Honda Civic (seventh generation)
Encyclopedia
The seventh generation of the Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...

 was released in September 2000 as 2001 model. Compared to its predecessor, it retained similar exterior dimensions, but increased significantly in interior space thus bumping up Civic to a compact car
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...

 size segment. There was a flat rear floor, giving better comfort to the rear seat passengers. This generation abandoned the front double wishbone suspension
Double wishbone suspension
In automobiles, a double wishbone suspension is an independent suspension design using two wishbone-shaped arms to locate the wheel. Each wishbone or arm has two mounting points to the chassis and one joint at the knuckle. The shock absorber and coil spring mount to the wishbones to control...

, which had been used in the fourth to sixth generations, replacing it with MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...

.

A 115 hp engine powered all Civics (except EX and Si), up 9 hp from the previous model. Power in the EX remained at 127 hp, and all non-Si engines were stroked to 1.7 liters.

In 2003, the Civic was given new tail lights which created a circle when illuminated. For 2004, the Civic was given a facelifted front end with new headlights, bumper, and grille; it also received side skirts. In 2005 the U.S Honda introduced the Special Edition. It was available in LX or EX Special Edition.

The hybrid version
Honda Civic Hybrid
The Civic hybrid, based on the seventh generation Civic, was first introduced to the Japanese market in December 2001. Honda claimed it was the most fuel efficient 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle in the world at the time. It was introduced to the U.S. in spring 2002 as a 2003 model...

 arrived at North America in spring 2002. It used both a small 1.3 L
Litér
- External links :*...

 I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 main gasoline engine
Four-stroke cycle
A four-stroke engine, also known as four-cycle, is an internal combustion engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes—intake, compression, power, and exhaust—during two separate revolutions of the engine's crankshaft, and one single thermodynamic cycle.There are two...

 and auxiliary electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...

s, producing a combined 93 hp. The electric motors are powered by a battery array which is charged by regenerative braking during deceleration, thus reducing exhaust emissions and extending fuel mileage to 46 mpg city / 51 mpg highway with the 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...

 according to EPA fuel mileage estimates.
The new Civic Si, a Sport Hatchback model with futuristic styling, was unveiled in August 2005 for the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

an market only. This model featured from launch a 1.4 L I-DSI and a 1.8 L i-VTEC rated at 83 PS (81 hp/61 kW) and 140 PS (138 hp/103 kW) respectively, with 177 and 207 km/h (110 and 129 mph) top speeds and 14.2 and 13.6 s 0-100 km/h sprint. The Sport Hatchback is also available with a 2.2 L I-CTDI diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

 from the Accord
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world....

, Edix/FR-V
Honda FR-V
The Honda FR-V is a six-seater compact MPV introduced by Honda in 2004 and marketed until 2009. Alongside the Fiat Multipla, it is currently one of only two compact minivans with a 3+3 seating configuration available on the European market.-Engines:The FR-V is available with three petrol and one...

 and CR-V, rated at 140 PS (138 hp/103 kW) and is capable of 205 km/h (127 mph) and accelerating from 0-60 mph in 8.4 seconds.

Trim levels

Coupe: Trims available in the coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...

 body style were the VP, DX (up to 2003), EX, HX, LX (EM2), LX Special Edition or EX Special Edition, and Si.

Hatchback: The Si (EP3), which is badged as the SiR in Canada. Unlike other generations of the Civic Si, this Si was not produced in Canada or the United States, and it does not share a body style or interior with the USDM Civic (offered only in sedan and coupé forms) sold there. Instead, the 2002-05 Civic Si is manufactured in Swindon, England, and exported to Canada and the United States. The Si is the only trim available for the hatchback style in Canada and the United States.

Sedan: Trims available in the sedan body style were the DX, EX, GX, LX, LX Special Edition, EX Special Edition, Hybrid (ES1/2, EN2, ES1, respectively), and Si. EX trim includes sunroof. The LX or EX Special Edition includes 6 disc changer and rear spoiler ABS
Anti-lock braking system
An anti-lock braking system is a safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to continue interacting tractively with the road surface as directed by driver steering inputs while braking, preventing the wheels from locking up and therefore avoiding skidding.An ABS generally offers...

, larger 15-inch wheels and a more powerful engine (see below) and also as always the EX Special Edition adds a sunroof and rear single cup holder. The Hybrid is the only trim available for the sedan style in Europe.

Different models were available for the Canadian market:

Up until 2003 there were DX and LX models for both sedan and coupe, with the coupe additionally having the Si trim.

In 2002, Honda Canada, in recognition of the one millionth sale of the Civic in Canada, introduced a limited edition version of the Civic called the Civic Coupe Si Veloz ('Veloz' meaning 'swift' in Spanish). The Veloz edition adds a front, rear, and side skirts, rear spoiler, carbon fiber trim pieces, chrome exhaust finisher, custom Veloz embroidered floor mats and Veloz badges.

In 2003, 30th Anniversary Edition was added to all models, as well as a Sport model for sedans.

In 2004, the DX model was replaced by a Special Edition (SE) model and the previous Sport model was replaced by a LX-g trim. Also, the Si trim was added for the sedan, giving it an engine used by the Si coupe, new wheels, new seats and interior carbon fiber trim pieces.

Engines

Most DX and LX models had the D17A1. The HX had the D17A6 and the EX had the D17A2. The Si(EP3) had the K20A3. The JDM 5-door hatchback (EU) had the D15B. The GX runs on CNG
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...

.
The Philippine and Middle East version of the 7th generation Honda Civic used the 3-stage VTEC mechanism for their VTi/VTi-S/RS Civics, equipped with a D16W9 rated with 130 hp.
So, Japan RS model is D17A. Factbook.
In Europe the Civic was sold also with a common-rail diesel engine produced by Isuzu Motors Polska. This engine is a 1.7L 4EE2 Circle L with 100 hp.

U.S. sales

In 2004, Honda Civic was the seventh best selling vehicle overall and third best selling passenger car in the U.S.

Award and recognition

  • 2001 recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy: the natural gas powered Civic GX tied for the top spot with Honda's hybrid vehicle Insight
    Honda Insight
    The Honda Insight is a hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by Honda and the first production vehicle to feature Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. The first-generation Insight was produced from 1999 to 2006 as a three-door hatchback...

    ; the Civic HX took the best vehicle in class award
  • 2002 recognized by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy amongst the top ten Greenest Vehicles: the natural gas powered Civic GX tied for the second best score with an electric vehicle; the Civic HX coupe took the fourth place and the rest Civic models took the seventh place

2010 recall

On August 9, 2010, Honda recalled approximately 117,000 Civic of 2003 model year sold in the U.S. and Canada regarding possible problem with the ignition interlock system due to damage or worn during use, allowing the ignition key to be removed when the auto transmission of the car is not shifted to 'Park' position.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK