2012 Honda Civic Revealed, Gets More Efficient

Honda has just released a set of photos plus some technical specifications for the 2012 Honda Civic, which looks to be designed with a clear focus on fuel efficiency. When it launches in the spring of 2011, the new model lineup will include a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline engines, a new "HF" high fuel economy version, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.

Additionally, the more fuel efficient models, namely the HF and Hybrid, deliver fuel economy figures of more than 40 mpg on the highway. The HF will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup when it launches. It comes equipped with a frugal 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine that allows the model to achieve an economy figure of 41 mpg highway.

Meanwhile, the Hybrid will have a 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and an electric motor under the bonnet. It is expected to deliver a city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the current Civic Hybrid.

“The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts – fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value. For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda.

The performance-oriented Si models get a bigger, more powerful 2.4-liter engine, which churns out 200 horsepower and 170 ft-lb (230 Nm) of torque, as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission.