An Evolution of the 8th Gen Civic

The new 2012 Honda Civic is finally here and is positioned to follow closely in the footsteps of the previous 8th generation Civic. However, the new 9th generation Honda Civic does bring with it some significant changes. As expected, this new Civic will feature a wide array of engine choices and is designed to even better meet the diverse needs of compact-vehicle buyers. The entire redesigned 9th generation Civic is also across the board more fuel efficient than the last. Plus, a new trim level will be introduced - the all-new Civic HF, which will get more than 40 MPG on the highway.

The big news is that the Civic Si will be getting the Honda K24 engine, similar to the one found in the 4 cylinder Acura TSX. The engine will provide a huge increase in torque over the 8th generation Civic Si, and better fuel economy as well (about 31 MPG on the highway). Although the motor will only output about 200 horsepower, which may disappoint some buyers, the 22% increase in torque combined with the lightweight chassis should make for a very fun car to drive. In any case, it should be fairly easy to increase the horsepower of the larger K24 motor without too much effort. We expected forced induction products to be especially popular on this new K24 Civic Si motor.

The 2012 Civic Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine, is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 MPG, an improvement of 4 MPG compared to the current Civic Hybrid. Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models will be equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency and Honda ECO Assist technology, an innovation that can enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback to promote more efficient individual driving styles. In addition to the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models, the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe and Civic GX Natural Gas models are also estimated to achieve improved fuel economy compared to the current models. The Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe achieve an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 MPG on the highway, an improvement of 3 MPG when compared to the current model. They will use a variation of the same R18 motor found in the 8th generation Civic.

"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts - fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the 9th generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

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