HONDA

Civic celebrates its 50th anniversary

This year Honda celebrates 50 years of its iconic Civic, a car developed as a 'car for the world' and of which more than 27.5 million units have been sold in 170 countries since the model was first introduced to the market in 1972. Now entering its sixth decade with the launch of the 11th generation, the Civic continues to set new benchmarks in its segment and exceed customer expectations around the world.

The Civic's enduring popularity is testament to the pioneering work that has been done by Honda engineers over the past half century. Each generation has brought its own evolution of the original Civic design, introducing advanced technologies and new levels of performance, while maintaining the same goal as the first Civic: offering a compact, spacious, affordable and fun-to-drive compact car.

1972-1979: A Civic for All...The first Civic was developed as a global car for all markets and offered exceptional functionality for everyday driving. It was one of Honda's first automobiles to be marketed in the West and immediately received high praise for its compact design, impressive fuel economy and functionality. The Civic, powered by a revolutionary CVCC (Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion) engine, became the first vehicle to meet the world's strictest emissions standard - the United States' Clean Air Act of 1970, so it set the standard for future emission targets in the global auto industry. The first generation Civic started to be manufactured in Suzuka, Japan. The accumulated production volume reached one million units in the first four years.

1980s: Consolidation of the Civic...In 1979, building on the success of the original Civic, the second generation Civic was introduced with an improved 1.3-liter CVCC-II engine that delivered power more smoothly, in addition to offering greater fuel economy. The line was also expanded with sedan, five-door and wagon versions with a 1.5-liter engine. A 5-speed manual transmission has also been added to the range. The model introduced an unmistakable new trapezoidal two-section design with the front grille and headlights with a more angular style. However, these forms were transitory, as the Civic's popularity grew and a new model was needed that would respond to consumer demand for larger cars.

The third generation Civic arrived in 1983 with a longer wheelbase and more angular design. It is notable for the introduction of Honda's principle of putting people first before the machine - 'Man Maximum - Machine Minimum' - a person-centred design approach that ensured that the technology and distribution responded to the needs of the driver and passengers. . Today, this principle continues to be applied to all Honda models to provide the space and functionality that today's drivers have come to expect.

This generation was available with three bodies: a three-door version that emphasized sporty driving; a more practical four-door version; and a five-door station wagon version, Civic Shuttle, which offered exceptional levels of space and functionality. In addition, the sportier Civic Si version was introduced, with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder in-line engine with dual valve timing (DOHC).

1987-2000: New Standards for Quality and Performance...In 1987, the fourth generation Civic offered new powertrain options with Honda's VTEC system. Its variable timing mechanism revolutionized engine technology, as it offered greater performance at high revs and optimized fuel consumption at low revs, which allowed the Civic to win numerous awards.

Shortly after, in 1991, the fifth generation of the Civic arrived, with sleeker and more aerodynamic shapes to offer a more sporty-style design, but without sacrificing the everyday functionality for which this car had become famous. The sixth generation Civic is designed to create superior value in its class. In 1990, lower fuel consumption and other environmental measures became more important. Thus, this model had a newly developed VTEC engine. It also incorporated for the first time the 'Hondamatic' transmission, a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which offered impeccable gear changes and fuel economy similar to that of a manual transmission.

Building on the exceptional dynamic capabilities of the standard Civic, Honda introduced the first high-performance Type R version in 1997. Its goal was to deliver the most extreme performance to date in a Civic, so it became the 25 year old catalytic converter. success for Honda within the competitive compact sports segment.

2001-2021: the 'millennial' Civic...The seventh generation arrived in the year 2000 and became the first Civic to offer hybrid technology in 2001. This Civic became the world's most efficient five-seat, gas-powered production vehicle with an impressive fuel consumption of 29.5 km/l

In 2005, the eighth-generation five-door version arrived, betting on futuristic styling, a Perspex grille and triangular details (including dual exhaust pipes) that positioned it as one of the most distinctively styled vehicles on the road. In addition, it was the first generation Civic to include the Honda Magic Seats multi-configurable seating system, where the rear seat bases could be folded down to create a high load zone. Engineers made this possible by placing the fuel tank under the front seats, a formula for creating space in the interior and a great feature that is still used today in several Honda models, such as the HR-V and Fit (Jazz).

The ninth generation Civic has added a greater level of sophistication to create a complete package for customers, with class-leading efficiency as well. This vehicle, with a revised 1.6-litre DTEC engine, managed to beat the Guinness record for 'Lowest fuel consumption - all 24 EU countries (all cars)', averaging 35.5 km/l on a journey of 13,498 kilometers during a 25-day trip through the 24 countries of the European Union.

In 2015, the tenth generation(image below) was presented, completely renewed, with two VTEC TURBO engines as an option, and equipped for the first time with Honda SENSING advanced safety and driving assistance systems. With a stiffer chassis and more dynamic performance, it was the perfect platform for the 2017 Civic Type R, which set new performance standards for high-performance hatchbacks. The car garnered high praise for its steering precision, instantaneous acceleration, top speed, stability, and exceptional braking ability, all of which contributed to the Type R setting a new lap time record for automobiles. front-wheel drive on the north 'Nordschleife' section of the German Nürburgring circuit in April 2017.

2022: A New Era for the Civic...The eleventh generation Civic builds on its 50-year heritage to combine outstanding performance and efficiency with enhanced levels of interior comfort, visual appeal and overall functionality. The latest version represents an important milestone for Honda, as it is the latest model in the range that has been electrified and with it Honda fulfills its 'Electric Vision' commitment to electrify all its flagship models for 2022. The new Civic incorporates The most advanced version of the brand's e:HEV full hybrid system, which has received numerous awards, is standard and offers exhilarating performance and driving dynamics, as well as impressive levels of fuel economy and efficiency.

“Since the first generation, which received high praise, the Honda Civic has been a flagship model for customers,” says Tom Gardner, Senior VP, Honda Motor Europe, who adds: “The eleventh generation encompasses the basic features of functionality. , ease of use and comfort of the first generation Civic. It's been designed to ensure that its powertrain, steering and suspension deliver the exhilarating levels of performance, dynamics and responsiveness that have always been an essential part of the Civic's appeal."

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