Honda Civic at the 2012Paris Motor Show<o:p></o:p>
Outwardly, at least, there'snothing new with the Civic that Honda is showing here at Paris. However, it isan important car on the Japanese firm's stand as this conventional hatchback isthe first vehicle to be fitted with Honda's all-new small capacity turbo dieselengine.
Paris Motor Show 2012
<o:p></o:p>
What isit?
The engine in question is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder, and it plugs the gapinghole in Honda's range that's been leaking sales to the other big brands inEurope for so long.<o:p></o:p>
What'shot?
It's the first motor to feature Honda's Earth Dreams Technology. It's not alltenuous marketing talk, however - there's a host of mechanical and electronicinnovations to help keep CO2 emissions low. As low as 94g/km when fitted to theCivic<o:p></o:p>
What's not?
It's a small diesel engine, the most of which you can see is a plastic coverwhen mounted in the car. Not exactly one to rival the new McLaren for the mostgawped at 2012 Paris debut, is it?<o:p></o:p>
How muchand when?
All the same, it's important in its own right. The engine goes on sale in theCivic (now in its 40th anniversary year) first, although exactly when, Honda isyet to confirm. Expect it to hit the UK at the end of 2012, with pricesbeginning at around ?19,000.<o:p></o:p>
Anythingelse I should know?
Alongside the road tax free emissions tally, the new 1.6 unit will return78.5mpg combined and produce 120hp - good for a 0-62mph time of around 10.5seconds. The engine will also find its way into other vehicles in the range,including the new fourth-gen CR-V.<o:p></o:p>