Automobile drag coefficient

src: images.cdn.circlesix.co

The drag coefficient is a common measure in automotive design as it pertains to aerodynamics. Drag is a force that acts parallel and in the same direction as the airflow. The drag coefficient of an automobile impacts the way the automobile passes through the surrounding air. When automobile companies design a new vehicle they take into consideration the automobile drag coefficient in addition to the other performance characteristics. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed; therefore it becomes critically important at higher speeds. Reducing the drag coefficient in an automobile improves the performance of the vehicle as it pertains to speed and fuel efficiency. There are many different ways to reduce the drag of a vehicle. A common way to measure the drag of the vehicle is through the drag area.

Video Automobile drag coefficient

Reducing drag

The reduction of drag in road vehicles has led to increases in the top speed of the vehicle and the vehicle's fuel efficiency, as well as many other performance characteristics, such as handling and acceleration. The two main factors that impact drag are the frontal area of the vehicle and the drag coefficient. The drag coefficient is a unit-less value that denotes how much an object resists movement through a fluid such as water or air. A potential complication of altering a vehicle's aerodynamics is that it may cause the vehicle to get too much lift. Lift is an aerodynamic force that flows perpendicular to the airflow around the body of the vehicle. Too much lift can cause the vehicle to lose road traction which can be very unsafe. Lowering the drag coefficient comes from streamlining the exterior body of the vehicle. Streamlining the body requires assumptions about the surrounding airspeed and characteristic use of the vehicle.

For high speed applications near or above the speed of sound, a Sears-Haack body, is an idealized shape that minimizes wave drag, which is the drag associated with supersonic shock waves. This shape essentially consists of an elongated tube with pointed ends.

Maps Automobile drag coefficient

Deletion

The deletion of parts on a vehicle is an easy way for designers and vehicle owners to reduce parasitic and frontal drag of the vehicle with little cost and effort. Deletion can be as simple as removing an aftermarket part, or part that has been installed on the vehicle after production, or having to modify and remove an OEM part, meaning any part of the vehicle that was originally manufactured on the vehicle. Most production sports cars and high efficiency vehicles come standard with many of these deletions in order to be competitive in the automotive and race market, while others choose to keep these drag-increasing aspects of the vehicle for their visual aspects, or to fit the typical uses of their customer base.

Roof rack

A roof rack is a common trait on many SUV and station wagon vehicles. While roof racks are very useful in carrying extra storage on a vehicle, they also increase the frontal area of the vehicle and increase the drag coefficient. This is because the air flows over the top of the vehicle, following the smooth lines of the hood and windshield, then collides with the roof rack and causes turbulence. The removal of this part has led to increases in fuel efficiency in several studies.

Mud flaps

Mudflaps are now rarely specified as standard on production cars as they interfere with the clean airflow around the vehicle. For larger vehicles such as trucks, mud flaps are still important for their control of spray, and in 2010 a new version of the mud flap was introduced that has been shown to create significantly less aerodynamic drag than standard mud flaps.

Rear spoiler

A rear spoiler usually comes standard in most sports vehicles and resembles the shape of a raised wing in the rear of the vehicle. The main purpose of a rear spoiler in a vehicle's design is to counteract lift, thereby increasing stability at higher speeds. In order to achieve the lowest possible drag, air must flow around the streamlined body of the vehicle without coming into contact with any areas of possible turbulence. A rear spoiler design that stands off the rear deck lid will increase downforce, reducing lift at high speeds while incurring a drag penalty. Flat spoilers, possibly angled slightly downward may reduce turbulence and thereby reduce the coefficient of drag. Some cars now feature automatically adjustable rear spoilers, so at lower speed the effect on drag is reduced when the benefits of reduced lift are not required.

Side mirrors

Side mirrors both increase the frontal area of the vehicle and increase the coefficient of drag since they protrude from the side of the vehicle. In order to decrease the impact that side mirrors have on the drag of the vehicle the side mirrors can be replaced with smaller mirrors or mirrors with a different shape. Several concept cars of the 2010s are replacing mirrors with tiny cameras but this option is not common for production cars because most countries require side mirrors.

Radio antenna

While they do not have the biggest impact on the drag coefficient due to their small size, radio antennas commonly found protruding from the front of the vehicle can be relocated and changed in design to rid the car of this added drag. The most common replacement for the standard car antenna is the shark fin antenna found in most high efficiency vehicles.

Windshield wipers

The effect that windshield wipers have on a vehicles airflow varies between vehicles; however, they are often omitted from race vehicles and high efficiency concepts in order to maintain the smallest possible coefficient of drag. A much more common option is to replace the windshield wipers with lower profile wipers, or to only remove the windshield wiper on the passenger side of the vehicle, and even to fabricate a deflector to deflect the air up and over the wipers.

Another alternative is to equip the vehicle with a single wiper placed in the centre of the windshield, allowing it to cover both sides of the windshield. This mitigates the amount of drag by decreasing the frontal area of the blade. While such application may be useful for racing, for most road vehicles this would produce minimal improvement in overall drag reduction.

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Fabrication

The application of new parts and concepts onto the vehicle design are easier to include when in the design stage of a vehicle, rather than in aftermarket (automotive) parts, however, the fabrication of these parts assists in the streamlining of the vehicle and can help greatly reduce the drag of the vehicle. Most vehicles with very low drag coefficients, such as race cars and high efficiency concept cars, apply these ideas to their design.

Wheel covers

When air flows around the wheel wells it gets disturbed by the rims of the vehicles and forms an area of turbulence around the wheel. In order for the air to flow more smoothly around the wheel well, smooth wheel covers are often applied. Smooth wheel covers are hub caps with no holes in them for air to pass through. This design reduces drag; however, it may cause the brakes to heat up more quickly because the covers prevent airflow around the brake system. As a result, this modification is more commonly seen in high efficiency vehicles rather than sports cars or racing vehicles.

Air curtains

Air curtains divert air flow from slots in the body and guide it towards the outside edges of the wheel wells.

Partial grille block

The front grille of a vehicle is used to direct air directly into the engine compartment. In a streamlined design the air flows around the vehicle rather than through; however, the grille of a vehicle redirects airflow from around the vehicle to through the vehicle, which then increases the drag. In order to reduce this impact a grille block is often used. A grille block covers up a portion of, or the entirety of, the front grille of a vehicle. In most high efficiency models or in vehicles with low drag coefficients, a very small grille will already be built into the vehicle's design, eliminating the need for a grille block. The grille in most production vehicles is generally designed to maximize air flow into the engine compartment to keep it from overheating. This design can actually create too much airflow into the engine compartment, preventing it from warming up in a timely manner, and in such cases a grille block is used to increase engine performance and reduce vehicle drag simultaneously.

Under tray

The underside of a vehicle often traps air in various places and adds turbulence around the vehicle. In most racing vehicles this is eliminated by covering the entire underside of the vehicle in what is called an under tray. This tray prevents any air from becoming trapped under the vehicle and reduces drag.

Fender skirts

Fender skirts are often made as extensions of the body panels of the vehicles and cover the entire wheel wells. Much like smooth wheel covers this modification reduces the drag of the vehicle by preventing any air from becoming trapped in the wheel well and assists in streamlining the body of the vehicle. Fender skirts are more commonly found on the rear wheel wells of a vehicle because the tires do not turn and the design is much simpler. This is commonly seen in vehicles such as the first generation Honda Insight. Front fender skirts have the same effect on reducing drag as the rear wheel skirts, but must be further offset from the body in order to compensate for the tire sticking out from the body of the vehicle as turns are made.

Modified front bumper

The front bumper is the first part of the vehicle that the air must flow around. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in reducing drag. A front air dam is often used which extends from the very front of the vehicle down to the lowest part of the vehicle. This is done to direct airflow around and over the vehicle rather than allowing air to travel under it. Contoured deflectors, or tire spats, are often made as part of the front bumper in order to direct airflow around the tire without having any increase to the outward flow.

Boattails and Kammbacks

A boattail can greatly reduce a vehicle's total drag. Boattails create a teardrop shape that will give the vehicle a more streamlined profile, reducing the occurrence of drag inducing flow separation. A kammback is a truncated boattail. It is created as an extension of the rear of the vehicle, moving the rear backward at a slight angle toward the bumper of the car. This can reduce drag as well but a boattail would reduce the vehicles drag more. Nonetheless, for practical and style reasons, a kammback is more commonly seen in racing, high efficiency vehicles, and trucking.

src: i.pinimg.com

Typical drag coefficients

The average modern automobile achieves a drag coefficient of between 0.25 and 0.3. SUVs, with their typically boxy shapes, typically achieve a Cd=0.35-0.45. The drag coefficient of a vehicle is affected by the shape of body of the vehicle. Various other characteristics affect the coefficient of drag as well, and are taken into account in these examples. Some sports cars have a surprisingly high drag coefficient, but this is to compensate for the amount of lift the vehicle generates, while others use aerodynamics to their advantage to gain speed and have much lower coefficients of drag.

Some examples of Cd follow. Figures given are generally for the basic model. Some "high performance" models may actually have higher drag, due to wider tires, extra spoilers and larger cooling systems as many basic / low power models have half size radiators with the remaining area blanked off to reduce cooling and engine bay drag.

The Cd of a given vehicle will vary depending on which wind tunnel it is measured in. Variations of up to 5% have been documented and variations in test technique and analysis can also make a difference. So if the same vehicle with a drag coefficient of Cd=0.30 was measured in a different tunnel it could be anywhere from Cd=0.285 to Cd=0.315.

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Drag area

While designers pay attention to the overall shape of the automobile, they also bear in mind that reducing the frontal area of the shape helps reduce the drag. The product of drag coefficient and area - drag area - is represented as CdA (or C_xA), a multiplication of the Cd value by the area.

The term drag area derives from aerodynamics, where it is the product of some reference area (such as cross-sectional area, total surface area, or similar) and the drag coefficient. In 2003, Car and Driver magazine adopted this metric as a more intuitive way to compare the aerodynamic efficiency of various automobiles.

The force required to overcome drag is: ${\displaystyle {\tfrac {1}{2}}\times {\text{air density}}\times {\text{drag coefficient}}\times {\text{reference area}}\times {\text{speed}}^{2}}$ Therefore:${\displaystyle {\tfrac {1}{2}}\times {\text{air density}}\times {\mathbf {\text{drag area}} }\times {\text{speed}}^{2}}$ Where the drag coefficient and reference area have been collapsed into the drag area term. This allows direct estimation of the drag force at a given speed for any vehicle for which only the drag area is known and therefore easier comparison.

As drag area CdA is the fundamental value that determines power required for a given cruise speed it is a critical parameter for fuel consumption at a steady speed. This relation also allows an estimation of the new top speed of a car with a tuned engine,

${\displaystyle {\text{estimated top speed}}={\text{original top speed}}\times {\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {\text{new power}}{\text{original power}}}}}$

Or the power required for a target top speed,

${\displaystyle {\text{power required}}={\text{original power}}\times \left({\frac {\text{target speed}}{\text{original speed}}}\right)^{3}}$

Average full-size passenger cars have a drag area of roughly 8.50 sq ft (0.790 m²). Reported drag areas range from the 1999 Honda Insight at 5.1 sq ft (0.47 m²) to the 2003 Hummer H2 at 26.5 sq ft (2.46 m²). The drag area of a bicycle (and rider) is also in the range of 6.5-7.5 sq ft (0.60-0.70 m²).

src: i1.wp.com

See also

• Automotive aerodynamics
• Drag (physics)
• Drag equation
• Paul Jaray

src: hpwizard.com

Notes

src: www.invetr.com

References

src: 1.bp.blogspot.com

External links

• Further 500 drag coefficients
• Improving Aerodynamics to Boost Fuel Economy
• Tel Aviv University reduces drag on trucks by 10%
• Simple roll-down test for measuring Cd and Crr for cars and bikes

Source of article : Wikipedia

Automobile drag coefficient

src: images.cdn.circlesix.co

The drag coefficient is a common measure in automotive design as it pertains to aerodynamics. Drag is a force that acts parallel and in the same direction as the airflow. The drag coefficient of an automobile impacts the way the automobile passes through the surrounding air. When automobile companies design a new vehicle they take into consideration the automobile drag coefficient in addition to the other performance characteristics. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed; therefore it becomes critically important at higher speeds. Reducing the drag coefficient in an automobile improves the performance of the vehicle as it pertains to speed and fuel efficiency. There are many different ways to reduce the drag of a vehicle. A common way to measure the drag of the vehicle is through the drag area.

Video Automobile drag coefficient

Reducing drag

The reduction of drag in road vehicles has led to increases in the top speed of the vehicle and the vehicle's fuel efficiency, as well as many other performance characteristics, such as handling and acceleration. The two main factors that impact drag are the frontal area of the vehicle and the drag coefficient. The drag coefficient is a unit-less value that denotes how much an object resists movement through a fluid such as water or air. A potential complication of altering a vehicle's aerodynamics is that it may cause the vehicle to get too much lift. Lift is an aerodynamic force that flows perpendicular to the airflow around the body of the vehicle. Too much lift can cause the vehicle to lose road traction which can be very unsafe. Lowering the drag coefficient comes from streamlining the exterior body of the vehicle. Streamlining the body requires assumptions about the surrounding airspeed and characteristic use of the vehicle.

For high speed applications near or above the speed of sound, a Sears-Haack body, is an idealized shape that minimizes wave drag, which is the drag associated with supersonic shock waves. This shape essentially consists of an elongated tube with pointed ends.

Maps Automobile drag coefficient

Deletion

The deletion of parts on a vehicle is an easy way for designers and vehicle owners to reduce parasitic and frontal drag of the vehicle with little cost and effort. Deletion can be as simple as removing an aftermarket part, or part that has been installed on the vehicle after production, or having to modify and remove an OEM part, meaning any part of the vehicle that was originally manufactured on the vehicle. Most production sports cars and high efficiency vehicles come standard with many of these deletions in order to be competitive in the automotive and race market, while others choose to keep these drag-increasing aspects of the vehicle for their visual aspects, or to fit the typical uses of their customer base.

Roof rack

A roof rack is a common trait on many SUV and station wagon vehicles. While roof racks are very useful in carrying extra storage on a vehicle, they also increase the frontal area of the vehicle and increase the drag coefficient. This is because the air flows over the top of the vehicle, following the smooth lines of the hood and windshield, then collides with the roof rack and causes turbulence. The removal of this part has led to increases in fuel efficiency in several studies.

Mud flaps

Mudflaps are now rarely specified as standard on production cars as they interfere with the clean airflow around the vehicle. For larger vehicles such as trucks, mud flaps are still important for their control of spray, and in 2010 a new version of the mud flap was introduced that has been shown to create significantly less aerodynamic drag than standard mud flaps.

Rear spoiler

A rear spoiler usually comes standard in most sports vehicles and resembles the shape of a raised wing in the rear of the vehicle. The main purpose of a rear spoiler in a vehicle's design is to counteract lift, thereby increasing stability at higher speeds. In order to achieve the lowest possible drag, air must flow around the streamlined body of the vehicle without coming into contact with any areas of possible turbulence. A rear spoiler design that stands off the rear deck lid will increase downforce, reducing lift at high speeds while incurring a drag penalty. Flat spoilers, possibly angled slightly downward may reduce turbulence and thereby reduce the coefficient of drag. Some cars now feature automatically adjustable rear spoilers, so at lower speed the effect on drag is reduced when the benefits of reduced lift are not required.

Side mirrors

Side mirrors both increase the frontal area of the vehicle and increase the coefficient of drag since they protrude from the side of the vehicle. In order to decrease the impact that side mirrors have on the drag of the vehicle the side mirrors can be replaced with smaller mirrors or mirrors with a different shape. Several concept cars of the 2010s are replacing mirrors with tiny cameras but this option is not common for production cars because most countries require side mirrors.

Radio antenna

While they do not have the biggest impact on the drag coefficient due to their small size, radio antennas commonly found protruding from the front of the vehicle can be relocated and changed in design to rid the car of this added drag. The most common replacement for the standard car antenna is the shark fin antenna found in most high efficiency vehicles.

Windshield wipers

The effect that windshield wipers have on a vehicles airflow varies between vehicles; however, they are often omitted from race vehicles and high efficiency concepts in order to maintain the smallest possible coefficient of drag. A much more common option is to replace the windshield wipers with lower profile wipers, or to only remove the windshield wiper on the passenger side of the vehicle, and even to fabricate a deflector to deflect the air up and over the wipers.

Another alternative is to equip the vehicle with a single wiper placed in the centre of the windshield, allowing it to cover both sides of the windshield. This mitigates the amount of drag by decreasing the frontal area of the blade. While such application may be useful for racing, for most road vehicles this would produce minimal improvement in overall drag reduction.

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Fabrication

The application of new parts and concepts onto the vehicle design are easier to include when in the design stage of a vehicle, rather than in aftermarket (automotive) parts, however, the fabrication of these parts assists in the streamlining of the vehicle and can help greatly reduce the drag of the vehicle. Most vehicles with very low drag coefficients, such as race cars and high efficiency concept cars, apply these ideas to their design.

Wheel covers

When air flows around the wheel wells it gets disturbed by the rims of the vehicles and forms an area of turbulence around the wheel. In order for the air to flow more smoothly around the wheel well, smooth wheel covers are often applied. Smooth wheel covers are hub caps with no holes in them for air to pass through. This design reduces drag; however, it may cause the brakes to heat up more quickly because the covers prevent airflow around the brake system. As a result, this modification is more commonly seen in high efficiency vehicles rather than sports cars or racing vehicles.

Air curtains

Air curtains divert air flow from slots in the body and guide it towards the outside edges of the wheel wells.

Partial grille block

The front grille of a vehicle is used to direct air directly into the engine compartment. In a streamlined design the air flows around the vehicle rather than through; however, the grille of a vehicle redirects airflow from around the vehicle to through the vehicle, which then increases the drag. In order to reduce this impact a grille block is often used. A grille block covers up a portion of, or the entirety of, the front grille of a vehicle. In most high efficiency models or in vehicles with low drag coefficients, a very small grille will already be built into the vehicle's design, eliminating the need for a grille block. The grille in most production vehicles is generally designed to maximize air flow into the engine compartment to keep it from overheating. This design can actually create too much airflow into the engine compartment, preventing it from warming up in a timely manner, and in such cases a grille block is used to increase engine performance and reduce vehicle drag simultaneously.

Under tray

The underside of a vehicle often traps air in various places and adds turbulence around the vehicle. In most racing vehicles this is eliminated by covering the entire underside of the vehicle in what is called an under tray. This tray prevents any air from becoming trapped under the vehicle and reduces drag.

Fender skirts

Fender skirts are often made as extensions of the body panels of the vehicles and cover the entire wheel wells. Much like smooth wheel covers this modification reduces the drag of the vehicle by preventing any air from becoming trapped in the wheel well and assists in streamlining the body of the vehicle. Fender skirts are more commonly found on the rear wheel wells of a vehicle because the tires do not turn and the design is much simpler. This is commonly seen in vehicles such as the first generation Honda Insight. Front fender skirts have the same effect on reducing drag as the rear wheel skirts, but must be further offset from the body in order to compensate for the tire sticking out from the body of the vehicle as turns are made.

Modified front bumper

The front bumper is the first part of the vehicle that the air must flow around. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in reducing drag. A front air dam is often used which extends from the very front of the vehicle down to the lowest part of the vehicle. This is done to direct airflow around and over the vehicle rather than allowing air to travel under it. Contoured deflectors, or tire spats, are often made as part of the front bumper in order to direct airflow around the tire without having any increase to the outward flow.

Boattails and Kammbacks

A boattail can greatly reduce a vehicle's total drag. Boattails create a teardrop shape that will give the vehicle a more streamlined profile, reducing the occurrence of drag inducing flow separation. A kammback is a truncated boattail. It is created as an extension of the rear of the vehicle, moving the rear backward at a slight angle toward the bumper of the car. This can reduce drag as well but a boattail would reduce the vehicles drag more. Nonetheless, for practical and style reasons, a kammback is more commonly seen in racing, high efficiency vehicles, and trucking.

src: i.pinimg.com

Typical drag coefficients

The average modern automobile achieves a drag coefficient of between 0.25 and 0.3. SUVs, with their typically boxy shapes, typically achieve a Cd=0.35-0.45. The drag coefficient of a vehicle is affected by the shape of body of the vehicle. Various other characteristics affect the coefficient of drag as well, and are taken into account in these examples. Some sports cars have a surprisingly high drag coefficient, but this is to compensate for the amount of lift the vehicle generates, while others use aerodynamics to their advantage to gain speed and have much lower coefficients of drag.

Some examples of Cd follow. Figures given are generally for the basic model. Some "high performance" models may actually have higher drag, due to wider tires, extra spoilers and larger cooling systems as many basic / low power models have half size radiators with the remaining area blanked off to reduce cooling and engine bay drag.

The Cd of a given vehicle will vary depending on which wind tunnel it is measured in. Variations of up to 5% have been documented and variations in test technique and analysis can also make a difference. So if the same vehicle with a drag coefficient of Cd=0.30 was measured in a different tunnel it could be anywhere from Cd=0.285 to Cd=0.315.

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Drag area

While designers pay attention to the overall shape of the automobile, they also bear in mind that reducing the frontal area of the shape helps reduce the drag. The product of drag coefficient and area - drag area - is represented as CdA (or C_xA), a multiplication of the Cd value by the area.

The term drag area derives from aerodynamics, where it is the product of some reference area (such as cross-sectional area, total surface area, or similar) and the drag coefficient. In 2003, Car and Driver magazine adopted this metric as a more intuitive way to compare the aerodynamic efficiency of various automobiles.

The force required to overcome drag is: ${\displaystyle {\tfrac {1}{2}}\times {\text{air density}}\times {\text{drag coefficient}}\times {\text{reference area}}\times {\text{speed}}^{2}}$ Therefore:${\displaystyle {\tfrac {1}{2}}\times {\text{air density}}\times {\mathbf {\text{drag area}} }\times {\text{speed}}^{2}}$ Where the drag coefficient and reference area have been collapsed into the drag area term. This allows direct estimation of the drag force at a given speed for any vehicle for which only the drag area is known and therefore easier comparison.

As drag area CdA is the fundamental value that determines power required for a given cruise speed it is a critical parameter for fuel consumption at a steady speed. This relation also allows an estimation of the new top speed of a car with a tuned engine,

${\displaystyle {\text{estimated top speed}}={\text{original top speed}}\times {\sqrt[{3}]{\frac {\text{new power}}{\text{original power}}}}}$

Or the power required for a target top speed,

${\displaystyle {\text{power required}}={\text{original power}}\times \left({\frac {\text{target speed}}{\text{original speed}}}\right)^{3}}$

Average full-size passenger cars have a drag area of roughly 8.50 sq ft (0.790 m²). Reported drag areas range from the 1999 Honda Insight at 5.1 sq ft (0.47 m²) to the 2003 Hummer H2 at 26.5 sq ft (2.46 m²). The drag area of a bicycle (and rider) is also in the range of 6.5-7.5 sq ft (0.60-0.70 m²).

src: i1.wp.com

See also

• Automotive aerodynamics
• Drag (physics)
• Drag equation
• Paul Jaray

src: hpwizard.com

Notes

src: www.invetr.com

References

src: 1.bp.blogspot.com

External links

• Further 500 drag coefficients
• Improving Aerodynamics to Boost Fuel Economy
• Tel Aviv University reduces drag on trucks by 10%
• Simple roll-down test for measuring Cd and Crr for cars and bikes

Source of article : Wikipedia

Honda Civic (ninth generation)

src: upload.wikimedia.org

The ninth generation Honda Civic was launched in the North American market in April 2011, Europe in February 2012, and Asia in early 2012.

Video Honda Civic (ninth generation)

Sedan

2011

North American market model

In May 2010, the ninth-generation Civic was said to be delayed into 2011 because of changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations.

The Civic was originally planned to become bigger, but after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global credit crisis in 2008, Honda wanted to make the car smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient, while increasing space inside.

On December 13, 2010, Honda unveiled a sketch of the new ninth-generation Civic which was described as "energetic, sleek and aerodynamic." Both coupe and sedan concepts for the North American market were shown on January 10, 2011 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. The production version of the ninth-generation Civic based on the revealed concepts will go on sale in spring 2011. Gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variants will be offered. The gasoline-engined lineup includes a sedan and coupe. Both of them will be also offered in Si performance versions.

The new model is slightly smaller and lighter than the outgoing models. The sheet metal is all new, with a longer hood but still a familiar profile: Honda calls it the "one-motion" design.

Gasoline (DX, LX, EX, and EX-L), hybrid and natural gas variants are offered. The non-hybrid gasoline-engined lineup includes sedan and coupe, and Si performance versions are available as coupe and sedan. Honda has also released the Civic HF sedan, a model with aerodynamic and fuel efficiency enhancements which revives the "HF" moniker last used for the 1991 CRX HF. It features a Honda R18 1.8 Liter Inline Four-Cylinder engine and a 5-Speed Automatic transmission like the regular gas-powered models, but it has been tuned so that it returns 41 highway miles per gallon (MPG). It comes with fifteen-inch alloy wheels with low rolling-resistance tires that reduce rolling resistance by 20%, additional underbody covers, a rear decklid spoiler and keyless entry with a security alarm. This results in a 4% improvement in aerodynamic performance. It comes in two colors, Polished Metal Metallic or Taffeta White Clear Coat with a gray interior. The Civic GX NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) has been available since late 2011.

The "two-tier" instrument panel from the previous generation saw a significant redesign. All models (except for the base model DX) come with an Intelligent Multi-Informational Display (iMiD), situated on the enlarged upper tier and to the right of the digital speedometer. The 5-inch color LCD screen replaces the trip computer below the analog tachometer on the lower tier while integrating information of the vehicle with that from compatible personal electronics and steering wheel controls. It displays information such as current odometer and trip mileage, time and date, fuel economy, audio system, climate control information, and more. The Maintenance Minder now includes interval reminders for scheduled maintenance, such as air filter, cabin pollen filter, tire rotations, drive belt inspections as well as an oil change reminder. It will display an alphanumeric code, which is listed in the owners manual, signifying maintenance for the identified item is due. Owners who do their own maintenance can be reminded and the feature can be easily reset after the maintenance has been performed.

Honda's Eco Assist technology, introduced earlier on the Insight, is added to most models (except Si), and becomes the first gasoline-only powered Honda to employ such technology in North America. It is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda's hybrid vehicles in Japan by providing visual feedback to promote or confirm efficient driving. To this end, the dashboard includes a pair of color-changing indicators, adjacent to the speedometer, that change from green to blue based on the vehicle's actual driving efficiency, together with a linear fuel economy indicator accompanying the fuel gauge, replacing the coolant gauge. The Eco Assist can also alter the transmission's shift pattern in the hybrid model. A new Motion Adaptive electric power steering system helps to mitigate oversteer or understeer in conjunction with the standard Vehicle Stability Assist.

All Civic models have better fuel economy in the U.S. EPA ratings, by as much as 8% on the highway for models with an automatic transmission compared to 2011 versions. Two versions achieve 41 mpg_-US (5.7 L/100 km; 49 mpg_-imp) (17.54 km/L) or above in U.S. government testing. Aerodynamics and weight reduction play important role in fuel economy improvement: aero parts are placed under the engine bay, fuel tank, and the rear underbody to enhance airflow; front spoiler and strakes ahead of tires direct airflow around the wheel wells; there is a new flat underfloor; resulting in 3.4% lower coefficient of drag. Increase use of high-strength steel to 55% on the sedan (56% for the coupe) from 50% contributes to a 7% reduction in body weight. The electric power steering system is lighter by 1.3 kg (2.9 lb); the front subframe is lighter by 1.7 kg (3.7 lb); a thinner-walled fuel tank saves 1.0 kg (2.2 lb) and a laser-welded exhaust silencer that is 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) lighter. As a result, the LX trim with an automatic transmission is almost 50 lb (23 kg) lighter. On the other hand, for the 2012 sedan, passenger volume is increased by 3.8 ft³ (108 L) to 94.7 ft³ (2682 L), with three more inches of elbowroom in the front and about two more inches of legroom in the back. The piston assembly was the source of the most significant losses in an engine. To reduce friction loss in the engine, pistons in the 1.8 litre engine have a molybdenum treatment applied in a polka-dot pattern.

A HF model, the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup, gets 41 mpg_-US (5.7 L/100 km; 49 mpg_-imp) (17.54 km/L) under EPA highway test cycle, compares with 36 mpg_-US (6.5 L/100 km; 43 mpg_-imp) (15.38 km/L) for previous generation, increasing the combined fuel economy rating to 33 mpg_-US (7.1 L/100 km; 40 mpg_-imp) (14.08 km/L).

The Civic hybrid, with a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 90 hp and 97 lb ft of torque and a lithium-ion battery, is rated at 44 mpg_-US (5.3 L/100 km; 53 mpg_-imp) in combined city and highway EPA test cycle, an improvement of 3 mpg_-US (3.6 mpg_-imp) over the previous generation hybrid. A new stronger electric motor produces 23 hp and 78 lb ft of torque. The new lithium-ion battery is lighter and more powerful compared with the nickel-metal hydride one in previous model. Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models have improved aerodynamics.

Other gasoline-only powered Civic sedans and coupes get 39 mpg_-US (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg_-imp) in highway tests, an improvement of 3 mpg_-US (3.6 mpg_-imp) over previous generation, and 28 mpg_-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg_-imp) for city driving. The Civic GX natural gas model will have a 7% improvement in fuel economy. The above models are also equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.

Si

The 9th generation Si was the first generation to use a different engine than other models of the Honda Civic. It is available as a coupe and as a sedan. It is powered by a new 2.4-liter K-Series (K24Z7) inline-four engine which has increased displacement through longer piston stroke than the K20Z3 from the 8th generation Civic Si, yet the K24Z7 retains the 11.0:1 compression used in the K20Z3. It produces 201 hp (150 kW) and 170 lb?ft (230 N?m) of torque. Honda retuned the exhaust system in early 2014, increasing the output to 205 hp (153 kW) and 174 lb?ft (236 N?m) of torque. The K24Z7 is different than the K24Z7 found in the Honda CR-V; the CR-V has lower compression and a different, efficiency-oriented VTEC design.

The redline of the K24Z7 is 7,000 rpm with a fuel cut at 7,200 rpm. A 6-speed manual transmission with a helical LSD (Limited Slip Differential) is still offered as the only available transmission option for the Civic Si. The wing spoilers are different from the 8th generation, and the interior of the car received slight updates with the addition of a rev limit indicator and a power meter displayed in the new i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display). Sway bars have been changed to F18mm/R15mm from the F28mm/R17mm in 8th generation. The chassis is also more rigid, and the curb weight is slightly lower than the 8th generation. The Civic Si achieves an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg_-US (7.6 L/100 km; 37 mpg_-imp), an increase of 2 mpg_-US (2.4 mpg_-imp).

Vehicle color selections:

• Alabaster Silver Metallic
• Carnelian Red
• Cool Mist Metallic(hybrid)
• Crimson Pearl
• Crystal Black Pearl
• Dyno Blue Pearl
• Frosty White Metallic(hybrid)
• Green Opal Metallic (hybrid)
• Modern Steel Metallic
• Polished Metal Metallic
• Rallye Red
• Sunburst Orange Pearl
• Taffeta White
• Twilight Blue Metallic
• Urban Titanium Metallic
• White Orchid Pearl(hybrid)

In 2012, Honda recalled 50,000 2012 Civics because the process required during assembly to seat the driver's side driveshaft and set the retaining clip was not completed.

Other markets

Chinese models went on sale in 2011-10-29. Early models include a choice of two engines: 1.8L and 2.0L; 5-speed manual (1.8L EXi), 5-speed Automatic (1.8L EXi, 1.8L VTi) or 5-speed Tiptronic transmission(2.0L TYPE-S) and navigation system for (1.8L VTi, 2.0L TYPE-S). It was not sold in Japan because sales were affected by the fact the width dimension exceeded 1,700mm, an important distinction according to Japanese Government dimension regulations.

In the Philippines, the ninth Generation Honda Civic was initially launched in early 2012 and sold in 4 variants: 1.8 S which is the base model of the Civic with a choice of 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic, 1.8 E and the 1.8 Exi have the same alloy wheels and mirror with side turning lights while the Exi received fog lights and the top of the line 2.0 EL with unique 17-inch style wheels, HID headlights, automatic climate control and leather seats, while the 1.8 E and 2.0 EL variants comes with the optional Modulo kit. In 2014, Honda Philippines unveiled a facelift version of the Civic that includes new sportier front grille while the 1.8 exi is no longer available and the 1.8 S now receives front fog lights. The 1.8 E receives new alloy wheels and is available in standard or Modulo kit and the 2.0 EL now receives side curtain airbags and a choice between standard model or with Mugen kit. The ECON button is available in all models while the 1.8.E and 2.0.EL receives the touchscreen audio panel with USB and HDMI connectivity and push start or stop engine.

Starting from September 2015, models for the Turkish market were available with factory converted LPG version with the commencement of a new LPG-only assembly line in Honda's Turkey plant. Turkish models had been available with dealer-installed LPG conversion since 2011.

Facelift for North American market

Reviews of the 2012 Civic were generally lackluster, with many reviewers citing the car's cheap interior materials, along with worsened driving dynamics and insubstantial exterior styling changes from the previous generation, as drawbacks. Consumer Reports went so far as to remove the 2012 Civic from its 'Recommended' list of compact cars, which the vehicle had been on for many years. Partly in response, Honda introduced a heavily revamped Civic for the 2013 model year. The refreshed Civic sedan featured a new front fascia with a U-shaped honeycomb grille and chrome accents (replacing the 2012 model's three-bar grille), a redesigned hood, and a reworked rear end with new taillight lenses, along with additional light clusters and a chrome bar on the trunk lid. New standard features included a rear backup camera, Bluetooth controls, and Pandora Radio access. Ride quality, handling, and interior material quality were also improved. The coupe retained the 2012 model's exterior styling, but received the same interior and engineering upgrades as the sedan.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito explained that the 2012 model was developed during the height of the global financial crisis, which led the company to believe that consumers would be willing to forego upscale content and quality in new vehicles so long as they were fuel efficient and affordable. Ironically, rival automakers such as Ford and Hyundai increased the quality and feature content of their compact vehicles around the same time, pushing sales of Civic rivals such as the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra to new heights in the United States.

Model year 2014 facelift in North America

For 2014, minor changes were made to the Civic lineup in North America. These changes included exterior styling updates on the Civic coupe, premium interior refinements to all models, an optional audio system with a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, LaneWatch blind spot monitor (consisting of a camera mounted on the passenger-side mirror), "Smart Entry" with push button start, HondaLink connected-car technology, and an all-new CVT for gasoline-powered Civics.

US models included the Civic LX and EX coupes with a 5-speed manual transmission or CVT, EX-L and EX-L Navi coupes with a CVT; Civic LX sedan with a 5-speed manual or CVT, EX, EX-L EX-L Navi, and HF sedans with a CVT. Styling changes to the Civic coupe included a restyled grille, hood, front fenders and headlights, new taillight lenses, sportier front and rear bumpers, new side mirrors and a new selection of wheel styles. The Civic Si coupe included a unique lower front bumper garnish, larger rear decklid spoiler, a front spoiler and rear air diffuser; in addition they also received an increase in engine power to 205 hp (153 kW) and 174 lb-ft of torque via a retuned exhaust system. The EX-L coupe with accessories kit featured a ground effects package and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Safety (North American market model)

^* first vehicle in the small car category rated "Good" in the IIHS small overlap crash test

To improve safety, Honda used an updated ACE II body structure on 2013 Civics. Beginning with 2013 models, all Civics came standard with a rear-view backup camera.

Maps Honda Civic (ninth generation)

Euro-spec 5-door hatchback (2011-2017)

The five door hatchback Civic for European market was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. Strong identity of the previous generation European Civic led Honda to refine the current package instead of radical changes. Basic look and proportions of previous car are retained as the futuristic design was welcomed by customers. Aerodynamics, rear and side visibility are all improved. It is claimed to be the most aerodynamic car in its class, with a coefficient of 0.27. The wheelbase is 30mm shorter without a decrease of interior space. Retaining the compact torsion beam rear suspension and the centrally mounted fuel tank help contribute to a boot capacity of 470 litres. More than 20,000 miles of testing was carried out on British roads for better handling and ride quality. The rear beam axle is completely redesigned for higher stiffness, and new fluid-filled bushing is used to improve stability and cornering ability, as well as ride quality. There are more standard equipment and higher interior quality.

UK models went on sale in 2011-10-01. Early models include a choice of 1.4-litre petrol, 1.8-litre petrol, 2.2 i-DTEC Diesel engines, with 1.6-litre Diesel engine available later in 2012.

Civic Tourer Concept (2013)

The concept vehicle previewed the upcoming Civic Tourer. It was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The production model was first shown at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale in 2014.

2014 Civic hatchback update, 2014 Civic Tourer (2014-)

Changes to Civic hatchback include retuned electric power steering to provide a more secure control during higher speeds, front and rear dampers were revised for improving body control, toe and camber of the rear suspension were realigned to improve the hatchback's handling, privacy glass on the lower rear window, piano black touches on the number plate surround, tailgate and lower bumper; piano black front bumper, new alloy wheels, darker wheel arch garnishes, white stitching on the seats, steering wheel and knee pad; aluminum inserts around the cup holder, glossy black inserts.

The Civic Tourer was designed and developed in Europe. It is based on the architecture of the 5 door, and at launch, included most of the updates as mentioned above. Additionally it includes an adaptive rear damping system and the largest capacity trunk space in its class (624l VDA below tonneau). The Tourer also benefits from additional under floor storage compartments in the boot, 'Magic Seats' and 60:40 split rear seats. Overall length is 235 mm (9.3 in) longer than that of the Civic five-door.

Advanced Driving Assist System package (available for Tourer) includes blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and active city braking.

The vehicles were unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and was set to go on sale in 2014, starting with Civic hatchback in January 2014.

Early Civic Tourer models include 1.6 i-DTEC engine from the Earth Dreams Technology series or the 1.8 i-VTEC engine, 6-speed manual (1.6 i-DTEC, 1.8 i-VTEC) or 5-speed automatic (1.8 i-VTEC) transmission.

src: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Civic Type R (2015-2017)

This is a version of the Civic 5-door hatchback for the European market, with a direct injection turbocharged 2.0 L (120 cu in) VTEC TURBO engine from Honda's Earth Dreams Technology range rated at 310 PS (228 kW; 306 hp) and 400 N?m (295 lb?ft) of torque at 2,500 rpm. The engine red lines at 7,000 rpm. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes 5.7 seconds and it has a top speed of 167 mph (269 km/h). All cars will use a six-speed manual gearbox.

Honda announced it had broken the Renault Megane 275 Trophy-R's 7:54.36 front-wheel-drive Nürburgring lap time. The new Honda Civic Type R posted a 7:50.63, beating the Renault by over three seconds, but the record was soon broken by VW GTI again

src: opencsi.info

Production

As Honda's Research and Development Centre at Tochigi, Japan was damaged in the March 2011 earthquake, designers of the European Civic were transferred to the Swindon plant in the UK, where all European Civic hatchbacks are built, to ensure the development is not delayed. Production at Swindon, UK, was disrupted by supply chain disruption caused by the 2011 Japanese tsunami and flooding in Thailand. Normal production of Civic did not start until December 2011, causing the new Civic to not be available on the market until February 2012.

The Automobile R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. developed the engine for 2013 Honda Civic WTCC, while M-TEC Co., Ltd. manufactured and maintained 2013 Honda Civic WTCC. JAS Motorsport of Italy, was responsible for vehicle body development and manufacturing, as well as team operations.

Production of Civic 5-door hatchback began at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Limited by in November 2011.

Civic Tourer was built at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd in Swindon alongside the Civic hatchback variant.

The 1.6 and 2.2 i-DTEC engines used in Honda Civic were built at Honda's Swindon plant in the UK.

src: starmoz.com

Motorsport

WTCC

Honda announced to enter the 2012 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with a racer built on the 2012 Euro Civic 5 door hatchback. The car is powered by HR412E - a bespoke, new 1.6-liter direct injection turbocharged engine developed by Honda's R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, and would race from October in Japan, China and Macau before a two car team join the 2013 championship race. The engine aims for higher efficiency and is said to herald "a new generation of high performance racing engines from Honda" and innovations during the engine's development will "further increase the efficiency of [Honda's] road car engines".

Tiago Monteiro raced in the final three races of the 2012 season at Suzuka, Shanghai and Macau. Monteiro won the third place in a race held in Macau. A second race car driven by Gabriele Tarquini was added from the 2013 season.

Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro entered the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship with Civic WTCC cars. Three Honda Civic race cars made a clean sweep in races held in Slovakia and Shanghai by winning the first, second and third positions. Honda Racing Team JAS and Zeng? Motorsport entered the 2013 WTCC tournament. Gabriele Tarquini won the overall second place in the 2013 WTCC championship. The cars used a 1.6-litre inline-4 direct injection turbocharged engine with an intercooler and a dry oil sump.

Changes to the race cars for 2014 included wheel arch extensions, larger diameter wheels, sleeker aero package, extended rear spoiler and increased engine power.

Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro of JAS Motorsport entered the 2014 World Touring Car Championship, with further Civics to be entered by private outfits Zengo Motorsport and Proteam Racing for Hungary's Norbert Michelisz and Moroccan Mehdi Bennani respectively.

BTCC

Honda entered the 2012 British Touring Car Championship with two NGTC compliant European Civic hatchbacks with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden as drivers. It was the first time for a manufacturer supported team to commit to the newly introduced rule. Work on the first car started in July 2011 and testing on the track began in February 2012. Shedden won the 2012 champion title.

Honda Yuasa Racing entered the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with a Civic Tourer race car.

American Touring Car Racing

Using the latest Honda Civics, Compass 360 Racing has continued to be successful in the SCCA World Challenge and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

src: images.carscoops.com

References

Source of article : Wikipedia

Honda Civic (ninth generation)

src: upload.wikimedia.org

The ninth generation Honda Civic was launched in the North American market in April 2011, Europe in February 2012, and Asia in early 2012.

Video Honda Civic (ninth generation)

Sedan

2011

North American market model

In May 2010, the ninth-generation Civic was said to be delayed into 2011 because of changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy and emissions regulations.

The Civic was originally planned to become bigger, but after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the global credit crisis in 2008, Honda wanted to make the car smaller, lighter and more fuel-efficient, while increasing space inside.

On December 13, 2010, Honda unveiled a sketch of the new ninth-generation Civic which was described as "energetic, sleek and aerodynamic." Both coupe and sedan concepts for the North American market were shown on January 10, 2011 at the 2011 North American International Auto Show. The production version of the ninth-generation Civic based on the revealed concepts will go on sale in spring 2011. Gasoline, hybrid and natural gas variants will be offered. The gasoline-engined lineup includes a sedan and coupe. Both of them will be also offered in Si performance versions.

The new model is slightly smaller and lighter than the outgoing models. The sheet metal is all new, with a longer hood but still a familiar profile: Honda calls it the "one-motion" design.

Gasoline (DX, LX, EX, and EX-L), hybrid and natural gas variants are offered. The non-hybrid gasoline-engined lineup includes sedan and coupe, and Si performance versions are available as coupe and sedan. Honda has also released the Civic HF sedan, a model with aerodynamic and fuel efficiency enhancements which revives the "HF" moniker last used for the 1991 CRX HF. It features a Honda R18 1.8 Liter Inline Four-Cylinder engine and a 5-Speed Automatic transmission like the regular gas-powered models, but it has been tuned so that it returns 41 highway miles per gallon (MPG). It comes with fifteen-inch alloy wheels with low rolling-resistance tires that reduce rolling resistance by 20%, additional underbody covers, a rear decklid spoiler and keyless entry with a security alarm. This results in a 4% improvement in aerodynamic performance. It comes in two colors, Polished Metal Metallic or Taffeta White Clear Coat with a gray interior. The Civic GX NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) has been available since late 2011.

The "two-tier" instrument panel from the previous generation saw a significant redesign. All models (except for the base model DX) come with an Intelligent Multi-Informational Display (iMiD), situated on the enlarged upper tier and to the right of the digital speedometer. The 5-inch color LCD screen replaces the trip computer below the analog tachometer on the lower tier while integrating information of the vehicle with that from compatible personal electronics and steering wheel controls. It displays information such as current odometer and trip mileage, time and date, fuel economy, audio system, climate control information, and more. The Maintenance Minder now includes interval reminders for scheduled maintenance, such as air filter, cabin pollen filter, tire rotations, drive belt inspections as well as an oil change reminder. It will display an alphanumeric code, which is listed in the owners manual, signifying maintenance for the identified item is due. Owners who do their own maintenance can be reminded and the feature can be easily reset after the maintenance has been performed.

Honda's Eco Assist technology, introduced earlier on the Insight, is added to most models (except Si), and becomes the first gasoline-only powered Honda to employ such technology in North America. It is an information system to help the driver adopt a more fuel-efficient driving style, and is proven to improve fuel economy by about 10% for Honda's hybrid vehicles in Japan by providing visual feedback to promote or confirm efficient driving. To this end, the dashboard includes a pair of color-changing indicators, adjacent to the speedometer, that change from green to blue based on the vehicle's actual driving efficiency, together with a linear fuel economy indicator accompanying the fuel gauge, replacing the coolant gauge. The Eco Assist can also alter the transmission's shift pattern in the hybrid model. A new Motion Adaptive electric power steering system helps to mitigate oversteer or understeer in conjunction with the standard Vehicle Stability Assist.

All Civic models have better fuel economy in the U.S. EPA ratings, by as much as 8% on the highway for models with an automatic transmission compared to 2011 versions. Two versions achieve 41 mpg_-US (5.7 L/100 km; 49 mpg_-imp) (17.54 km/L) or above in U.S. government testing. Aerodynamics and weight reduction play important role in fuel economy improvement: aero parts are placed under the engine bay, fuel tank, and the rear underbody to enhance airflow; front spoiler and strakes ahead of tires direct airflow around the wheel wells; there is a new flat underfloor; resulting in 3.4% lower coefficient of drag. Increase use of high-strength steel to 55% on the sedan (56% for the coupe) from 50% contributes to a 7% reduction in body weight. The electric power steering system is lighter by 1.3 kg (2.9 lb); the front subframe is lighter by 1.7 kg (3.7 lb); a thinner-walled fuel tank saves 1.0 kg (2.2 lb) and a laser-welded exhaust silencer that is 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) lighter. As a result, the LX trim with an automatic transmission is almost 50 lb (23 kg) lighter. On the other hand, for the 2012 sedan, passenger volume is increased by 3.8 ft³ (108 L) to 94.7 ft³ (2682 L), with three more inches of elbowroom in the front and about two more inches of legroom in the back. The piston assembly was the source of the most significant losses in an engine. To reduce friction loss in the engine, pistons in the 1.8 litre engine have a molybdenum treatment applied in a polka-dot pattern.

A HF model, the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup, gets 41 mpg_-US (5.7 L/100 km; 49 mpg_-imp) (17.54 km/L) under EPA highway test cycle, compares with 36 mpg_-US (6.5 L/100 km; 43 mpg_-imp) (15.38 km/L) for previous generation, increasing the combined fuel economy rating to 33 mpg_-US (7.1 L/100 km; 40 mpg_-imp) (14.08 km/L).

The Civic hybrid, with a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 90 hp and 97 lb ft of torque and a lithium-ion battery, is rated at 44 mpg_-US (5.3 L/100 km; 53 mpg_-imp) in combined city and highway EPA test cycle, an improvement of 3 mpg_-US (3.6 mpg_-imp) over the previous generation hybrid. A new stronger electric motor produces 23 hp and 78 lb ft of torque. The new lithium-ion battery is lighter and more powerful compared with the nickel-metal hydride one in previous model. Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models have improved aerodynamics.

Other gasoline-only powered Civic sedans and coupes get 39 mpg_-US (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg_-imp) in highway tests, an improvement of 3 mpg_-US (3.6 mpg_-imp) over previous generation, and 28 mpg_-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg_-imp) for city driving. The Civic GX natural gas model will have a 7% improvement in fuel economy. The above models are also equipped with the Honda ECO Assist technology.

Si

The 9th generation Si was the first generation to use a different engine than other models of the Honda Civic. It is available as a coupe and as a sedan. It is powered by a new 2.4-liter K-Series (K24Z7) inline-four engine which has increased displacement through longer piston stroke than the K20Z3 from the 8th generation Civic Si, yet the K24Z7 retains the 11.0:1 compression used in the K20Z3. It produces 201 hp (150 kW) and 170 lb?ft (230 N?m) of torque. Honda retuned the exhaust system in early 2014, increasing the output to 205 hp (153 kW) and 174 lb?ft (236 N?m) of torque. The K24Z7 is different than the K24Z7 found in the Honda CR-V; the CR-V has lower compression and a different, efficiency-oriented VTEC design.

The redline of the K24Z7 is 7,000 rpm with a fuel cut at 7,200 rpm. A 6-speed manual transmission with a helical LSD (Limited Slip Differential) is still offered as the only available transmission option for the Civic Si. The wing spoilers are different from the 8th generation, and the interior of the car received slight updates with the addition of a rev limit indicator and a power meter displayed in the new i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display). Sway bars have been changed to F18mm/R15mm from the F28mm/R17mm in 8th generation. The chassis is also more rigid, and the curb weight is slightly lower than the 8th generation. The Civic Si achieves an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg_-US (7.6 L/100 km; 37 mpg_-imp), an increase of 2 mpg_-US (2.4 mpg_-imp).

Vehicle color selections:

• Alabaster Silver Metallic
• Carnelian Red
• Cool Mist Metallic(hybrid)
• Crimson Pearl
• Crystal Black Pearl
• Dyno Blue Pearl
• Frosty White Metallic(hybrid)
• Green Opal Metallic (hybrid)
• Modern Steel Metallic
• Polished Metal Metallic
• Rallye Red
• Sunburst Orange Pearl
• Taffeta White
• Twilight Blue Metallic
• Urban Titanium Metallic
• White Orchid Pearl(hybrid)

In 2012, Honda recalled 50,000 2012 Civics because the process required during assembly to seat the driver's side driveshaft and set the retaining clip was not completed.

Other markets

Chinese models went on sale in 2011-10-29. Early models include a choice of two engines: 1.8L and 2.0L; 5-speed manual (1.8L EXi), 5-speed Automatic (1.8L EXi, 1.8L VTi) or 5-speed Tiptronic transmission(2.0L TYPE-S) and navigation system for (1.8L VTi, 2.0L TYPE-S). It was not sold in Japan because sales were affected by the fact the width dimension exceeded 1,700mm, an important distinction according to Japanese Government dimension regulations.

In the Philippines, the ninth Generation Honda Civic was initially launched in early 2012 and sold in 4 variants: 1.8 S which is the base model of the Civic with a choice of 5 speed manual or 5 speed automatic, 1.8 E and the 1.8 Exi have the same alloy wheels and mirror with side turning lights while the Exi received fog lights and the top of the line 2.0 EL with unique 17-inch style wheels, HID headlights, automatic climate control and leather seats, while the 1.8 E and 2.0 EL variants comes with the optional Modulo kit. In 2014, Honda Philippines unveiled a facelift version of the Civic that includes new sportier front grille while the 1.8 exi is no longer available and the 1.8 S now receives front fog lights. The 1.8 E receives new alloy wheels and is available in standard or Modulo kit and the 2.0 EL now receives side curtain airbags and a choice between standard model or with Mugen kit. The ECON button is available in all models while the 1.8.E and 2.0.EL receives the touchscreen audio panel with USB and HDMI connectivity and push start or stop engine.

Starting from September 2015, models for the Turkish market were available with factory converted LPG version with the commencement of a new LPG-only assembly line in Honda's Turkey plant. Turkish models had been available with dealer-installed LPG conversion since 2011.

Facelift for North American market

Reviews of the 2012 Civic were generally lackluster, with many reviewers citing the car's cheap interior materials, along with worsened driving dynamics and insubstantial exterior styling changes from the previous generation, as drawbacks. Consumer Reports went so far as to remove the 2012 Civic from its 'Recommended' list of compact cars, which the vehicle had been on for many years. Partly in response, Honda introduced a heavily revamped Civic for the 2013 model year. The refreshed Civic sedan featured a new front fascia with a U-shaped honeycomb grille and chrome accents (replacing the 2012 model's three-bar grille), a redesigned hood, and a reworked rear end with new taillight lenses, along with additional light clusters and a chrome bar on the trunk lid. New standard features included a rear backup camera, Bluetooth controls, and Pandora Radio access. Ride quality, handling, and interior material quality were also improved. The coupe retained the 2012 model's exterior styling, but received the same interior and engineering upgrades as the sedan.

Honda CEO Takanobu Ito explained that the 2012 model was developed during the height of the global financial crisis, which led the company to believe that consumers would be willing to forego upscale content and quality in new vehicles so long as they were fuel efficient and affordable. Ironically, rival automakers such as Ford and Hyundai increased the quality and feature content of their compact vehicles around the same time, pushing sales of Civic rivals such as the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra to new heights in the United States.

Model year 2014 facelift in North America

For 2014, minor changes were made to the Civic lineup in North America. These changes included exterior styling updates on the Civic coupe, premium interior refinements to all models, an optional audio system with a 7-inch capacitive touchscreen, LaneWatch blind spot monitor (consisting of a camera mounted on the passenger-side mirror), "Smart Entry" with push button start, HondaLink connected-car technology, and an all-new CVT for gasoline-powered Civics.

US models included the Civic LX and EX coupes with a 5-speed manual transmission or CVT, EX-L and EX-L Navi coupes with a CVT; Civic LX sedan with a 5-speed manual or CVT, EX, EX-L EX-L Navi, and HF sedans with a CVT. Styling changes to the Civic coupe included a restyled grille, hood, front fenders and headlights, new taillight lenses, sportier front and rear bumpers, new side mirrors and a new selection of wheel styles. The Civic Si coupe included a unique lower front bumper garnish, larger rear decklid spoiler, a front spoiler and rear air diffuser; in addition they also received an increase in engine power to 205 hp (153 kW) and 174 lb-ft of torque via a retuned exhaust system. The EX-L coupe with accessories kit featured a ground effects package and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

Safety (North American market model)

^* first vehicle in the small car category rated "Good" in the IIHS small overlap crash test

To improve safety, Honda used an updated ACE II body structure on 2013 Civics. Beginning with 2013 models, all Civics came standard with a rear-view backup camera.

Maps Honda Civic (ninth generation)

Euro-spec 5-door hatchback (2011-2017)

The five door hatchback Civic for European market was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. Strong identity of the previous generation European Civic led Honda to refine the current package instead of radical changes. Basic look and proportions of previous car are retained as the futuristic design was welcomed by customers. Aerodynamics, rear and side visibility are all improved. It is claimed to be the most aerodynamic car in its class, with a coefficient of 0.27. The wheelbase is 30mm shorter without a decrease of interior space. Retaining the compact torsion beam rear suspension and the centrally mounted fuel tank help contribute to a boot capacity of 470 litres. More than 20,000 miles of testing was carried out on British roads for better handling and ride quality. The rear beam axle is completely redesigned for higher stiffness, and new fluid-filled bushing is used to improve stability and cornering ability, as well as ride quality. There are more standard equipment and higher interior quality.

UK models went on sale in 2011-10-01. Early models include a choice of 1.4-litre petrol, 1.8-litre petrol, 2.2 i-DTEC Diesel engines, with 1.6-litre Diesel engine available later in 2012.

Civic Tourer Concept (2013)

The concept vehicle previewed the upcoming Civic Tourer. It was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The production model was first shown at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and went on sale in 2014.

2014 Civic hatchback update, 2014 Civic Tourer (2014-)

Changes to Civic hatchback include retuned electric power steering to provide a more secure control during higher speeds, front and rear dampers were revised for improving body control, toe and camber of the rear suspension were realigned to improve the hatchback's handling, privacy glass on the lower rear window, piano black touches on the number plate surround, tailgate and lower bumper; piano black front bumper, new alloy wheels, darker wheel arch garnishes, white stitching on the seats, steering wheel and knee pad; aluminum inserts around the cup holder, glossy black inserts.

The Civic Tourer was designed and developed in Europe. It is based on the architecture of the 5 door, and at launch, included most of the updates as mentioned above. Additionally it includes an adaptive rear damping system and the largest capacity trunk space in its class (624l VDA below tonneau). The Tourer also benefits from additional under floor storage compartments in the boot, 'Magic Seats' and 60:40 split rear seats. Overall length is 235 mm (9.3 in) longer than that of the Civic five-door.

Advanced Driving Assist System package (available for Tourer) includes blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning and active city braking.

The vehicles were unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, and was set to go on sale in 2014, starting with Civic hatchback in January 2014.

Early Civic Tourer models include 1.6 i-DTEC engine from the Earth Dreams Technology series or the 1.8 i-VTEC engine, 6-speed manual (1.6 i-DTEC, 1.8 i-VTEC) or 5-speed automatic (1.8 i-VTEC) transmission.

src: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Civic Type R (2015-2017)

This is a version of the Civic 5-door hatchback for the European market, with a direct injection turbocharged 2.0 L (120 cu in) VTEC TURBO engine from Honda's Earth Dreams Technology range rated at 310 PS (228 kW; 306 hp) and 400 N?m (295 lb?ft) of torque at 2,500 rpm. The engine red lines at 7,000 rpm. 0-62 mph (100 km/h) takes 5.7 seconds and it has a top speed of 167 mph (269 km/h). All cars will use a six-speed manual gearbox.

Honda announced it had broken the Renault Megane 275 Trophy-R's 7:54.36 front-wheel-drive Nürburgring lap time. The new Honda Civic Type R posted a 7:50.63, beating the Renault by over three seconds, but the record was soon broken by VW GTI again

src: opencsi.info

Production

As Honda's Research and Development Centre at Tochigi, Japan was damaged in the March 2011 earthquake, designers of the European Civic were transferred to the Swindon plant in the UK, where all European Civic hatchbacks are built, to ensure the development is not delayed. Production at Swindon, UK, was disrupted by supply chain disruption caused by the 2011 Japanese tsunami and flooding in Thailand. Normal production of Civic did not start until December 2011, causing the new Civic to not be available on the market until February 2012.

The Automobile R&D Center of Honda R&D Co., Ltd. developed the engine for 2013 Honda Civic WTCC, while M-TEC Co., Ltd. manufactured and maintained 2013 Honda Civic WTCC. JAS Motorsport of Italy, was responsible for vehicle body development and manufacturing, as well as team operations.

Production of Civic 5-door hatchback began at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Limited by in November 2011.

Civic Tourer was built at Honda of the UK Manufacturing Ltd in Swindon alongside the Civic hatchback variant.

The 1.6 and 2.2 i-DTEC engines used in Honda Civic were built at Honda's Swindon plant in the UK.

src: starmoz.com

Motorsport

WTCC

Honda announced to enter the 2012 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with a racer built on the 2012 Euro Civic 5 door hatchback. The car is powered by HR412E - a bespoke, new 1.6-liter direct injection turbocharged engine developed by Honda's R&D centre in Tochigi, Japan, and would race from October in Japan, China and Macau before a two car team join the 2013 championship race. The engine aims for higher efficiency and is said to herald "a new generation of high performance racing engines from Honda" and innovations during the engine's development will "further increase the efficiency of [Honda's] road car engines".

Tiago Monteiro raced in the final three races of the 2012 season at Suzuka, Shanghai and Macau. Monteiro won the third place in a race held in Macau. A second race car driven by Gabriele Tarquini was added from the 2013 season.

Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro entered the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship with Civic WTCC cars. Three Honda Civic race cars made a clean sweep in races held in Slovakia and Shanghai by winning the first, second and third positions. Honda Racing Team JAS and Zeng? Motorsport entered the 2013 WTCC tournament. Gabriele Tarquini won the overall second place in the 2013 WTCC championship. The cars used a 1.6-litre inline-4 direct injection turbocharged engine with an intercooler and a dry oil sump.

Changes to the race cars for 2014 included wheel arch extensions, larger diameter wheels, sleeker aero package, extended rear spoiler and increased engine power.

Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro of JAS Motorsport entered the 2014 World Touring Car Championship, with further Civics to be entered by private outfits Zengo Motorsport and Proteam Racing for Hungary's Norbert Michelisz and Moroccan Mehdi Bennani respectively.

BTCC

Honda entered the 2012 British Touring Car Championship with two NGTC compliant European Civic hatchbacks with Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden as drivers. It was the first time for a manufacturer supported team to commit to the newly introduced rule. Work on the first car started in July 2011 and testing on the track began in February 2012. Shedden won the 2012 champion title.

Honda Yuasa Racing entered the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with a Civic Tourer race car.

American Touring Car Racing

Using the latest Honda Civics, Compass 360 Racing has continued to be successful in the SCCA World Challenge and the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

src: images.carscoops.com

References

Source of article : Wikipedia