𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗫𝗜 [ USDM ]
Globally, the automotive brands are offering more and more Sports Utility Vehicles/ Crossovers. Brands like Rolls Royce, Bentley and even Lamborghini are now offered in flavor of SUV's and making record sales and reason, customer wants more of Crossovers/ utility vehicles. Regardless of this new trend, whenever there is any news related to Civic and Corolla, automotive fans are on their toes. Honda Civic, the worldwide known name in the compact car segment, is currently in 10th generation, arrived back in 2015.
Although the newer trend of car buyers towards crossovers and SUV’s is well established, Civic is and was always the flagship model for Honda due to its large global presence, especially in the US, where half of the worldwide Civic sales happen. Since 1973, when Honda introduced the Civic in the United States, Honda has sold over 12 Million units of Civic in the country alone. The 10th generation Civic set a new benchmark in its segment.
The current Honda Civic X has a revolutionary design inside and out, and it grabbed a lot of awards globally, including the North American Car of the year award. After five successful years of the current 10th generation Civic in production, now it’s almost time for the replacement and HERE it is..
𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑:
If we have to sum-up the exterior of the Civic XI in one sentence , we can say it’s a baby Accord as it carries a lot of design elements of the current 10th generation of Accord. As an added info, the current 10th generation Accord also won the prestigious Award of "North American Car Of The Year" in 2018 and before that the same award was won by the 10th generation Civic in 2016. The Civic XI is evolution of the award winning Civic X , meshed up with award winning Accord.
Some Honda fans will also agree that there is some DNA from the 3rd generation Civic hatch on the frontal design approach. According to Honda they have improved the styling to the next level. The 10th generation Civic is the most successful Civic ever and Honda not only kept the best parts of that Civic but also incorporated design features from all the previous generations of the Civic. According to Honda, the design theme for the new Civic is "Thin & Light " and "Human Centered".
The major change on the exterior is the A pillar which is not only pushed down by 1" and pushed back by 2". This results in a longer hood but also increased glass surfaces on front and increased front view.
The Civic X itself was a major design change in the Honda Line up and the Civic took it further. It has the same Sportback looking sporty design with the sloped rear glass panel to the truck’s edge as we saw on the Civic X. The 11th generation has more of the same design strategy but with a raised trunk edge lip / integrated spoiler giving it a little more dramatic look. The new model is without” C” shaped taillights. The new model has a unique design of slim LED lights and matches the front headlights .
There is a new rear bumper and elongated slim reflectors on the upper edge. Meanwhile, it also has a new blacked-out exhaust outlet in the bumper, giving it an overall premium and sporty look.
On the side profile there is a continuous character line from front to back , which mimics what we have seen on the Accord and as per Honda this gives the sense of motion. Honda has also moved side-view mirrors to the door panels. Earlier, it had a conventional placement at the corner of the door and A-pillar junction, i.e., in 10th generation Civic. The new placement increases and improves the driver view.
The front body design is with low bonnet and fenders and low frontal horizontal beltline giving wider and sporty look. On the front, we also see newer headlights and DRLs. There is a new upright front grille, and the vehicle looks lower and wider on front. As of overall outlook, it seems again inspired by the current generation Accord like the wider & straight frontal hood line and more pronounced side belt lines, especially” C pillar” and the notch at the glass corner.
The new Civic [ USDM ] is 184 " long , 70.9" wide while 55.7" high and have a wheel base of 107.7". Just a reference, the Civic X is 182.7" long, 70.9" wide and 55.7" high and have a wheel base of 106.3". This makes the over length and wheels base on the new Civic longer than the outgoing model which results in slightly improved passenger volume.
Although there is increase in dimensions , the trunk space is now 14.8 cubic feet instead of 15.1 cubic feet as on the outgoing Civic. The US model will be available in in eight exterior colors, out of which three as Meteorite Gray Metallic, Sonic Gray Pearl and Morning Mist Blue Metallic are brand new options.
𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗢𝗥:
Honda always did innovative things and with every new generation of Civic, a complete overall of the interior. Civic X was awarded for its interior space utilization and user friendliness. The new 11th generation Civic has moved things further. As per Honda the new Civic is adopting MM philosophy which means “Man Maximum / Machine Minimum” , this results in more cabin space and less space for components. The interior of the Civic is with simplistic and minimalistic approach but still super intuitive , according to Honda, the interior design means the people inside the vehicle.
The new interior idea is to be less distracting and more functional. This new design concept will be used in all upcoming Honda models and Honda Civic is the first one utilizing it. The strategic placement and angle of the A pillar has resulted in the lower cowel [ point where the dashboard and the windshield meet ] , this improved the openness in the vehicle and also provides much wider open view of the road ahead.
New dashboard design has simple slim down horizontal orientation with rectangular honeycombed trim which represent continuity in the middle and also hides the air vents behind it in the middle and on the sides. As per Honda the interior uses high quality materials and especially all the touch points like gear lever, dashboard, side door panels, steering wheel. Additionally all surfaces which can pick finger prints or smudges are used with material which eliminate it to give a cleaner look every time driver enters the car.
There is a new rectangular touch screen infotainment system which is now a floating style and sits on top of the dashboard. Civic gets a new style steering wheel and there is all new digital cluster. The standard unit is 7" while top of the line model gets a HD 9" infotainment display. The top of the line model also gets a 10.2" full LCD instrumental panel while other variants get a 7" LCD instrumental display.
Apple car play and android auto comes standard [ Top variant gets a wireless connection + wireless charging ] while the top of the line model also gets a 12 speaker Bose Premium audio system with , Surround-Stage digital signal processing. According to Honda, Bose Audio experts have specifically developed this system for the Civic for optimal performance with exceptional music experience across all frequencies, low to high.
The most important feature to note is the availability of the physical knob on the infotainment system. Civic X was initially criticized a lot for unavailability of the actual knob.
𝗠𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗦:
Although there are lot of new things on the exterior and interior, the mechanicals are carry over from the previous generation but with updates and improvements. The US Civic will be available with the same two engine options as on the outgoing model . A 2L Naturally aspirated engine with 158HP @6500 rpm and 187NM of torque @4200 rpm.
The other engine is the same 1.5 Turbocharged engine but now with increased horsepower of 180 @6000 rpm while torque figures are also increased to 240NM and available between 1,700-4,500 rpm. Both engine versions comes with 3 Mode Drive System which includes ECON, Normal & Sport while a new start-stop system and improved catalytic convertor is also in place.
The Civic X was available with an option for manual transmission but now a bad luck for manual as all variants of Civic is only Continuously Variable Transmission/CVT. All Civics will come with MacPherson Strut Front Suspension while Multi-Link Rear Suspension. Base model comes with 215/55/16" steel wheels while all new designed 215/50/ 17" and 235/40/ 18" are available across the trim levels. standard.
The new Civic also gets an improved and responsive and better tuned suspension setup. According to Honda, the front suspension now use low friction ball joints and damper mounts for improved steering and ride handling along with a lighter aluminum front subframe . The electric power steering is improved and tuned for better feedback and stability.
The rear track is increased by 0.5" comparing previous generation for increased stability while new noise and vibration reducing bushings are used on the lower arms . New low friction front and rear wheel bearings and low drag calipers are also introduced. Overall suspension upgrades provide much better dynamic and smoother road handling.
The markets outside United States can expect the same 1.5T engine while the availability of 2L NA engine was only available on the Left Hand Drive Civic on the outgoing model and same might be the case with the new Civic . Honda might keep the same1.8L engine in Asian countries along with the 1.5T. We will know more when the 11th Generation Civic is launched outside North America.
𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗬:
As of Safety, Honda made a lot of improvements and additions in both active and passive safety features and equipment. Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure in the new Civic in enhanced for better occupant safety. Stiffer components are used at all important locations including for side impacts protection.
All version of Civics will be equipped with 10 Airbags which includes the next generation of driver and Front Passenger Front Airbags which are designed with donut shaped cradle in the centre on U- shaped deployment to reduce the brain injury by better controlling head motions in certain types of crashes. Its also for information that this is world first such airbag design with such feature.
The new Civic is also the first Civic with the rear passenger side airbag. Honda Active safety system, Honda Sensing has been enhanced with improved drive assistive technologies .
𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 & 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛
The 11th generation Civic will be offered both in sedan and hatchback body styles depending upon market/ regions. The Si Civic sedan and hatchback Civic will join the party later this year while the most potent hardcore Type R hatchback will arrive sometime next year.
Honda will not provide the two-door coupe for the 11th generation; a two-door model was specific to North America. The company recently discontinued it for the current 10th generation. Its comeback is not expected either. The pricing for the US market is not yet available but expected to start under $20,000 for the 2L base LX model while the fully Touring is expected to be around $27000/-
The production of the new Civic has already started for North American customers while sales are starting summer of 2021. The European and Asian markets will see the model in the flesh in late 2021 or early 2022. We here in Pakistan should not expect the 11th generation Civic before the middle of 2022. Henceforth Civic X in Pakistan still has an expected life of over a year.
So, what are your thoughts about the new Civic ?
11TH Generation Civic Discussion Thread > https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/11th-generation-civic-discussion-thread/1530609
[f-w @ Pakwheels.com ]
