For First Time In Years, Civic Isn’t ‘Recommended’

Whoa! I didn't think I'd ever see the day.... I got to say I'm not sure what to think, on one hand I do agree with consumer reports on the quality of materials taking a step back, but the noisy choppy ride I couldn't disagree with more, especially having done a comparison ride and drive between all the major competitors listed in the top 12 and knowing how each drives.

CR's also says that the rear seat room is a positive, well, I am no giant but I have noticed that there is less head room in the rear compared to the previous model. Hmm.

I think Honda is a victim of their own success, there is no doubt that the competition has gotten better, it's very hard to have a 'revolutionary' new bodystyle everytime but I do feel they made some improvements; safer (10% more high tensile steel), better fuel economy (with or without Eco mode), and more features (bluetooth is standard, new multi-informational display, USB is more standard, power seat in a Civic EX-L, and I could go on).

At the end of the day it is going to come down to what the consumer says and if early indications are anything, at least here in Canada, we can't get enough of them. I expect a revision to this rating some time, might not be until their May 2012 issue, but I expect something.
A popular consumer magazine known for its automotive road tests says it can no longer recommend the Honda Civic compact sedan. The Civic, which has been a top finisher in comparisons with rivals in the small-car segment for decades, finished second from the bottom in a 12-car shoot-out in Consumer Reports.

The magazine’s announcement, which coincides with distribution of its latest issue, marks “the first time in recent memory” that the Civic has not received its stamp of approval, a magazine spokesman says.

Summing up the Civic’s performance in its small-sedan evaluation, Consumer Reports says, “The Civic, long one of our top-scoring small cars, has slid backward with its latest redesign and no longer scores high enough in our testing for us to recommend it. The new Civic dropped a whopping 17 points — from a very good 78 to a mediocre 61 on our 100-point scale.”

The statement continues: “Compared with its predecessor, the 2012 Civic has lower interior quality and suffers from a choppy ride, long stopping distances, and pronounced road noise. Vague steering impairs its agility and robs it of its fun-to-drive feel.”

Among the positives, the magazine says, are the car’s rear-seat room and fuel economy of 30 mpg overall .

Honda released the following statement:
“In a broad sense, we disagree with Consumer Reports’ findings. Without question, the small sedan segment is more competitive than ever. In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability. Among the Civic’s greatest competitive strengths, is a smooth and efficient powertrain that, in Consumer Reports testing returned, “… an impressive 30 mpg overall on regular fuel and 47 mpg on the highway.” Also noted in Consumer Reports findings, the Civic excels in the area of safety, with a long list of important features standard on all trim levels, and a class-leading ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating from IIHS. Lastly, the Civic has a stellar reliability history with Consumer Reports, and we are confident that the new Civic will be a reliability leader as well.”

Here is the finishing order in the Consumer Reports test:
1. Hyundai Elantra GLS
2. Nissan Sentra SL
3. Subaru Impreza 2.5i
4. Toyota Corolla LE
5. Kia Forte EX
6. Mazda Mazda3 Touring
7. Chevrolet Cruze 1LT
8. Ford Focus SE
9. Chevrolet Cruze LS
10. Mitsubishi Lancer ES
11. Honda Civic LX
12. Volkswagen Jetta SE

Source;
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/08/01/for-first-time-in-years-civic-isnt-recomended/

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For First Time In Years, Civic Isn’t ‘Recommended’

Whoa! I didn't think I'd ever see the day.... I got to say I'm not sure what to think, on one hand I do agree with consumer reports on the quality of materials taking a step back, but the noisy choppy ride I couldn't disagree with more, especially having done a comparison ride and drive between all the major competitors listed in the top 12 and knowing how each drives.

CR's also says that the rear seat room is a positive, well, I am no giant but I have noticed that there is less head room in the rear compared to the previous model. Hmm.

I think Honda is a victim of their own success, there is no doubt that the competition has gotten better, it's very hard to have a 'revolutionary' new bodystyle everytime but I do feel they made some improvements; safer (10% more high tensile steel), better fuel economy (with or without Eco mode), and more features (bluetooth is standard, new multi-informational display, USB is more standard, power seat in a Civic EX-L, and I could go on).

At the end of the day it is going to come down to what the consumer says and if early indications are anything, at least here in Canada, we can't get enough of them. I expect a revision to this rating some time, might not be until their May 2012 issue, but I expect something.
A popular consumer magazine known for its automotive road tests says it can no longer recommend the Honda Civic compact sedan. The Civic, which has been a top finisher in comparisons with rivals in the small-car segment for decades, finished second from the bottom in a 12-car shoot-out in Consumer Reports.

The magazine’s announcement, which coincides with distribution of its latest issue, marks “the first time in recent memory” that the Civic has not received its stamp of approval, a magazine spokesman says.

Summing up the Civic’s performance in its small-sedan evaluation, Consumer Reports says, “The Civic, long one of our top-scoring small cars, has slid backward with its latest redesign and no longer scores high enough in our testing for us to recommend it. The new Civic dropped a whopping 17 points — from a very good 78 to a mediocre 61 on our 100-point scale.”

The statement continues: “Compared with its predecessor, the 2012 Civic has lower interior quality and suffers from a choppy ride, long stopping distances, and pronounced road noise. Vague steering impairs its agility and robs it of its fun-to-drive feel.”

Among the positives, the magazine says, are the car’s rear-seat room and fuel economy of 30 mpg overall .

Honda released the following statement:
“In a broad sense, we disagree with Consumer Reports’ findings. Without question, the small sedan segment is more competitive than ever. In virtually every way, the completely redesigned 2012 Civic is a step forward. The new Civic excels in areas that matter to small-car customers, including fuel efficiency, safety, and reliability. Among the Civic’s greatest competitive strengths, is a smooth and efficient powertrain that, in Consumer Reports testing returned, “… an impressive 30 mpg overall on regular fuel and 47 mpg on the highway.” Also noted in Consumer Reports findings, the Civic excels in the area of safety, with a long list of important features standard on all trim levels, and a class-leading ‘Top Safety Pick’ rating from IIHS. Lastly, the Civic has a stellar reliability history with Consumer Reports, and we are confident that the new Civic will be a reliability leader as well.”

Here is the finishing order in the Consumer Reports test:
1. Hyundai Elantra GLS
2. Nissan Sentra SL
3. Subaru Impreza 2.5i
4. Toyota Corolla LE
5. Kia Forte EX
6. Mazda Mazda3 Touring
7. Chevrolet Cruze 1LT
8. Ford Focus SE
9. Chevrolet Cruze LS
10. Mitsubishi Lancer ES
11. Honda Civic LX
12. Volkswagen Jetta SE

Source;
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/08/01/for-first-time-in-years-civic-isnt-recomended/

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2012 Honda Civic Review: 2012 Honda Civic: Put to the test

April 27, 2011
By Denis Duquet

The Honda Civic has been the best-selling car in Canada for 13 years running, which is – you have to admit – no small feat in a very competitive environment. Needless to say, the task of updating this model wasn’t easy. When a car is as universally acclaimed as the Civic, the margin for error is relatively low. If you change the car too drastically, you’re going to disappoint a lot of people. Then again, if you don’t change it enough, the car will end up looking the same.

Honda unveiled new generation Civic concept cars at the Detroit Auto Show in January and the reactions were decidedly mixed. The main criticism was that its shape hadn’t changed enough, though this was influenced by the fact that this car was supposed to be introduced months earlier. The delay created an expectation that more significant changes had been made. Alas, this was not the case, and the production models unveiled last week are almost identical to the concept vehicles.

Actually, the approach is hard to criticize in a way. Indeed, a little like at Porsche, Honda chose to make a succession of refinements, improvements and technical revisions to already impressive performance and reliability features. And the same goes for the body, which is a very mild evolution of the 2011 version.

Designed by engineers
When Honda Canada introduced its new Civic, five engineers (none of whom had a hand in designing the car) were invited from Japan. Maybe my conclusions are way off, but I got the impression that the engineers were the ones who took the lead on the whole shebang. All the stylists had to do was follow their instructions, which undoubtedly explains why the front end of the sedan and the coupe are almost unchanged. However, you have to admit that the car was elegant to begin with. In fact, the main changes were made to the tail end, while the lights are completely new, helping you identify the new generation. But for many, this just isn’t enough...

The engineers dedicated a great deal of time to improving the car’s drag coefficient. This meant tilting the windshield significantly toward the back. Its aerodynamics are excellent, but since the base of the windshield is a lot lower than the edge of the hood, there’s at least 5 cm where leaves, debris, snow and ice will undoubtedly collect. Let’s hope that the front windshield wipers motors are robust. A minor detail, you say? Well, this car seems to lose points in the details. This junction between the hood and the windshield is a compromise that suggests they were trying to avoid a complete makeover of the entire front end. At least, that’s how I see it.

The sharp incline of the windshield does wonders for the Civic’s best-in-category drag coefficient, but because it’s so sharply angled, the front seats had to be pushed back so that no one would bump their head on the windshield. The result is a very deep dashboard. That in itself isn’t a flaw, since several other interesting cars are set up like this, but the fact that this dashboard is made of hard plastic with an unimpressive texture is less forgivable. On the other hand, the ergonomics are good, the optional navigation system display screen is excellent and the layout of the controls is simple and efficient. The driving position is also good.

The two-level dashboard offered on the previous generation has been revised. Wanting to offer more information, they decided to widen the upper section. It’s not very elegant, but thanks to a command button on the steering wheel, you can access a multitude of information. Up to this point, it’s practically fantastic. However, I don’t know if it was my driving position, my view or something else, but when I was driving in the middle of the day with the sun at its brightest, it was very difficult for me to see the indicator dials, odometer and other small information screens.

Good news, it’s now roomier, thanks mainly to the 75-mm increase in the vehicle’s width. In back, the occupants benefit from 40 mm more legroom, which is quite impressive considering that the wheelbase is 30 mm shorter while the overall length remains identical.

Improved mechanics
While the shape and the interior presentation leave us wanting, I must mention that the car’s mechanical components have been refined or even greatly improved, especially when it comes to safety and fuel consumption. The base version of this ninth generation Civic is powered by the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. But a bunch of internal improvements help reduce fuel consumption by 12%. That’s noteworthy now that gas prices are on the rise. The engineers managed to reduce fuel consumption with the help of things like reduced-friction brakes, low-resistance tires and a lower-than-average drag coefficient for the category. A six-speed automatic transmission would have produced better results, but it still has a five-speed instead.

The Civic Hybrid is back, and its all-wheel drive has been updated and improved. For starters, it calls on lithium-ion batteries for more power and to reduce the vehicle’s weight. The electric motor’s power has been increased from 15 to 20 kW. What’s more, the CVT has been refined, as have the climate control system and the energy regeneration brakes, which allow Honda to promise fuel economy of 4.4 L/100 km in town and 4.2 L on the highway. However, Honda’s engineers remain faithful to the IMA system that consists of a small electric motor installed between the transmission and the combustion engine. Although this technology is a little less cutting-edge, its average fuel consumption is still impressive. But you’ll have to drive in fuel saving mode to derive its benefits.

On a sportier note, the sedan and the Si coupe are now powered by a 2.4-litre engine that produces 201 horses, four more than the previous version. The six-speed manual is the only transmission available. This model also features two other exclusives: front and rear deflectors and very nice alloy rims.

Still a good car
Despite the fact that some people are disappointed with how few changes were made to its appearance and by the decision to skimp on some of the materials in the passenger compartment, this car remains one of the most interesting to drive. Indeed, during the new Civic presentation, I had the chance to drive all of the models available. And while none of the test drives were exhaustive, at least I was able to take each of the configurations for a short spin. Overall, besides the underwhelming dashboard and the difficulty seeing some of the dials, it remains a good tourer and that can squeeze into traffic easily. On the highway, it has all the same qualities and all the same limitations as before. The engine is responsive and the handling is good, but the soundproofing leaves something to be desired. Note that the new steering wheel is elegant and the information management buttons are within reach and user-friendly.

As though it were asking buyers to forgive the Civic for its lack of dazzling changes, Honda cooked up a very competitive price range. Regardless of the model you choose, 2012 Civic buyers benefit from generous equipment and downward-adjusted pricing. According to Honda, discounts will range from $2,600 to $3,950, depending on the model. You have to admit that this will persuade many people to overlook certain shortcomings. Money talks, and Honda is making sure that buyers will listen. Sure, maybe the company cut costs awkwardly in some areas and the shape could have been refreshed a little more, but this car’s intrinsic value – its refined mechanics and pleasant ride – has been preserved.

Source;
http://www.carguideweb.com/articles/11193/

Read more »

2012 Honda Civic Review: 2012 Honda Civic: Put to the test

April 27, 2011
By Denis Duquet

The Honda Civic has been the best-selling car in Canada for 13 years running, which is – you have to admit – no small feat in a very competitive environment. Needless to say, the task of updating this model wasn’t easy. When a car is as universally acclaimed as the Civic, the margin for error is relatively low. If you change the car too drastically, you’re going to disappoint a lot of people. Then again, if you don’t change it enough, the car will end up looking the same.

Honda unveiled new generation Civic concept cars at the Detroit Auto Show in January and the reactions were decidedly mixed. The main criticism was that its shape hadn’t changed enough, though this was influenced by the fact that this car was supposed to be introduced months earlier. The delay created an expectation that more significant changes had been made. Alas, this was not the case, and the production models unveiled last week are almost identical to the concept vehicles.

Actually, the approach is hard to criticize in a way. Indeed, a little like at Porsche, Honda chose to make a succession of refinements, improvements and technical revisions to already impressive performance and reliability features. And the same goes for the body, which is a very mild evolution of the 2011 version.

Designed by engineers
When Honda Canada introduced its new Civic, five engineers (none of whom had a hand in designing the car) were invited from Japan. Maybe my conclusions are way off, but I got the impression that the engineers were the ones who took the lead on the whole shebang. All the stylists had to do was follow their instructions, which undoubtedly explains why the front end of the sedan and the coupe are almost unchanged. However, you have to admit that the car was elegant to begin with. In fact, the main changes were made to the tail end, while the lights are completely new, helping you identify the new generation. But for many, this just isn’t enough...

The engineers dedicated a great deal of time to improving the car’s drag coefficient. This meant tilting the windshield significantly toward the back. Its aerodynamics are excellent, but since the base of the windshield is a lot lower than the edge of the hood, there’s at least 5 cm where leaves, debris, snow and ice will undoubtedly collect. Let’s hope that the front windshield wipers motors are robust. A minor detail, you say? Well, this car seems to lose points in the details. This junction between the hood and the windshield is a compromise that suggests they were trying to avoid a complete makeover of the entire front end. At least, that’s how I see it.

The sharp incline of the windshield does wonders for the Civic’s best-in-category drag coefficient, but because it’s so sharply angled, the front seats had to be pushed back so that no one would bump their head on the windshield. The result is a very deep dashboard. That in itself isn’t a flaw, since several other interesting cars are set up like this, but the fact that this dashboard is made of hard plastic with an unimpressive texture is less forgivable. On the other hand, the ergonomics are good, the optional navigation system display screen is excellent and the layout of the controls is simple and efficient. The driving position is also good.

The two-level dashboard offered on the previous generation has been revised. Wanting to offer more information, they decided to widen the upper section. It’s not very elegant, but thanks to a command button on the steering wheel, you can access a multitude of information. Up to this point, it’s practically fantastic. However, I don’t know if it was my driving position, my view or something else, but when I was driving in the middle of the day with the sun at its brightest, it was very difficult for me to see the indicator dials, odometer and other small information screens.

Good news, it’s now roomier, thanks mainly to the 75-mm increase in the vehicle’s width. In back, the occupants benefit from 40 mm more legroom, which is quite impressive considering that the wheelbase is 30 mm shorter while the overall length remains identical.

Improved mechanics
While the shape and the interior presentation leave us wanting, I must mention that the car’s mechanical components have been refined or even greatly improved, especially when it comes to safety and fuel consumption. The base version of this ninth generation Civic is powered by the same 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. But a bunch of internal improvements help reduce fuel consumption by 12%. That’s noteworthy now that gas prices are on the rise. The engineers managed to reduce fuel consumption with the help of things like reduced-friction brakes, low-resistance tires and a lower-than-average drag coefficient for the category. A six-speed automatic transmission would have produced better results, but it still has a five-speed instead.

The Civic Hybrid is back, and its all-wheel drive has been updated and improved. For starters, it calls on lithium-ion batteries for more power and to reduce the vehicle’s weight. The electric motor’s power has been increased from 15 to 20 kW. What’s more, the CVT has been refined, as have the climate control system and the energy regeneration brakes, which allow Honda to promise fuel economy of 4.4 L/100 km in town and 4.2 L on the highway. However, Honda’s engineers remain faithful to the IMA system that consists of a small electric motor installed between the transmission and the combustion engine. Although this technology is a little less cutting-edge, its average fuel consumption is still impressive. But you’ll have to drive in fuel saving mode to derive its benefits.

On a sportier note, the sedan and the Si coupe are now powered by a 2.4-litre engine that produces 201 horses, four more than the previous version. The six-speed manual is the only transmission available. This model also features two other exclusives: front and rear deflectors and very nice alloy rims.

Still a good car
Despite the fact that some people are disappointed with how few changes were made to its appearance and by the decision to skimp on some of the materials in the passenger compartment, this car remains one of the most interesting to drive. Indeed, during the new Civic presentation, I had the chance to drive all of the models available. And while none of the test drives were exhaustive, at least I was able to take each of the configurations for a short spin. Overall, besides the underwhelming dashboard and the difficulty seeing some of the dials, it remains a good tourer and that can squeeze into traffic easily. On the highway, it has all the same qualities and all the same limitations as before. The engine is responsive and the handling is good, but the soundproofing leaves something to be desired. Note that the new steering wheel is elegant and the information management buttons are within reach and user-friendly.

As though it were asking buyers to forgive the Civic for its lack of dazzling changes, Honda cooked up a very competitive price range. Regardless of the model you choose, 2012 Civic buyers benefit from generous equipment and downward-adjusted pricing. According to Honda, discounts will range from $2,600 to $3,950, depending on the model. You have to admit that this will persuade many people to overlook certain shortcomings. Money talks, and Honda is making sure that buyers will listen. Sure, maybe the company cut costs awkwardly in some areas and the shape could have been refreshed a little more, but this car’s intrinsic value – its refined mechanics and pleasant ride – has been preserved.

Source;
http://www.carguideweb.com/articles/11193/

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2012 Honda Civic Personal Preferences

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2012 Honda Civic Personal Preferences

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Japan's version of the 2012 Honda Civic sedan

Very slight difference between the North American version and the Japanese version....
Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-of-new-jdm-honda-civic.html

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Japan's version of the 2012 Honda Civic sedan

Very slight difference between the North American version and the Japanese version....
Source;
http://jp-cardesigncorner.blogspot.com/2011/03/photos-of-new-jdm-honda-civic.html

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Behind the Scenes of a 2012 Honda Civic Commercial Shoot

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Behind the Scenes of a 2012 Honda Civic Commercial Shoot

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A Closer look at the 2012 Honda Civic Si 'Concept'

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A Closer look at the 2012 Honda Civic Si 'Concept'

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Globe and Mail: Honda unveils 2012 Civic

New model will start rolling off the assembly line in April;

Just as the Honda Civic Coupe “concept” was making its Canadian premiere at the Canadian International Auto Show last week, the company released details and photos of the actual production coupe, sedan and hybrid versions, scheduled to arrive this spring in Canada.

The 2012 Civic is to start rolling off assembly lines in Alliston, Ont., and Greensburg, Indiana, in April, and it’s obvious that fuel economy will remain a calling card of this Civic, even in non-hybrid versions. Its base 1.8-litre engine will produce 140 hp, as well as fuel efficiency ratings of 7.2 litres/100 km city/5.0 highway, a 12 per cent improvement over the miserly current Civic four-door.

But Honda is also dropping a notably larger 2.4-litre engine into the Si versions of the Civic, both sedan and coupe (no hatchback yet, unfortunately). Top-end power is not much changed, at 200 hp versus 197, though the driver is most likely to feel the added torque, which is bumped up to a peak of 170 lb-ft versus the current model’s 139 lb-ft.

So the top-line performance Civic will not require as much redline-screaming for quick passing, although a new six-speed transmission for Si models may still encourage such shenanigans for fun. Even with the increased displacement and torque, fuel economy is said to be increased by 2 per cent.

For those enamoured with the rakish Ford Focus sedan or hatchback, or the similarly eye-catching Hyundai Elantra, the Civic is not going to come close to generating the style points of those two, or of the current-generation Mazda3. Redesigned for 2010, the Mazda3 was the vehicle that came closest to knocking the Civic off of its 13-year perch at the top of the Canadian car sales charts. In the long tradition of the Civic and Toyota Corolla, it's steady as she goes on the design front, lest some wayward curve offend any particular aesthetic sense anywhere in the world.

Granted, this is no major surprise, since the “concept” versions of the Civic coupe and sedans shown at the Detroit, Montreal and Toronto auto shows were clearly very near production models. Still, some may lament the loss of the concept’s striking centre-mounted exhaust, smoked grey wheels and LED fog lights didn’t make it to production.

During a visit to the Alliston plant last fall, Honda executives said the delay in rolling out a new Civic was because spiking fuel prices in 2008 convinced the company that the ’12 Civic had grown too heavy, and that it had to focus on fuel economy and stop the perpetual enlargements that have come with every new Civic generation. But other accounts say the delay was a result of a spending freeze prompted by the global financial crisis, while some reports say Honda execs saw what was coming down the pipe from other auto makers, Ford and Hyundai especially, and simply knew they had to do better.

No fuel economy estimates were released for the Civic hybrid sedan, but it will be powered by a 110 hp 1.5-litre four and a CVT, similar to the CR-Z, though with no manual option.

Source;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/auto-news/honda-unveils-2012-civic/article1916530/

Read more »

Globe and Mail: Honda unveils 2012 Civic

New model will start rolling off the assembly line in April;

Just as the Honda Civic Coupe “concept” was making its Canadian premiere at the Canadian International Auto Show last week, the company released details and photos of the actual production coupe, sedan and hybrid versions, scheduled to arrive this spring in Canada.

The 2012 Civic is to start rolling off assembly lines in Alliston, Ont., and Greensburg, Indiana, in April, and it’s obvious that fuel economy will remain a calling card of this Civic, even in non-hybrid versions. Its base 1.8-litre engine will produce 140 hp, as well as fuel efficiency ratings of 7.2 litres/100 km city/5.0 highway, a 12 per cent improvement over the miserly current Civic four-door.

But Honda is also dropping a notably larger 2.4-litre engine into the Si versions of the Civic, both sedan and coupe (no hatchback yet, unfortunately). Top-end power is not much changed, at 200 hp versus 197, though the driver is most likely to feel the added torque, which is bumped up to a peak of 170 lb-ft versus the current model’s 139 lb-ft.

So the top-line performance Civic will not require as much redline-screaming for quick passing, although a new six-speed transmission for Si models may still encourage such shenanigans for fun. Even with the increased displacement and torque, fuel economy is said to be increased by 2 per cent.

For those enamoured with the rakish Ford Focus sedan or hatchback, or the similarly eye-catching Hyundai Elantra, the Civic is not going to come close to generating the style points of those two, or of the current-generation Mazda3. Redesigned for 2010, the Mazda3 was the vehicle that came closest to knocking the Civic off of its 13-year perch at the top of the Canadian car sales charts. In the long tradition of the Civic and Toyota Corolla, it's steady as she goes on the design front, lest some wayward curve offend any particular aesthetic sense anywhere in the world.

Granted, this is no major surprise, since the “concept” versions of the Civic coupe and sedans shown at the Detroit, Montreal and Toronto auto shows were clearly very near production models. Still, some may lament the loss of the concept’s striking centre-mounted exhaust, smoked grey wheels and LED fog lights didn’t make it to production.

During a visit to the Alliston plant last fall, Honda executives said the delay in rolling out a new Civic was because spiking fuel prices in 2008 convinced the company that the ’12 Civic had grown too heavy, and that it had to focus on fuel economy and stop the perpetual enlargements that have come with every new Civic generation. But other accounts say the delay was a result of a spending freeze prompted by the global financial crisis, while some reports say Honda execs saw what was coming down the pipe from other auto makers, Ford and Hyundai especially, and simply knew they had to do better.

No fuel economy estimates were released for the Civic hybrid sedan, but it will be powered by a 110 hp 1.5-litre four and a CVT, similar to the CR-Z, though with no manual option.

Source;

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/new-cars/auto-news/honda-unveils-2012-civic/article1916530/

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2012 Civic: Honda Slims Down New Civic

Now that the new Civic has been unveiled, feedback has been positive....
By CHESTER DAWSON

Honda Motor Co. unveiled a svelter version of its mainstay compact Civic car at the Detroit auto show on Monday in an effort to prevent the auto maker's momentum from stalling out in the U.S. market. The ninth generation Civic will roll into showrooms this spring after disappointing sales last year of three recent Honda models, the CR-Z hybrid coupe, Accord Crosstour hatchback and Insight hybrid.

The latest Civic is designed to help Honda beat back challenges from an increasing array of competitors with new or refreshed models, including the General Motors's Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. That stepped up rivalry in a segment long dominated by Honda and category leader Toyoya Motor Corp., with its Corolla model, comes as newer Honda models have failed to find much traction in the U.S. market.

Company officials say they are confident the new Civic will appeal to a wide cross-section of U.S. car buyers. "The new Civic will fulfill the needs of nearly every compact buyer," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.

Yet sales last year of the CR-Z, which was launched in August, and the Accord Crossover, which was added to the Honda line-up in November 2009, both have been below the company's own forecasts. The Accord Crossover undersold same class rival the Toyota Venza by nearly 2-to-1 last year and the Honda Insight trailed even farther behind Toyota's Prius. Meanwhile, the new CR-Z has not succeeded in establishing a niche so far.

"A lot of people have suggested that Honda is coasting," said Aaron Bragman, a senior analyst with IHS Automotive. "Recently, they haven't been the successful innovator they were once known for being ."

Honda said the fuel economy of the latest Civic would be 40 miles per gallon, a level now standard for compact cars, but declined to provide details on the engine size, weight, interior features or suggested price.

However, company officials promised the new Civic would be smaller, lighter, cheaper and more fuel efficient than the current generation of their bread-and-butter model. In an effort to achieve those ambitious benchmarks, Honda at one point suspended development of the car which resulted in a delay of nearly a year from when the Civic had been expected to make its debut.

"The [economic] environment changed so we needed to make changes that better reflected a new reality," said Toshiyuki Okumoto, Honda's chief designer for the new Civic. "The overall scale was reduced, but we didn't change our newer styling concepts."

As Honda's second-best-selling car in the U.S. after the Accord and the fourth-best-selling car overall in 2010, the Civic franchise is one of the most important for Honda, which depends on the North American market for more of its overall sales and profits than any other Japanese auto maker.

Honda faces a difficult challenge in its need to bridge the expectations of older, existing Civic owners who it wants to keep loyal to the brand with the competitive need to offer a fresh enough product to attract younger, newer buyers. Even as Hyundai and several American brands picked up market share in the U.S. last year, Honda saw its share drop to 10.6%, down from 11% in 2009.

In addition to the standard model, Honda also will debut a new hybrid variant that will use for the first time a lithium-ion battery pack. What's more, the company plans to begin selling a natural gas-powered Civic across the country, expanding from current sales in just four states.

Source;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703779704576074522250122938.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

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2012 Civic: Honda Slims Down New Civic

Now that the new Civic has been unveiled, feedback has been positive....
By CHESTER DAWSON

Honda Motor Co. unveiled a svelter version of its mainstay compact Civic car at the Detroit auto show on Monday in an effort to prevent the auto maker's momentum from stalling out in the U.S. market. The ninth generation Civic will roll into showrooms this spring after disappointing sales last year of three recent Honda models, the CR-Z hybrid coupe, Accord Crosstour hatchback and Insight hybrid.

The latest Civic is designed to help Honda beat back challenges from an increasing array of competitors with new or refreshed models, including the General Motors's Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and Kia Forte. That stepped up rivalry in a segment long dominated by Honda and category leader Toyoya Motor Corp., with its Corolla model, comes as newer Honda models have failed to find much traction in the U.S. market.

Company officials say they are confident the new Civic will appeal to a wide cross-section of U.S. car buyers. "The new Civic will fulfill the needs of nearly every compact buyer," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.

Yet sales last year of the CR-Z, which was launched in August, and the Accord Crossover, which was added to the Honda line-up in November 2009, both have been below the company's own forecasts. The Accord Crossover undersold same class rival the Toyota Venza by nearly 2-to-1 last year and the Honda Insight trailed even farther behind Toyota's Prius. Meanwhile, the new CR-Z has not succeeded in establishing a niche so far.

"A lot of people have suggested that Honda is coasting," said Aaron Bragman, a senior analyst with IHS Automotive. "Recently, they haven't been the successful innovator they were once known for being ."

Honda said the fuel economy of the latest Civic would be 40 miles per gallon, a level now standard for compact cars, but declined to provide details on the engine size, weight, interior features or suggested price.

However, company officials promised the new Civic would be smaller, lighter, cheaper and more fuel efficient than the current generation of their bread-and-butter model. In an effort to achieve those ambitious benchmarks, Honda at one point suspended development of the car which resulted in a delay of nearly a year from when the Civic had been expected to make its debut.

"The [economic] environment changed so we needed to make changes that better reflected a new reality," said Toshiyuki Okumoto, Honda's chief designer for the new Civic. "The overall scale was reduced, but we didn't change our newer styling concepts."

As Honda's second-best-selling car in the U.S. after the Accord and the fourth-best-selling car overall in 2010, the Civic franchise is one of the most important for Honda, which depends on the North American market for more of its overall sales and profits than any other Japanese auto maker.

Honda faces a difficult challenge in its need to bridge the expectations of older, existing Civic owners who it wants to keep loyal to the brand with the competitive need to offer a fresh enough product to attract younger, newer buyers. Even as Hyundai and several American brands picked up market share in the U.S. last year, Honda saw its share drop to 10.6%, down from 11% in 2009.

In addition to the standard model, Honda also will debut a new hybrid variant that will use for the first time a lithium-ion battery pack. What's more, the company plans to begin selling a natural gas-powered Civic across the country, expanding from current sales in just four states.

Source;
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703779704576074522250122938.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

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2012 Civic comes to Detroit: Will it be Honda's hero?

Here's a good article explaining Honda's plans to "Revolutionalize" the new Civic (far cry from the 'evolutionary' original approach.... thanks for the tip Wayne!
By James R. Healey and Chris Woodard, USA TODAY

Honda's redesigned 2012 Civic compact car will make a long-awaited debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, a coming-out party in advance of its arrival at dealers in April or May. The as-yet-unseen Civic show car, apparently very close to the real thing, must do more than draw the standard concept-car ooohs and aaaahs.

It must presage a new Civic good enough to prove that Honda (HMC) still has the touch, that it can still roll out cars that make buyers willing to wait in line and pay more than sticker price.

The once-golden car company hardly is a disaster, but it has been drifting in the U.S., unable to capitalize on rival Toyota's recall-fueled slide, losing ground to Ford (F) and Hyundai in the hearts and minds of buyers, and unable to fire anybody's imagination with recent launches of low-volume specialty cars that don't quite make sense to buyers.

"They need a hit," says Ed Kim, director of industry analysis for consultant AutoPacific. "Honda no longer has the edge. In efficiency, technology and design, they are no longer the leader."

Details remain secret, but Honda is promising that this ninth-generation Civic will be "completely revolutionized" and will raise compact-car standards for innovative technology.

Civic is "hugely important to us" and "the emotional pivot point" of the brand, says John Mendel, Honda's executive vice president in the U.S.

Civic is Honda's second-best seller, behind the larger Accord sedan, and in some months has passed Accord. Civic was the sixth-best-selling vehicle of any kind in the U.S. last year and is the car that introduces many buyers to Honda. U.S.-market Civics are made in Ohio, where thousands of jobs depend on the car's success. And the small-car segment overall, in which Civic is a main player, makes up about one-third of all U.S. car sales. The small-car category is expected to grow as buyers seek lower prices and better fuel economy.

What's more, if the new Civic misses the bull's-eye, even after being delayed a year to help Honda save cash during the recession, then a struggling Civic becomes both harbinger and symbol of Japanese-brand automakers struggling to rediscover their magic. For decades, Japanese-brand car companies "had the corner on the small-car market. The domestic offerings were not at the same level, did not provide the same quality, value, reliability," says Rebecca Lindland, auto-industry specialist at consultant IHS Global Insight.

"That's changed a lot. We're seeing products coming out" of General Motors (GM), Ford Motor and Chrysler Group "that are incredibly competitive. For example, Chevy Cruze and Ford Focus."

Honda's share of the market was 10.6% last year, down from 11% in 2009. But Mendel points to data showing that competitors gained ground by cranking up heavily discounted bulk sales to corporate and government fleets and rental car agencies, low-profit sales that Honda eschews.

What's going on at Honda

Consequently, he doesn't think Honda has lost its Midas touch. "I don't think there's a mojo deficit at all," Mendel said in an interview at the automaker's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif.

Whatever malaise might be stalking American Honda — the U.S. operation that includes the Honda mainstream brand and the Acura luxury brand — is tricky to define.

"I don't sense that there's a dynamic excitement any more," Lindland says. "It's nothing definitive." But the Honda brand's U.S. sales of 1.1 million last year fell short of the 1.2 million that IHS Global Insight had forecast a year ago.

Honda's main Japanese-brand rivals, Toyota (TM) and Nissan, will be relatively weaker competitors until they redesign their Corolla and Sentra, respectively. A mildly refreshed Corolla is just hitting showrooms; Toyota hasn't said when a full redesign is coming. Even though aging, Corolla still outsold Civic by 5,864 units last year. A new Sentra is about two years off, though Nissan plans to unveil another small car at the New York auto show in April.

There could be room for all. A combination of higher gasoline prices and the new small-car entries are expected to boost compact cars to 15.7% of all new car sales, up a percentage point from last year, predicts J.D. Power and Associates.

J.D. Power analyst Jeff Schuster is encouraged about the new Civic. "It looks like it will be a more sporty vehicle that should do well in the segment," he said.

While most Civic buyers match the demographics of the rest of the compact segment — 51, probably no kids at home, mainly interested in reliability and fuel economy — the car's sportier engines and suspensions have lured more driving enthusiasts than rivals have. Young and loyal, they are an important core for Civic and Honda.

Jeff Palmer, who founded the Temple of VTEC website for Honda enthusiasts, is praying the new Civic stays sporty and continues to be "a great car."

Civic, of course, could be a wild hit. Honda "might have a tiger by the tail there. Sometimes you introduce at just the right time," says Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, mainly known as a source of real-world auto pricing and consumer research.

Toyota taint

But Honda has faced troubles because of Toyota's recalls in the past year. Toyota, the top Japanese car company, recalled more than 7 million vehicles for just two problems — improper floor mats and sticky acceleration pedals — that could cause runaway acceleration. Other high-profile recalls involved such frightening issues as potentially faulty brakes. The government imposed two $16.4 million fines against Toyota — the maximum possible — for not reporting the floor-mat and sticky pedal issues promptly. And it separately fined Toyota another $16.1 million for tardy notice of nearly 1 million vehicles with potentially faulty steering relay rods that had been recalled earlier.

"Toyota's trouble didn't benefit Honda," AutoPacific's Kim says. "A lot of those people ended up (shopping for) a Ford for the first time, or a Hyundai the first time." Honda's Mendel says,"We never targeted to take advantage of" Toyota's troubles. "It's not how to win a race."

Instead, Honda focused on its own new models, which Mendel says are hitting sales expectations. Some, though, have seemed out-of-sync with the market:

•CR-Z. The two-seat, gas-electric hybrid was dinged last month by influential Consumer Reports magazine. CR said, "Even if the CR-Z turns out to be reliable, it scores too low for us to recommend."

The publication cited "a long list of drawbacks" that included stiff ride, poor steering feel, poorly tuned stability control, and "lousy" visibility.

•Insight. Also a hybrid and the car on which CR-Z is based, the Insight is aimed directly at Toyota's Prius and was criticized by CR and others for a cheap interior, mediocre mileage (by hybrid standards) and a noisy powertrain. Honda sold just 21,000 Insights last year; Toyota, 141,000 Priuses.

•Accord Crosstour. Fitted with all-wheel drive, sloping rear roofline and a premium price, this Accord is somewhat modeled on the BMW X6 crossover, but without BMW's "sport-activity vehicle" panache.

•Acura ZDX. Another attempt to blend crossover-utility-vehicle underpinnings with a fastback-sedan body.

Acura spokeswoman Alison Sobkowski points out that ZDX is meant to be a niche player to enhance Acura's image. She says the brand overall had a good sales year. Its 134,000 sales exceed IHS Global Insight's year-ago forecast of 124,000. Acura should benefit because its models are lower-price than better-selling import rivals at a time premium-car buyers are seeking value.

Acura also scores high in quality and reliability rankings by third-party evaluators, such as CR and J.D. Power and Associates.

Unfriendly dealers

Honda dealers as a group typically score in the bottom third in J.D. Power's annual Sales Satisfaction Index, a survey of how well new car buyers were treated at the dealership. Last year, for example, Honda dealers as a group were 23rd among 32 brands for which Power had sufficient data. The year before, 25th of 37. The pattern holds all the way back to 2001. As buyers begin to see there are more and more choices, tangential issues such as pleasant dealerships matter more.

Eroding forte

Honda began as an engine-building company and made vehicles simply as a way to package and profit from its engine expertise.

"They are still a very, very good engine company," Lindland says.

But Hyundai is equipping its latest vehicles with ever-more-efficient and sophisticated four-cylinder power plants. And Ford has a unique selling proposition in its EcoBoost engine line: Those increase power from small engines without sacrificing significant mileage, by using a combination of direct injection and turbocharging.

"The big question for the next Civic: Is it going to be another innovative car, or is it going to be one of the 'safe' Civics?" says AutoPacific's Kim. "Honda has an opportunity to get it" right.

Source;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-01-07-autoshow07_CV_N.htm

Read more »

2012 Civic comes to Detroit: Will it be Honda's hero?

Here's a good article explaining Honda's plans to "Revolutionalize" the new Civic (far cry from the 'evolutionary' original approach.... thanks for the tip Wayne!
By James R. Healey and Chris Woodard, USA TODAY

Honda's redesigned 2012 Civic compact car will make a long-awaited debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, a coming-out party in advance of its arrival at dealers in April or May. The as-yet-unseen Civic show car, apparently very close to the real thing, must do more than draw the standard concept-car ooohs and aaaahs.

It must presage a new Civic good enough to prove that Honda (HMC) still has the touch, that it can still roll out cars that make buyers willing to wait in line and pay more than sticker price.

The once-golden car company hardly is a disaster, but it has been drifting in the U.S., unable to capitalize on rival Toyota's recall-fueled slide, losing ground to Ford (F) and Hyundai in the hearts and minds of buyers, and unable to fire anybody's imagination with recent launches of low-volume specialty cars that don't quite make sense to buyers.

"They need a hit," says Ed Kim, director of industry analysis for consultant AutoPacific. "Honda no longer has the edge. In efficiency, technology and design, they are no longer the leader."

Details remain secret, but Honda is promising that this ninth-generation Civic will be "completely revolutionized" and will raise compact-car standards for innovative technology.

Civic is "hugely important to us" and "the emotional pivot point" of the brand, says John Mendel, Honda's executive vice president in the U.S.

Civic is Honda's second-best seller, behind the larger Accord sedan, and in some months has passed Accord. Civic was the sixth-best-selling vehicle of any kind in the U.S. last year and is the car that introduces many buyers to Honda. U.S.-market Civics are made in Ohio, where thousands of jobs depend on the car's success. And the small-car segment overall, in which Civic is a main player, makes up about one-third of all U.S. car sales. The small-car category is expected to grow as buyers seek lower prices and better fuel economy.

What's more, if the new Civic misses the bull's-eye, even after being delayed a year to help Honda save cash during the recession, then a struggling Civic becomes both harbinger and symbol of Japanese-brand automakers struggling to rediscover their magic. For decades, Japanese-brand car companies "had the corner on the small-car market. The domestic offerings were not at the same level, did not provide the same quality, value, reliability," says Rebecca Lindland, auto-industry specialist at consultant IHS Global Insight.

"That's changed a lot. We're seeing products coming out" of General Motors (GM), Ford Motor and Chrysler Group "that are incredibly competitive. For example, Chevy Cruze and Ford Focus."

Honda's share of the market was 10.6% last year, down from 11% in 2009. But Mendel points to data showing that competitors gained ground by cranking up heavily discounted bulk sales to corporate and government fleets and rental car agencies, low-profit sales that Honda eschews.

What's going on at Honda

Consequently, he doesn't think Honda has lost its Midas touch. "I don't think there's a mojo deficit at all," Mendel said in an interview at the automaker's U.S. headquarters in Torrance, Calif.

Whatever malaise might be stalking American Honda — the U.S. operation that includes the Honda mainstream brand and the Acura luxury brand — is tricky to define.

"I don't sense that there's a dynamic excitement any more," Lindland says. "It's nothing definitive." But the Honda brand's U.S. sales of 1.1 million last year fell short of the 1.2 million that IHS Global Insight had forecast a year ago.

Honda's main Japanese-brand rivals, Toyota (TM) and Nissan, will be relatively weaker competitors until they redesign their Corolla and Sentra, respectively. A mildly refreshed Corolla is just hitting showrooms; Toyota hasn't said when a full redesign is coming. Even though aging, Corolla still outsold Civic by 5,864 units last year. A new Sentra is about two years off, though Nissan plans to unveil another small car at the New York auto show in April.

There could be room for all. A combination of higher gasoline prices and the new small-car entries are expected to boost compact cars to 15.7% of all new car sales, up a percentage point from last year, predicts J.D. Power and Associates.

J.D. Power analyst Jeff Schuster is encouraged about the new Civic. "It looks like it will be a more sporty vehicle that should do well in the segment," he said.

While most Civic buyers match the demographics of the rest of the compact segment — 51, probably no kids at home, mainly interested in reliability and fuel economy — the car's sportier engines and suspensions have lured more driving enthusiasts than rivals have. Young and loyal, they are an important core for Civic and Honda.

Jeff Palmer, who founded the Temple of VTEC website for Honda enthusiasts, is praying the new Civic stays sporty and continues to be "a great car."

Civic, of course, could be a wild hit. Honda "might have a tiger by the tail there. Sometimes you introduce at just the right time," says Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, mainly known as a source of real-world auto pricing and consumer research.

Toyota taint

But Honda has faced troubles because of Toyota's recalls in the past year. Toyota, the top Japanese car company, recalled more than 7 million vehicles for just two problems — improper floor mats and sticky acceleration pedals — that could cause runaway acceleration. Other high-profile recalls involved such frightening issues as potentially faulty brakes. The government imposed two $16.4 million fines against Toyota — the maximum possible — for not reporting the floor-mat and sticky pedal issues promptly. And it separately fined Toyota another $16.1 million for tardy notice of nearly 1 million vehicles with potentially faulty steering relay rods that had been recalled earlier.

"Toyota's trouble didn't benefit Honda," AutoPacific's Kim says. "A lot of those people ended up (shopping for) a Ford for the first time, or a Hyundai the first time." Honda's Mendel says,"We never targeted to take advantage of" Toyota's troubles. "It's not how to win a race."

Instead, Honda focused on its own new models, which Mendel says are hitting sales expectations. Some, though, have seemed out-of-sync with the market:

•CR-Z. The two-seat, gas-electric hybrid was dinged last month by influential Consumer Reports magazine. CR said, "Even if the CR-Z turns out to be reliable, it scores too low for us to recommend."

The publication cited "a long list of drawbacks" that included stiff ride, poor steering feel, poorly tuned stability control, and "lousy" visibility.

•Insight. Also a hybrid and the car on which CR-Z is based, the Insight is aimed directly at Toyota's Prius and was criticized by CR and others for a cheap interior, mediocre mileage (by hybrid standards) and a noisy powertrain. Honda sold just 21,000 Insights last year; Toyota, 141,000 Priuses.

•Accord Crosstour. Fitted with all-wheel drive, sloping rear roofline and a premium price, this Accord is somewhat modeled on the BMW X6 crossover, but without BMW's "sport-activity vehicle" panache.

•Acura ZDX. Another attempt to blend crossover-utility-vehicle underpinnings with a fastback-sedan body.

Acura spokeswoman Alison Sobkowski points out that ZDX is meant to be a niche player to enhance Acura's image. She says the brand overall had a good sales year. Its 134,000 sales exceed IHS Global Insight's year-ago forecast of 124,000. Acura should benefit because its models are lower-price than better-selling import rivals at a time premium-car buyers are seeking value.

Acura also scores high in quality and reliability rankings by third-party evaluators, such as CR and J.D. Power and Associates.

Unfriendly dealers

Honda dealers as a group typically score in the bottom third in J.D. Power's annual Sales Satisfaction Index, a survey of how well new car buyers were treated at the dealership. Last year, for example, Honda dealers as a group were 23rd among 32 brands for which Power had sufficient data. The year before, 25th of 37. The pattern holds all the way back to 2001. As buyers begin to see there are more and more choices, tangential issues such as pleasant dealerships matter more.

Eroding forte

Honda began as an engine-building company and made vehicles simply as a way to package and profit from its engine expertise.

"They are still a very, very good engine company," Lindland says.

But Hyundai is equipping its latest vehicles with ever-more-efficient and sophisticated four-cylinder power plants. And Ford has a unique selling proposition in its EcoBoost engine line: Those increase power from small engines without sacrificing significant mileage, by using a combination of direct injection and turbocharging.

"The big question for the next Civic: Is it going to be another innovative car, or is it going to be one of the 'safe' Civics?" says AutoPacific's Kim. "Honda has an opportunity to get it" right.

Source;
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-01-07-autoshow07_CV_N.htm

Read more »