Radical chic for new Civic

It’s a radical make-over for another Paris debutante. The name remains the same, but as far as the new Civic is concerned that’s just about the only link with previous generations of Honda’s most successful car ever in Europe.

While retaining the same width as before, the new Civic - with a fresh new look - is slightly shorter and significantly taller than its predecessor. Yet despite the reduction in overall length, there is substantially more usable room in the cabin, reflecting the fact that Honda designed the Civic ‘from the inside-out’.

Available initially in five-door format for the January market, design highlights include: a short nose body, flat floor and walk-through interior, a fascia mounted gearshift for ease of operation and improved cabin access, and new 1.4 SOHC and 1.6 SOHC VTEC-II engines. Two-door and three door models follow in late spring when Honda Universal Ireland will be able to tell us more about the four-door saloon.

Front and rear suspensions are all-new, and deliver enhanced ride quality and sportier handling. Toe control link MacPherson struts have been selected for the front suspension, while at the rear a new reactive link double wishbone set-up provides rear wheel toe-in under braking for greater stability. Ride comfort has been improved by reducing the spring rates of the front and rear compliance bushings, while overall suspension rigidity is increased for better control and stability.

Exact trim and specification details and prices for the Irish market are expected in November. However, in the Civic’s drive upmarket, standard equipment for S grade models will most likely include: electric power steering (EPS), driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags, ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist, ISOFIX child seat system, manual air conditioning, rolling code immobiliser, deadlocks and keyless entry, remote fuel filler release, 60:40 split folding rear seat, electric front windows and electrically operated and heated door mirrors.

For the first time in a production car, Honda has adopted a fascia-mounted gear lever in the Civic 5-door. It will also feature in the 3-door. The position of the gear lever has been carefully considered to ensure it feels perfectly natural in everyday driving. The lever’s proximity to the steering wheel makes gear shifting more convenient and safe but does not detract from the change having a sporty feel. In addition, its position frees up floor space, which together with the flat floor means the Civic offers front-to-rear and left-to-right ‘walk-through’ access.

One of the most tangible indications of the new Civic’s enhanced quality is the extremely close tolerances accomplished with the body panels, which greatly improves fit and finish appearance. Achieved in large part through new and advanced manufacturing techniques, the tighter tolerances have resulted in most gaps being halved, and in some cases reduced almost to zero.

Refinement mirrors build quality and NVH characteristics have been targeted in all areas - engine noise under acceleration, for example, is reduced by 3 dB(A). The Civic benefits from a raft of sound-deadening measures including sophisticated engine mountings, high body rigidity, rubber mat insulators and urethane foam.

Two new, highly efficient 16-valve four-cylinder engines provide power. Some 10% lighter than their predecessors, both have been engineered for greater torque and therefore improved driving flexibility. The SOHC units are also more refined, more economical and are cleaner than previously.

The smaller, 1.4 litre engine produces the same 90 PS (66 kW) as the outgoing unit, but this power is delivered at a lower 5,800 rpm. More importantly, torque is boosted from 126 Nm at 4,600 rpm to 130 Nm at 4,300 rpm.

Maximum torque from the 110 PS (81 kW) 1.6 litre VTEC II engine is equally impressive. Now 152 Nm at 4,300rpm, it is a significant improvement on the 143 Nm developed at 4,800 rpm of the 1.6 litre unit in the previous Civic 5-door.

Aided by the new Civic’s aerodynamic body shape, this translates into sparkling performance figures and improved fuel consumption.

The entry-level 1.4-litre model (manual transmission) dispatches the benchmark 0-62mph sprint in 12.1 seconds and is capable of reaching 108mph. The figures for the equivalent 1.6-litre model are respectively 114mph and 10.4 seconds.

Fuel economy figures are still to be confirmed, but Honda internal testing has shown improvements of at least 10% across some cycles.