Daily Independent (Lagos)
Oladunjoye Phillip
26 November 2008
The competition is always keen in the auto industry. Virtually all auto manufacturers would want to introduce one feature or the other in their brand to entice vehicle lovers around the world.
Honda Motor Corporation has disclosed that it has equipped its 2009 Honda Civic Lineup with new exterior styling and new technology.
The corporation said the Honda Civic has been enhanced inside and out for 2009 with new exterior styling, colours and available tech-friendly features like Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and a USB Audio Interface, disclosing that an exclusively-equipped Civic LX-S Sedan debuts with alloy wheels and sportier interior styling. It said a new Civic DX Value Package (DX-VP) Sedan built on the Civic DX Sedan's standard features by adding air conditioning and an audio system.
According to the executive vice president of American Honda Motor Company Incorporation, Dick Colliver, "The Civic lineup uniquely embraces traditional gasoline, hybrid, high performance and natural gas technologies like no other vehicle in the world. The exterior styling enhancements and newly-available features help strengthen Civic's position as one of the best-selling vehicles in a market that's embracing small cars more than ever."
He declared that all 2009 Civic sedan and coupe models boast redesigned exterior styling features, including a new front bumper cover and grille design and new headlight and taillight color combinations, featuring clear turn indicator lenses with amber bulbs.
"New alloy wheel designs are introduced on the Civic EX, Civic EX-L and Civic Si models, along with the addition of fog lamps for the Civic Si model.
Interior enhancements come by way of technology-friendly additions. Bluetooth HandsFreeLink is added to Navigation-equipped models and a USB Audio Interface added to Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Si models. The Civic Hybrid gains the option of leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats and side mirrors. Additionally, new cloth materials and patterns on seats, door linings and armrests (when equipped) have been updated to further enhance the interior's look and feel," Honda stated.
The company disclosed that parts of the new additions in the lineup for the 2009 model include a standard Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), also known as electronic stability control. The entire line-up, the company declared, maintains a standard array of safety technologies including Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure; side curtain airbags; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's airbags (SRS).
It pointed out that active front seat head restraints were designed to help reduce the likelihood of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. Standard active safety features in the lineup now include an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and electronic brake distribution; front seatbelts with an automatic tensioning system, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design incorporated into the front exterior of the vehicle.
The vehicles are also equipped with a standard driver and front passenger seatbelt reminders and daytime running lights.
The company disclosed all the modifications that it has added in the lineup to include: four engine and four transmission choices range from a 140-horsepower, 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine (Civic DX, DX-VP, LX, EX and EX-L), with either a 5-speed manual or an available 5-speed automatic transmission, to a 197-horsepower, 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine (Civic Si) with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Civic Hybrid is powered by a 1.3-litre i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) gasoline-electric hybrid technology to enhance both fuel economy and performance, and is equipped with a continuously variable transmission.
The Civic GX is powered by a dedicated natural gas version of the Civic's 1.8-litre i-VTEC engine - and is equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission. Both Civic Hybrid and Civic GX are classified as Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (AT-PZEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The Civic GX is classified by the EPA as an Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV).
Built on a high-rigidity unit-body platform, the Civic is designed to deliver precise, sharp and refined handling performance with its MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension.
The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, available on Civic EX, EX-L, Si and Hybrid models, has a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to the internal single-disc CD player, and a digital audio-card reader that can play MP3 and Windows Media Audio (WMA) files from CompactFlash cards (via a PC card adapter). The navigation system features more than seven million points of interest and the voice activation can control the navigation menus and the audio system, along with entering city and street names.
New for 2009, the system includes Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, a wireless telephone interface that works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile telephones for hands-free operation via steering wheel-mounted controls.
Auxiliary audio input jacks are standard equipment on Civic LX and above trim levels and allow for portable music device playback through the audio system. The Civic LX Coupe has a six-speaker 160-watt audio system with a CD player (four speakers for the LX sedan). All audio systems are capable of playing MP3 and WMA formatted CDs. Standard Speed-sensitive Volume Control (SVC) automatically adjusts the volume based on vehicle speed. Audio displays include CD/MP3 text readout, and all coupes (except for the DX) plus the Civic Si Sedan provide a customizable welcome screen (exclusively on models without the available navigation system).
The Civic DX-VP Sedan adds air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD audio system and an auxiliary input jack, in addition to the standard 140-horsepower 1.8-litre SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission (5-speed automatic available), power windows, 15-inch steel wheels with covers and P195/65R15 tyres.
Standard features on the Civic LX include air conditioning, cruise control, power door locks, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, P205/55R16 tyres, keyless entry, a 4-speaker 160-watt AM/FM Audio System with CD player (MP3/WMA enabled), auxiliary audio input jack, center console with sliding armrest, progressive blue illumination instrument panel meters, auto up and down driver's power window, and a folding rear seat.
In addition to the well-equipped Civic LX features, the Civic LX-S Sedan upgrades to alloy wheels, exclusive sport-trimmed black cloth seats with synthetic suede bolsters and silver stitching, leather-wrapped steering wheel, a rear deck spoiler and a chrome exhaust finisher.
The Civic EX Sedan and Coupe include newly-designed alloy wheels, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, a one-touch power moonroof, ambient console lighting, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and the availability of the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Activation, which also includes XM Satellite Radio5. The Civic EX-L also comes standard with a leather-trimmed interior, heated seats and heated door mirrors to the Civic EX list of features. The Civic EX and EX-L Coupe exclusively feature a 7-speaker with subwoofer AM/FM audio system with CD player (MP3/WMA enabled). All Civic sedans receive a sporty three-spoke steering wheel for 2009, along with a rear chrome garnish bar above the license plate.
The Civic Si Sedan and Coupe serve as the performance cornerstone for the Civic line-up with a 197-horsepower, 16-valve, DOHC 2.0 litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine mated to a close-ratio, 6-speed manual transmission. A helical-type, limited-slip differential enhances traction in high-performance driving situations. The Civic Si sport suspension adds firm spring, damper and stabilizer bar tuning along with exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels and high-performance tyres.
Exclusive exterior features include a rear wing spoiler (low profile on the sedan) and Si emblems. The sports-oriented interior adds firmly-bolstered, performance-oriented seats with red fabric stitching and synthetic suede trim. Standard fog lights and a restyled alloy wheel design are new for 2009.
The Civic Hybrid with advanced IMA hybrid technology achieves an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy of 40/45 miles per gallon6 and is updated for 2009 with the addition of Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and the availability of leather-trimmed interior which includes heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and heated side mirrors. The Civic Hybrid is certified by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) as Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV).
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard equipment. The Civic Hybrid can deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain low-speed cruising situations. Power for the Civic Hybrid is provided by a 1.3-litre i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 15 kilowatt electric motor, producing a combined 110-horsepower at 6000 rpm and combined 123 lb-ft. of torque at 1000-2500 rpm.
The ultra-clean Civic GX produces near zero emissions. The 2009 Civic GX is the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger car available to retail customers and achieves an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 24/36 miles per gallon.
The Civic GX is available to consumers at qualified Honda dealers.
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