so similar? At the auto show, I posed the question to automakers and analysts. The simple answer: aerodynamics.

“Keep in mind that technology will help both [highway and city mileage], but not at the same rates,” said Mike O’Brien, Hyundai’s vice president of product planning. “The city number is going to be the bigger difference when you go a class up in car size.”

Conversely, the fight for better highway mileage goes against what O’Brien calls “road load,” a combination of the vehicle’s frontal size, tire friction and drag.

In some cases, it’s actually harder to eke out better highway mileage in a subcompact car, said IHS Global Insight analyst Aaron Bragman.

“When you have a B-segment [subcompact] car, it’s very hard to make it aerodynamic, given how short it is and how many of them end abruptly,” Bragman said.

That’s not to say carmakers aren’t trying. Cars like the Accent and Fiesta use technologies commonly reserved for luxury models — a direct-injection engine in the Accent’s case and a dual-clutch six-speed automatic in the Fiesta’s.

At Ford’s auto-show stand, marketing manager Robert Parker noted the incremental nature of this technology.

“Our engineers like to say fuel economy is about hundreds of little things,” Parker said. “All of those hundreds of little things add up to a tenth [of a mpg] here and a tenth there.”

Put another way, major increases in mileage — 30-mpg pickup trucks or 50-mpg commuter cars — will take more than slipstream aerodynamics or six-speed automatics.

“A lot of these countermeasures are low-hanging fruit,” Bragman said. “Long-term, you’re looking at a different powertrain, a different type of propulsion method, to get to the next level of fuel economy.”

The real question isn’t technology, Hyundai’s O’Brien said. “There’s always more technology,” he said. The real question is who will pay for it.

“You can have the cleanest car in the world, but unless someone buys it, you can’t be clean,” he said. “It’s really a tipping-point discussion.”

Source;
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2011/04/why-do-subcompacts-and-compacts-get-such-similar-mileage.html

2012 Honda Civic NY Auto Show

Kelly Blue Book 2012 Honda Civic preview