Honda do Brasil has launched the eighth-generation Civic sedan which is produced in its Sumaré plant, in São Paulo state.
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The new sedan is based on the United States version anda has a new 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine in two stages of tune.
The entry-level LX model has 125hp to meet Brazilian laws applicable to disabled drivers who can buy, free of federal taxes, cars equipped with engines with a maximum output of 127hp. This benefit reduces a car’s price by about a third.
The other two new Civic versions are the LXS and EXSwith the 140hp engine, the same output as the US market models.
Honda expects to sell about 2,800 units each month, up on the 1,700 a month achieved by the old generation car last year.
The Civic introduction is part of an investment of $US100m that Honda is making in Brazil.
It is also increasing capacity at Sumaré. The factory can currently make 65,000 vehicles a year but is being expanded to make 80,000 units by the beginning of 2007 and 100,000 units in 2008.
Sumaré was opened in 1997 and currently makes the Civic and Fit (Jazz) models.
Rogério Louro
