2012 Honda Civic: No Really, it's the All-New 9th Generation Civic Sedan and Coupe Models

We know many of you will find it hard to believe at a first look, but this here is the completely new, North American market, 2012 Honda Civic. Even though it may seem otherwise, the 9th generation Civic has been designed from the ground up and shares very few parts -if any- with its predecessor, well that is, aside from its styling personality which has gone from bland to blander...

Not surprisingly, Honda managed to remove all the styling elements that made the Detroit Motor Show Civic concepts somewhat worth a second look from the production models.

The design similarities with the 8th generation Civic are not only visible on the outside but continue inside as wells with the dashboard styling and the near identical layout.

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The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with a conventional 1.8-liter gasoline engine, a new "HF" high fuel economy version with the same 1.8-liter unit, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.

Starting with the all-new Civic HF, it is powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine delivering 140HP and an estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway.

The most fuel efficient model of the range is of course the Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine producing a combined 110HP. Honda said the Civic Hybrid is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the 2011MY Civic hybrid.

Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models are equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency as well as with the Honda ECO Assist system.

The regular Civic Sedan and Coupe models get the 140HP 1.8-liter i-VTEC (but not the aero improvements) and are expected to return an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg over the current model. The Civic Natural Gas model is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current version.

Finally, the sportiest model of the lot is the Si which get a larger and more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. Honda said it the new engine will deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. According to the company, the Si models are anticipated to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.

"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 ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."

Honda will release more information on the new 2012 Civic closer to the on-sale date, which is expected this Spring.

2012 HONDA CIVIC SPECS

Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

• 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
• 5-speed automatic transmission
• ECO Assist technology
• EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
• EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Civic Hybrid Specifications

• 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
• Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
• Lithium-ion battery
• ECO Assist technology
• EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

Civic Si Specifications

• 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
• 6-speed manual transmission
• EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

Honda Publishes New Photos and Info on European-spec Jazz Hybrid and Face-lifted Jazz Models

Honda today released full details and some 80 or so photos on the European-spec Jazz Hybrid and face-lifted conventional Jazz models, which will soon go on sale across the continent. Previewed at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, the Jazz Hybrid is said to be the first B-segment car fitted with a petrol-electric powertrain and it does it without compromising the cabin space and luggage compartment.

By mounting the battery pack under the boot floor, Honda managed to retain the Jazz’s flexible “Magic Seats” configuration, while offering a respectable 300-liter boot space that can be extended to a maximum of 1320 liters (measured to the roof). Thanks to the “Magic Seats” system, the seats fold entirely flat, while their bases can be folded up in order to create more space for tall objects. The eco-friendly version comes with a reclining rear seat that can be tilted back as well, further increasing the cabin’s flexibility.

The interior has been revamped and boasts a darker color theme, in contrast with the blue lighting of the instrument panel and center console. For the first time in Europe, the Jazz Hybrid can be also specified with leather upholstery.

From a design standpoint, the hybrid is set apart by its restyled headlights with chrome blue surrounds, front grille with similar chrome treatment, clear tail lamps and revised bumpers, accompanied by the new, Lime Green metallic exterior color.

Customers not happy with the standard look can opt for a series of Genuine Accessories to customize their cars, such as additional trim pieces and stickers, plus different alloy wheels. Other optional features include the SSD (Solid State Drive) navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and rear entertainment system.

At the heart of the Jazz Hybrid is Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) powertrain shared with the Insight and CR-Z, comprising an 88HP 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and a 14HP electric motor, complemented by a CVT gearbox. The hybrid sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 12.6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 177 km/h (110 mph), while consuming 4.5 lt/100 km (52.3 US mpg) on the combined cycle. Furthermore, Honda says that with emissions of just 104 g/km, the Jazz Hybrid is the cleanest B-segment car equipped with an automatic transmission.

Besides the Jazz Hybrid, European customers will also get the face-lifted range of Jazz models, powered by either a 90HP 1.2-liter or 100HP 1.4-liter gasoline engine.

The refreshed small car comes with redesigned bumpers said to reduce drag, new grille and headlights, rear lights with modified lenses and a choice of two new exterior colors – Deep Sapphire Blue and Ionized Bronze.

Inside, the 2011MY Jazz also has a darker color scheme just like the hybrid, new seat fabrics (including the optional leather upholstery), chromed trim pieces and orange dash lighting. The “Magic Seats” system is part of the standard equipment list, while the boot features a secondary underfloor storage compartment, boosting the total load capacity to 399 liters or 19 liters more compared to the previous model.

On the technical side of things, the revised Jazz is once again available with a CVT automatic transmission complete with torque converter and paddle shifters, while engineers upgraded the suspension as well.