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First Look: '02 Civic Hybrid makes it easier to be green.
In March next year Honda will make it even easier to be an ecology-minded member of the U.S. motoring public when it begins selling the Civic Hybrid here.
Honda made a splash with its gas/electric high-mileage hybrid Insight a couple of years ago, but Insight is a lightweight, mostly aluminum two-seater good for little more than personal transportation. Insight, which will continue to be sold, was good in proving Honda's technology and introducing the hybrid concept to the public.
The Civic Hybrid, however, is a real five-passenger car, built on the same platform as the all-gasoline-powered Civic. The Civic Hybrid looks little different from the ``regular'' Civic, save the grille, front fascia and trunk lid.
Using an updated Integrated Motor Assist system like that used on Insight, the Civic Hybrid boasts the highest fuel mileage figure ever achieved in Japan for a five-seater, gasoline-powered production vehicle. While U.S. EPA tests have not yet been completed, Honda officials expect mileage numbers to be in the mid-50-mpg range. For comparison, Insight EPA figures are 71 highway, 68 city.
In several laps around the four-kilometer oval at Honda's Tochigi Research and Development Center, we found the Civic Hybrid more of a ``real'' vehicle than either the Insight or the Toyota Prius, the other gasoline-electric hybrid on sale in the U.S. market. The Civic Hybrid's ride and handling are everything we've come to expect from Honda, and coupled with Honda's Multimatic S continuously variable transmission, the performance, while not featuring neck-snapping acceleration, is more than adequate for such a fuel-sipper.
There are two things working in Civic Hybrid's favor: a new 84-horse-power, 1.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and the combining of the power control unit and nickel-metal hydride battery into a single Intelligent Power Unit to control the electric motor. This compact unit, stored behind the rear seat, allows for the use of the standard Civic platform with little sacrifice in trunk space.
The main power source is the gas engine that gets an assist from a 10-kilowatt electric ...
- Honda Leads 2002 Tour de Sol With Civic Hybrid.
- Press release article from: PR Newswire May 10, 2002 700+ words
...WASHINGTON -- The all-new 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid -- the first gasoline-electric...motorcycles, and scooters. The Civic Hybrid is Honda's second gasoline-electric...external power source. The 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid MSRP is approximately $20...
- Honda Civic Hybrid Awarded 'Best New Alternative Power' By Automobile...
- News wire article from: JCN Newswires January 20, 2006 700+ words
...AJAC) with the Honda Civic Hybrid being named the...technologies, Honda's latest hybrid powertrain in the 2006 Civic Hybrid offers improved...similarly equipped 2005 Civic Hybrid. A new generation of Honda's Integrated Motor...
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- Magazine article from: Automotive News Truett, Richard March 4, 2002 700+ words
...gasoline-electric hybrid, the Civic Hybrid from Honda, goes on sale this month. Honda...dominate small-car sales in Europe, Honda won't market the Civic Hybrid there, said Robert Bienenfeld, Honda's senior manager for advanced...
- Honda Civic Hybrid Earns 51 MPG EPA Highway Rating; Five-Speed Model Priced at...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire March 20, 2002 700+ words
...The all-new 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, the first mainstream vehicle...for prime time." The 2003 Civic Hybrid uses Honda's innovative Integrated...head front restraints The Civic Hybrid will be Honda's second hybrid model...
- Honda Civic Hybrid Brings Gas-Electric Technology to Mass Market; Will Be...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire December 20, 2001 700+ words
...WASHINGTON -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc...gas-electric Civic Hybrid model today at...the world. The Civic Hybrid will be Honda's second hybrid...technology." The Civic Hybrid has a new, more advanced version of Honda's patented Integrated...
- Honda Rolls Out Its Civic Hybrid Vehicle.
- Newspaper article from: The Register Guard (Eugene, Oregon) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News) May 28, 2002 700+ words
...familiar Honda model. The Honda Civic Hybrid, which reached dealerships...Some people think the new Honda Civic Hybrid will be the first hybrid to...recharge during driving. Honda's Civic Hybrid is essentially a fully-equipped...
- Civic responsibilities.(Business)(Honda rolls out its Civic hybrid)
- Newspaper article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) May 26, 2002 700+ words
...familiar Honda model. The Honda Civic Hybrid, which reached dealerships...Some people think the new Honda Civic Hybrid will be the first hybrid to...recharge during driving. Honda's Civic Hybrid is essentially a fully-equipped...
- Honda's Civic Hybrid sips gasoline at a very slow rate.(AUTO WEEKEND)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times August 16, 2002 700+ words
...TIMES Watch yourself in Honda's newest car, or...easy to do in the 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid, which looks for all...looking new Civic uses Honda's latest-generation...efficiency. In fact, the Civic Hybrid is so efficient, it...
