The new Honda Civic
Four months after its launch in Japan, Honda’s 7th Generation Civic is introduced in Malaysia as a locally-assembled model. This is about half as short as it would usually take for an all-new model to be assembled locally. The reason for the speedy introduction is due to the use of the AICO program among ASEAN countries which allows for the free and easy exchange of components. As such, the need to source from only Malaysian suppliers is less critical and components sourced from other ASEAN countries is also recognised as ‘local content’. Many of the components in the new Civic come from Thailand, where Honda has more extensive manufacturing operations.
The new Civic generation – voted Japan’s ‘Car of the Year’ recently – represents a return to the original concept of the model which first appeared in the early 1970s as ‘a car for the citizens of the world’. Like the original Civic, the new Civic has been developed on the philosophy of “Man Maximum, Machine Minimum” but with the added concept of being a “Smart Compact”.
“The all-new Civic brings to Malaysian customers Honda’s most advanced technology,” said Satoshi Toshida, Managing Director of Honda Motor Co, Ltd and also President/CEO of Asian Honda Motor, during the launch of the new model in Kuala Lumpur today. “It sets new world standards which, collectively, we call the ‘Civic Dimension’.”
Development of the new Civic focussed on maximizing interior space, increasing driving comfort, giving greater safety levels, increasing performance while reducing fuel consumption and very importantly, lowering toxic exhaust emissions. In fact, where emissions are concerned, the new Civic is considered a Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and its levels of toxic elements in the exhaust gas are claimed to be as much as 80% lower than what present Malaysian standards (based on the European Step 2 standard) require.
Although there are two bodystyles for the new generation, Honda is only assembling the 4-door sedan for the Malaysian market as demand for the hatchbacks have never been significant. Two versions with five colour choices (only metallic finishes) are offered, both with 1.7-litre engines. Of these two, the Civic VTi comes with a 16-valve SOHC VTEC engine.
The new Civic styling is contemporary with the headlight design adding distinction to the front end. The car’s proportions are well balanced and great effort has gone into achieving higher levels of quality and minimising gaps and panel tolerances. Aerodynamics are, however, class average at 0.30 Cd although that is not really an issue with consumers.
