Honda Civic (ninth generation)
Encyclopedia
The ninth generation Honda Civic was launched in the North American market in April 2011.
The Civic was originally planned to become bigger, but after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global credit crisis in 2008, Honda wanted to make the car smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient, while increasing space inside.
On December 13 2010, Honda unveiled a sketch of the new ninth-generation Civic which was described as "energetic, sleek and aerodynamic." Both coupe and sedan concepts for the North American market were shown on January 10, 2011 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show
. The production version of the ninth-generation Civic based on the revealed concepts will go on sale in spring 2011.
Gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variants will be offered. The gasoline-engined lineup includes a sedan and coupe. Both of them will be also offered in Si performance versions.
The new model is believed to be slightly smaller and lighter than the outgoing models.
Honda's Eco Assist technology will be added to most models, and will become the first gasoline-only powered Honda to employ such technology in North America. It is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda's hybrid vehicles in Japan.
The entire lineup of the ninth generation of Honda Civic is more fuel efficient. It is reported that two versions of the Civic are expected to attain mileage of 41 miles per US gallon or above in U.S. government testing.
A HF model, the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup, will get 41 miles per US gallon under highway test cycle, compares with 36 miles per US gallon for previous generation, increasing the combined fuel economy rating to 33 miles per US gallon.
The Civic hybrid, with a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a lithium-ion battery, is rated at 44 miles per US gallon in combined city and highway EPA test cycle, an improvement of 3 miles per US gallon over the previous generation hybrid.
Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models have improved aerodynamics and Honda ECO Assist technology.
Other gasoline-only powered Civic sedans and coupes are expected to get 39 miles per US gallon in highway tests, an improvement of 3 miles per US gallon over previous generation while 28 miles per US gallon is expected for city driving. The Civic GX natural gas model will have a 7% improvement in fuel economy. The above models are also equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.
The Civic Si sedan and coupe models have a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter inline-four engine with 200 hp (149 kW) and 170 lb-ft (230 N·m) of torque, as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission
. The Civic Si is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 miles per US gallon, an increase of 2 miles per US gallon.
article: "2012 Honda Civic LX: Scores too low for Consumer Reports to recommend":
As Honda's Research and Development Centre at Tochigi, Japan was damaged in the March 2011 earthquake, designers of the European Civic were transferred to the Swindon plant in the U.K., where all European Civic hatchbacks are built, to ensure the development is not delayed. The European Civic Hybrid will be available as hatchback instead of sedan, to match the availability of its regular model in Europe.
North American market
In May 2010, the ninth-generation Civic was said to be delayed into 2011, because of changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations.The Civic was originally planned to become bigger, but after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global credit crisis in 2008, Honda wanted to make the car smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient, while increasing space inside.
On December 13 2010, Honda unveiled a sketch of the new ninth-generation Civic which was described as "energetic, sleek and aerodynamic." Both coupe and sedan concepts for the North American market were shown on January 10, 2011 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan at Cobo Center, usually in January. It is among the largest auto shows in North America.-History:...
. The production version of the ninth-generation Civic based on the revealed concepts will go on sale in spring 2011.
Gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variants will be offered. The gasoline-engined lineup includes a sedan and coupe. Both of them will be also offered in Si performance versions.
The new model is believed to be slightly smaller and lighter than the outgoing models.
Honda's Eco Assist technology will be added to most models, and will become the first gasoline-only powered Honda to employ such technology in North America. It is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda's hybrid vehicles in Japan.
The entire lineup of the ninth generation of Honda Civic is more fuel efficient. It is reported that two versions of the Civic are expected to attain mileage of 41 miles per US gallon or above in U.S. government testing.
A HF model, the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup, will get 41 miles per US gallon under highway test cycle, compares with 36 miles per US gallon for previous generation, increasing the combined fuel economy rating to 33 miles per US gallon.
The Civic hybrid, with a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and a lithium-ion battery, is rated at 44 miles per US gallon in combined city and highway EPA test cycle, an improvement of 3 miles per US gallon over the previous generation hybrid.
Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models have improved aerodynamics and Honda ECO Assist technology.
Other gasoline-only powered Civic sedans and coupes are expected to get 39 miles per US gallon in highway tests, an improvement of 3 miles per US gallon over previous generation while 28 miles per US gallon is expected for city driving. The Civic GX natural gas model will have a 7% improvement in fuel economy. The above models are also equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.
The Civic Si sedan and coupe models have a larger, more powerful 2.4-liter inline-four engine with 200 hp (149 kW) and 170 lb-ft (230 N·m) of torque, as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. The Civic Si is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 miles per US gallon, an increase of 2 miles per US gallon.
Reception
Many critics considered the ninth generation to be inferior to its predecessor. According to the Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports
Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union since 1936. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
article: "2012 Honda Civic LX: Scores too low for Consumer Reports to recommend":
Stopping distances are long. The steering is lightly weighted and comes up short on feedback. Body lean appears early in the corners. The ride is marred by frequent short pitches. And road noise still remains an annoying companion.
Not all of the news is bad. Fuel economy is very impressive, despite the Civic’s seemingly low-tech powertrain. There’s decent rear seat room, too.
But that’s just not enough.
European market
The Civic for European market is reported to unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. It is expected to go on sale in the UK from about January 2012 and a newly designed small diesel engine will be added. In July 2010, Honda CEO Ito announced a new smaller diesel engine will be introduced in Europe in 2012.As Honda's Research and Development Centre at Tochigi, Japan was damaged in the March 2011 earthquake, designers of the European Civic were transferred to the Swindon plant in the U.K., where all European Civic hatchbacks are built, to ensure the development is not delayed. The European Civic Hybrid will be available as hatchback instead of sedan, to match the availability of its regular model in Europe.