01 Sep 2003 ID: 34311
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Civic 04 Overview

Civic Overview
 
 
 
  • Global Civic range, in 3, 4, 5 door and Coupe body styles
  • Innovative 'short nose' design contributes to class-leading interior space
  • Flat floor for greater comfort
  • Convenient fascia-mounted gearshift (3 and 5 door)
  • Unique engine line-up: petrol, diesel and petrol-electric
  • 1.4 SOHC and 1.6 SOHC VTEC-II (3, 4 and 5 door models)
  • 160 PS 2.0 DOHC i-VTEC new for model year 2004 (5 door)
  • 1.7 SOHC and 1.7 SOHC VTEC-II (Coupe)
  • 1.7 common rail direct injection diesel (3 and 5 door)
  • 2.0 DOHC i-VTEC-powered Type-R flagship delivers 200 PS, exhilarating performance and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 6.6 sec (performance uprated for MY2004)
  • Civic IMA 4 door represents first application of petrol-electric technology on an established, mainstream platform – combined consumption of 4.9 l/100 km, CO2 emissions of 116 g/km
  • 3 and 5 door models receive styling and interior upgrades for MY2004


Since its launch, Honda's seventh-generation Civic range has proved widely popular thanks to clever packaging that delivers exceptional roominess, engines with some of the very best performance/economy combinations in their class, and a variety of models to suit most customer tastes – what other range is able to boast both an iconic 200 PS slingshot and a petrol-electric IMA capable of 4.9 l/100km? That broad appeal has played a key role in Honda's recent sales growth.

The arrival of diesel 3 and 5 door models further expanded the model line-up in 2002, while the frugal Civic IMA 4 door with its highly innovative petrol-electric technology enters markets across Europe during 2003. And for model year 2004, there is a new high performance derivative: a 160 PS 2.0 litre i-VTEC unit aimed at those wanting to capture some of the driving thrills of the Type-R, but in a more sophisticated and comfortable 5 door body style. At the same time, all 3 and 5 door models undergo a number of updates designed to reinforce their exciting and fun to drive nature.

The extensive range now features four different body styles – 3, 4 and 5 door, plus Coupe (selected markets only) – and eight different petrol and diesel engines. Range flagship is the hot shot Type-R which, with its striking looks, agile handling and blistering output – 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and a potential maximum speed of 235 km/h – has become one of the most popular compact performance derivatives in Europe.

3 door 4 door 5 door Coupe 1.4 SOHC * * * 1.6 SOHC VTEC-II * * * 2.0 DOHC i-VTEC (160 PS) * 2.0 DOHC i-VTEC (200 PS) * 1.7 SOHC * 1.7 SOHC VTEC-II * 1.7 CTDi * * IMA (1.3 i-DSI + electric motor) *

 

MY 2004 upgrades
The new flagship 2.0 litre 5 door model heads the changes for MY2004. A 160 PS i-VTEC engine similar to that of the CR-V, but tuned specifically for the Civic, delivers further vitality and flair to the all round capability of the 5 door model. 3-light projector style headlamps, unique 16 inch alloys, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), front fogs, a mesh grille, half leather seats and white sports dials are some of the visual differences which add panache to the performance.

 

All 3 and 5 door models receive revised frontal styling for a more distinctive, sporty appearance: a wider bumper intake with lines that sweep up into the wheel arch; either two-light or three-light projector style headlamps, depending on model; and a mesh grille for the 3 door model and a three bar grille for the 5 door.

Top grade Civic models also get door mirror-mounted side indicators comprising a strip of LEDs for improved visibility when turning. Body colour side sills add further definition to the flanks.

At the rear 5 door models get a revised rear bumper with a styling motif mirroring that at the front and a tailgate spoiler is added. Tail-light clusters on both both 3 and 5 door models have been restyled.

3 and 5 door interior changes
The extensive use of noise suppression materials, careful coordination of colours and textures, large front seats and accommodation increased in all dimensions, combine with a more supple ride to make travel in the Civic a particularly relaxing experience.

Changes to the spacious cabins make for a lighter and more elegant ambience – more chrome-finished detailing matched to a new centre console colour of Magnum Silver, seats finished in a new fabric and improved in shape for greater comfort, and self illuminated meters on top grades.

In addition, 3 door models are equipped with a sports steering wheel. 5 door models get a two-tone soft coating to the instrument panel. In some markets a new titanium interior with dark titanium centre console is also available. Other upgrades include a rear seat centre cup holder incorporated in the back of the armrest, a four-spoke steering wheel, and a larger sized seat back pocket.

New 3-door Sport plus revised Type-R
Capturing some of the visual excitement of the Type-R, a new Sport grade has been added to the 3 door line-up. It uses the new front spoiler design from its more powerful sibling together with a unique colour front grille, 3-light projector headlamps, side sill garnish, 205/55 R16 tyres and newly designed 16 inch alloy wheels. Inside, this extrovert appearance is complemented by white dials, red seat inserts and red door panels (matched with black).

The exciting and iconic Civic Type-R doesn't go unchanged and new for 2004 are a 30 per cent lighter flywheel which, together with improved engine response, shaves 0.2 secs off the 0-100 km/h time. There are also new brake callipers that incorporate the Type-R logo for added exclusivity. Door mirror-mounted indicators, a front spoiler similar to that on Sport models, a front grille unique to Type-R, and three light projector style headlamps complete the picture. Inside, there are now red seat inserts and door panels, as well as red headrest aperture, to further emphasise the car's out and out sporty nature.

Advanced IMA technology and everyday practicality
The Civic IMA – new for 2003 – is the car that finally brings the exceptional economy of petrol-electric technology to conventional, mainstream motoring. A second-generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system packaged within a high volume, established model, heralds a new era in high efficiency transportation, and the result is an exceptionally frugal, environmentally-friendly car: combined cycle consumption is just 4.9 l/100km, an improvement of almost 30 per cent over a conventional 1.4 litre Civic, itself one of the most efficient cars in the compact car class.

Yet driveability, practicality and refinement remain uncompromised. In everyday motoring the Civic IMA is to all intents and purposes a conventional car; a roomy, comfortable 5-seater saloon that retains the Civic family's class-leading features and build quality.

 

The IMA system couples a 1.3 litre i-DSI petrol engine – similar to that powering the Honda Jazz – with a thin, lightweight electric motor that both boosts performance during acceleration, and captures energy otherwise wasted during braking, to the benefit of fuel economy. The whole process is fully automatic and the driver simply turns the key and goes.

2.0 litre DOHC i-VTEC engine (5 door)
Now widely used throughout the Honda range, and indeed in the Civic Type-R, i-VTEC technology matches strong fuel economy and cleaner emissions with high output and strong torque characteristics over all speed ranges. This 2.0 litre engine is a similar unit, albeit more powerful, to that fitted in the CR-V. It produces 160 PS (118 kW) at 6,500 rpm and torque peaks at 179 Nm at 5,000 rpm, for fast and refined motoring; in particular, mid-range torque ensures brisk and effortless acceleration in top gear. 0 to 100 km/h in the manual-only model is dispatched in 8.5 seconds, while top speed is 208 km/h.

The global Civic range
The Civic is a truly global car in more than one sense: in design terms all variants share the same platform and the same basic specifications. In production terms, the Civic is also the beneficiary of Honda's Global Product Supply Network initiative, which increases the speed, efficiency and flexibility of the company's manufacturing operations around the world.

Thus, 5 door models are built both at the Swindon, UK plant and in Japan; 4 door models in the US and Japan; the 2-door Coupe in the US; and the new 3 door exclusively in Swindon.

Production
USA EUROPE ASIA JAPAN 2 door - - - - 3 door - - 4 door - 4 door 4 door - 5 door - 5 door

 

Sales
USA EUROPE ASIA JAPAN 2 door 2 door - 3 door 3 door - 3 door 4 door 4 door 4 door 4 door - 5 door - 5 door

British built Civics are exported to both Japan (Type-R) and North America (Civic Si).

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