The new Honda Civic in Frankfurt

The designers of the new Civic wanted to keep the sporty and advanced elements of the car’s character but tailor them to express the new model’s more dynamic feel. “We have lowered the height by 20mm and increased the width by 10mm compared with the current car,” comments Mitsuru Kariya, Civic Development Leader.

“Defining the correct proportions was the most important challenge for the design of the new Civic,” says Kariya. We enhanced the sporty aspect of the design while creating a clean, dynamic shape.” Sources of inspiration included a ‘blended wing body’ aeroplane * in which the fuselage and wings blend into a single body for superior aerodynamic performance.



This concept was a clear break in a new direction, rather than relying on sheer strength and engine power to convey a sporty image, a ‘blended body’ with reduced resistance would demonstrate a smarter image for the new Civic. An example of this new image is the new rear combination light that works as an aerodynamic spoiler, managing air flow over the top and sides of the car.

The new interior is focussed around the driver and creates a sporty ambience. “We wanted to create the feeling of a cockpit, like a racing car or an aeroplane,” explains Yukio Emi, the Design Chief of the Civic Interior.


The quality of the interior for the new Civic has also been improved without compromising the class leading space. “The key target was to increase the feeling of quality,” says Kariya. “We have changed our approach to match customer expectations and European standards. The new Civic has a high quality cabin, both in the way that it feels and the way that it looks. Offering class leading boot space with the versatile seat combinations means that it‘s the most practical yet.“





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Even more Mugen power for Honda Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R MUGEN debuted in 2010 to near-universal acclaim, and a 20-strong limited edition production run of the hand-built, motorsport-derived machines went on sale to UK enthusiasts. Now technicians at Northampton-based MUGEN Euro have worked their magic again, producing a unique version with even more power and torque.

The cylinder bore and stroke have been increased to create an overall capacity of 2,156cc, so the car has been christened the Honda Civic Type R MUGEN 2.2.



The result of the change is a boost in engine output from 240 to 260PS, and additional torque is available throughout the rev range. Peak torque is now 240Nm at 6,000rpm. Compared to a standard Honda Civic Type R, both power and torque are up 30 per cent.

When coupled to the host of motorsport-derived components created exclusively by MUGEN – including sports suspension, uprated brakes and a stunning performance bodykit – the MUGEN 2.2 represents the ultimate expression of the Honda Civic Type R philosophy.


It has been created as a fitting tribute to the highly successful Honda K20 2.0-litre petrol engine, which has ceased production in Japan. Homologated by MUGEN as an FIA Group N race series engine, the K20 has long been the powerplant of choice with tuners and motorsports competitors who want the very best in naturally aspirated performance.

Moreover, it has been at the very heart of everything MUGEN Euro has achieved since the company was formed in 2006. Its skilled engineers have built or tuned almost 400 examples for race and rally competitors around the world.

The Honda K20 engine has also powered the only two complete road cars produced by MUGEN; the Honda Civic MUGEN RR four-door saloon sold in Japan, plus the limited Honda Civic Type R MUGEN sold in the UK.


Hiro Toyoda, vice-president of MUGEN Euro, commented: “Environmental pressures mean naturally aspirated engines are rapidly being superseded by other engine architectures and technologies. We may never see the like of the K20 in a mainstream production car again, so felt it only fitting we mark the occasion with this special 2.2 version of the Honda Civic Type R”.

Plans for the 2.2 car have yet to be finalised. Of the 20 limited edition 2.0-litre cars launched in 2010, four remain unsold and it’s possible MUGEN Euro may offer them with the reworked engine. Existing owners could also be invited to return their cars for an upgrade. A decision on these two proposals is expected to be made shortly.

| Honda

Honda has launched the first image of the 2012 European Honda Civic, ahead of its world debut at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Civic features a rear combination light that works as an aerodynamic spoiler, managing air flow over the top and sides of the car.



The ninth generation Civic hatchback will also offer stand-out looks combined with class-leading space for passengers and luggage – and will continue to deliver peace of mind with low running costs, through Honda’s famed and unparalleled reliability.



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The new 2012 Honda Civic will offer a quieter and more refined driving experience to ensure comfortable journeys on all road conditions

The development team worked hard to sharpen every detail of the design, build and aerodynamics, to optimise the interior refinement in the new Civic. The engineers spent time testing the car in Europe to tune the new Civic to suit the varying road conditions. They also made good use of Honda’s anechoic (echo-free) chamber in its R&D facility in Swindon to fine-tune the cabin insulation. One of the results of the work in the anechoic chamber was to modify the design and construction of the roof lining, and how it interacts with the bodywork.



The new Civic’s aerodynamic efficiency also played a key role in maximising its refinement. Several members of the development team called upon their Formula One experience to help deliver a car that combines a low coefficient of drag with excellent high-speed stability. Hours of meticulous work in the Honda wind tunnel has improved performance, reduced fuel consumption and resulted in an exceptionally quiet interior.







“We did not improve the noise and refinement of the new Civic through just one technique,“ commented Kazuo Sunaoshi, Development Leader – Chassis. “It was the accumulation of lots of little details. My big challenge was to match the noise and vibration levels of our European competitors. I am proud to say that we have achieved our goals.”



The third of five films on the development of the new Civic features Honda engineers discussing noise and refinement . The video can be viewed at www.honda.co.uk/newcivic



The new Honda Civic that’s more confident, clever and versatile makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.



















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More powerfull, more cleaner: 2012 Honda Civic

Improvements to Honda’s 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine, coupled with a low-drag body design, mean the new 2012 Civic emits only 110 g/km of CO2 – while producing a powerful 150 PS and 350 Nm of torque.



This new lower CO2 figure signals a drop of 29g/km over the outgoing model and will enable customers to benefit from free road tax for the first year (and only £20 per year from then on), as well as cheaper fuel bills. Meanwhile, company car drivers will be able to take advantage of BIK tax rates among the lowest for a small family car.







The improved engine also shows that customers do not need to sacrifice on power to achieve better economy – the 2.2 diesel delivers a 10 PS boost over the outgoing engine.



Honda’s advanced i-DTEC engine received a number of enhancements in the quest for lower emissions. The oil flow through the engine has been carefully managed to reduce circulation loss, while engine materials and components have been revised to reduce friction. A five g/km reduction in CO2 was also achieved with the addition of Idle Stop (start/stop) technology.



Extensive wind tunnel testing was carried out to improve the car’s aerodynamics, reduce drag and refine high speed stability, all of which contribute towards lowering emissions.



“To achieve a good CO2 figure, you need to optimise every aspect of the car,” says Katsushi Watanabe, Development Leader for the engine. “Reducing the emissions was our key target and we’re proud to say that we have achieved this without compromising the high performance character of the engine. We want our customers to have fun when they drive this car.”



The second of five films on the development of the new Civic features Honda engineers discussing the i-DTEC engine and the Civic’s low emission technology. The video can be viewed at www.honda.co.uk/newcivic



The new Honda Civic that’s more confident, clever and versatile makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.



| Honda

New Honda Civic 2012 to Frankfurt

A new Honda Civic that’s more confident, clever and versatile makes its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The ninth generation Civic hatchback will offer stand-out looks combined with class-leading space for passengers and luggage – and will continue to deliver peace of mind with low running costs, through Honda’s famed and unparalleled reliability.

Quality and comfort levels have improved dramatically over the outgoing model.



Honda’s new small family car has been designed exclusively for Europe and has been extensively tested on the region’s roads. It goes on sale during 2012.

Smoother Ride
Honda engineers concentrated a huge amount of time and effort improving ride quality and handling of the Civic, and through significant changes to the suspension set-up they have enhanced both comfort and body control.

To give customers the biggest cabin and boot space in the C-sector, the Civic retains a rear torsion beam suspension system – but the latest set-up uses clever fluid-filled compliance bushes to improve overall ride performance and handling. It has also been strengthened to give better stability, particularly at high speeds.









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