Honda has released first details of its 2006 Civic hatchback line which it will position in Europe as a “Premium Sports Compact”.
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European sales start in January 2006.
The Japanese automaker said the new five-door model – “with 3-door looks” was exclusively designed for European markets and will be built only at its Swindon, UK, plant.
This factory currently builds sports three-door versions of the current Civic line for Europe, the US and Japan alongside the five-door but there is no word yet if the US and Japan three-door export deals will carry over when production of the redesigned line starts.
According to Auto Express magazine, three-door versions will also be built in the UK, with launch a few months after the five-door line.
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By GlobalDataIt is already known that the key body styles for the US and Canadian 2006 Civic model line will be a two-door coupe and four-door sedan (as at present); the four-door is also likely to be popular in some Asian and Oceania markets where buyers prefer sedans to hatchbacks (the reverse applies in northern Europe; sedans are more popular in the south).
However, the current five-door hatchback – sourced from Japan – is popular in Australia and New Zealand where it is sold alongside the sedan, and it is not yet clear if those markets will still be offered the hatch, nor where it would come from.
Honda Europe is claiming class leading fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions for the 2006 Civic which will feature new 61kW/83 PS 1.4- and 103kW/140 PS 1.8-litre petrol engines (in place of the current 1.4 and 1.6) plus a 103kW/140 PS 2.2-inhouse-made diesel engine in place of the current Isuzu-made 1.7.
The 1.8 petrol and 2.2 diesel engines will be assembled at Swindon from imported components while the 1.4 engine will be fully imported from Honda’s Suzuka plant in Japan.
New six-speed manual and six-speed automated manual transmissions will be offered.
The new Civic was designed by the same team – headed by Yoshiyuki Matsumoto – that developed the successful Jazz/Fit line.
“The name remains the same, but everything else has changed, Honda UK said in a statement.
“For the first time Honda presents a Civic that challenges the top end of the compact class – a premium sports compact for this growing sector in the C segment.”
The unusual dashboard features a ‘dual zone’ cockpit with all important controls and instruments located within an inner zone, which is surrounded by a secondary zone housing radio, heating and ventilation controls and trip information. The result is a modern, sophisticated look with the use of different materials and textures creating a particularly high class finish for the segment.
Reversing a trend that has seen the popular Honda grow with every generation since launch in 1972, the latest generation Civic is actually slightly smaller and lower than the current model.
Overall length is now 4,250mm (35mm less) and overall height 1,460 mm (also 35mm less). But in order to create a “more dynamic silhouette and a better handling car”, Honda has increased the overall width to 1,760 mm (65mm more) and the front and rear tracks are lengthened to 1,504mm (+34mm) and 1,510 mm (+45mm).
Like the Jazz, the new Civic has the fuel tank centrally mounted along with the cross member below the front seats. This configuration makes way for a flat floor rear passenger and cargo area, and for claimed class leading luggage compartment volume. The Civic, like the Jazz, has ‘Magic’ seats, with unique single motion fold down and ‘flip up’ functions.
All versions of new Civic will be generously equipped, with the top models featuring a number of what Honda calls “unexpected” items. Standard across the range will be climate control air conditioning, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), trip computer, front, side and curtain airbags, rake and reach adjustable steering column and rear ‘Magic’ seats. High grade models will feature equipment such as automatic lights and wiper functions (catching up with European rivals at last), HID headlamps, Dual Zone Climate Control and retractable door mirrors (ditto), in addition to now expected items like alloy wheels, DVD satellite navigation and leather trim.
Honda claims the new Civic will be one of the safest cars in its class. With its new body structure and subframes, recessed pedals, double pre-tensioners on the front seatbelts and side curtain airbags, it is expected to achieve a Euro NCAP 5 star result for front and side impact safety, three stars for pedestrian safety and four stars for child protection safety.
Steering and suspension systems have been completely redesigned (with a quick EPS Electric Power Steering rack, MacPherson struts up front and a compact torsion beam arrangement behind).
Currently, the Civic is produced in 11 countries and sold in approximately 160 countries and accounts for roughly one-third of all Honda’s car sales worldwide.
Graeme Roberts
