HistoryIn 1961 Soichiro Honda, Honda's founder and president, granted an interview to a journalist from the foreign press. "Now that you're the world's most successful motorcycle maker," he was asked, "what's your next objective?""I will make the best cars in Japan," he replied. "To do that, I must make the best cars in the world." It had taken Mr. Honda's company less than 20 years to become the unchallenged leader in motorcycle production. His firm conviction that he would make the best cars on earth should have sent a chill into the boardrooms of Detroit's Big Three car manufacturers. Sochiro Honda was hatching his plan to become not just a car-maker, but the best car-maker in the world. The two-seater Honda S600 sportster was launched in Japan in 1963.The sophisticated, if unorthodox, S600 had four-wheel independent suspension, and a tiny, four cylinder, water-cooled, twin overhead cam engine with four carburettors. It delivered a top speed of 145 km/h.It was an extraordinary gamble to launch such a car in a market dominated by big American-style cruisers - a gamble made even riskier by early technical hitches and buyers' complaints about the engine's noise.
Nevertheless, the S600 gained its enthusiasts.During the latter half of the 1960s and early 1970s, Honda launched an ever-broadening range of cars, including the S800, the Scamp, the Z, and the 1300 Coupe (a private project of Soichiro Honda).The launch of the Civic in 1972 was greeted with rave reviews from the press and an ecstatic response from the buying public. It was Car of the Year in Japan, in1972, and again the following year. Honda could not ship enough Civics from its Japanese plants to meet the international market demand. Even a passing glance showed that the square-shaped Civic, with its wheels positioned in the corners of its small chassis, was a development of the enormously popular, British Mini, the creation of eccentric British designer, Alex Issigonis. Small, light, maneuverable, it was a practical four-cylinder runabout for all conditions, from congested city streets to open freeways and winding country roads.The engine was quiet, slow-revving and virtually stress-free, yet it was anything but sedate. The first Civic could go from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds, an acceptable time even by today's standards, and could cruise at around 120 km/h. The Civic was an affordable urban car which was fun to drive. And for a whole new generation of young car buyers, the Civic meant freedom. It was also a terrific buy in terms of the extras it offered. Though a little more expensive than its rival, the Mini, it came with radio, disc brakes and a folding rear seat.
When the OPEC oil crisis occurred in 1973/74, and petrol prices spiralled, car buyers around the world developed a sudden interest in fuel economy - an area in which the Honda Civic was almost unequalled. Throughout the 1970s, demand for the broadening and ever more sophisticated range of Civics continued to increase, so that by 1978 more than 1.3 million had been sold in 90 countries. But the Civic was just the first, exciting chapter in the long-running success story of Honda motor cars. A small, economic, mass-market car was one thing but what about a bigger car? By the mid-1970s, Americans were ready for vehicles which guzzled less gas, but they still preferred them to be bigger than the Civic. Honda quickly put a larger design into R & D.In 1974, Mr. Tadashi Kume, who later became a company president but was then a relatively young engineer, was given a brief to develop a new car for the North American market. In 1976, he presented a prototype of a six-cylinder hatchback with a long nose 'like a Mustang' to a gathering of Honda America representatives. The car was called the Accord."My overwhelming recollection of the Accord is as a failure," Mr. Kume later said of that fateful presentation. "I remember their first reaction. They said: It has no trunk!" Fortunately, for everybody, Honda was already committed to putting the new car into production. Money had been spent. Equipment and tooling had already been ordered. It was too late to turn back. Mr. Kume fronted a frosty top management meeting in Tokyo with a hastily re-drawn design on just a single piece of paper. Mr. Kume's revised design - virtually a 'stretched' Civic - was a stunning success. A four-cylinder hatchback sedan, fitted with a highly economical, low pollution, 1.6 litre engine, it delivered the best fuel figures for any vehicle certified by the US Environment Protection Agency in 1976. Why the name, Accord? The story goes that Honda officials found there were very few alternatives because of the large number of names already copyrighted by other international car companies. Rolls Royce, for instance, still has the rights to just about everything starting with the word Silver.
By January, 1979, just two years after its launch, more than 450,000 Accords had been sold worldwide.During the 1980s, second and third generation Civics and Accords were joined by other Honda high achievers. First came the sleek sporty Prelude in 1978, followed by the Legend, Honda's successful bid to rival Europe's prestigious 'touring sedans', in 1985. The following year, Honda unveiled the Integra. This new range of attractive, high-performance cars ensured Honda's place in niche markets which had been the traditional preserves of European marques like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and SAAB. Honda capped a decade of strong sales and technological achievement with its ultimate road machine. The mid-engine, 3.0 litre, 6 cylinder VTEC-powered NSX two-seater sports car, unveiled in 1990, was unarguably a production 'supercar', capable of speeds in excess of 275 km/h. Soon after its launch, the U.S. magazine, Motor Trend, commented: "...the best sports car the world has ever produced. Any time. Any place. Any price." The S2000 is based on the Honda SSM concept car that first appeared at the 1995 Tokyo Motor Show. Using the same basic front-engine/rear-wheel-drive layout as the SSM, the S2000 captures the spirit of legendary high-performance sports cars of the past, as well as Honda's very first sports car, the S500. According to Honda, the company's racing heritage is reflected in every aspect of the S2000's design, performance and handling.
Mr Soichiro Honda
Soichiro Honda, the founder of one of the world's mightiest motor corporations, was born in Hamamatsu, in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, in 1906. His father owned a blacksmith's shop and repaired bicycles as a sideline.As a teenager, Soichiro Honda was apprenticed to a car repair shop in Tokyo, but business was slack as there were few cars in the city at that time. However, after the devastation of the 1923 earthquake, the government decided to invest in mechanised mass transit. Honda found his services in heavy demand.During this relatively prosperous time, Soichiro Honda embarked on a number of his own projects, displaying an exceptional gift in technical innovation. He even hand-built racing cars which notched up a string of victories on the Japanese circuit. Founding his own business in the 1930's, Mr. Honda tested his talents behind the wheel of a racing car, but an accident effectively ended his career as a competitive driver. He then studied metallurgy, and started a business producing engine parts.After the devastation of World War II, Mr. Honda revived his business by fitting war surplus engines to bicycles. The intuitive and innovative former mechanic concentrated on designing and manufacturing products which appealed to him - starting with motorcycles. In 1948, the company which was to become a global giant took root as Japan's post-war economy took its first, bold steps towards expansion.A partner, Mr. Takeo Fujisawa, looked after the commercial side of the new enterprise, leaving Mr. Honda free to design and test. In those early days, they worked in harmony out of a tiny rented factory, often going for months without engaging in serious business discussion, each having total faith in the other's ability tohandle his own domain. They worked like this for nearly four decades, even when the Honda company had established itself as a major multi-national business, until both retired from active
participation in the company in 1973.
Since its launch in 1972, the Honda Civic has beenone of the most popular compact cars sold in America. Its success can be attributed to its consistently high level of fit and finish and an impressive reputation for reliability, especially for an economy car.
Impressive fuel economy, environmental awareness and engaging performance have also played a large role in making the Honda Civic a top choice for many Americans. Through the development of advanced engine technologies such as variable valve timing (VTEC), Honda has been able to increase the engine performance of the Civic while also improving fuel economy. In the '90s, the Civic was one of the cornerstones of the burgeoning import tuning craze, as young enthusiasts found the car to be an affordable and easy car to modify for performance.
The current Civic is the best yet. It is the most powerful and the most fuel-efficient, and comes n a wide range of models, from the 197-horsepower Civic Si to the Civic Hybrid. It is also the most radically designed Civic to date, inside and out. For those looking for a used car, the Civic is again a smart choice, as its long production run and wide range of models make it easy to find what you want.
The current Honda Civic, which was introduced for the 2006 model year, is available in two body styles: coupe and four-door sedan. Both styles share four trim levels: a base DX, EX, LX and Si. The DX, EX and LX are powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes 140 hp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, and a five-speed automatic is optional. All trims get a broad range of safety features, such as antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags and full-length side-curtain airbags.
Those accustomed to the Honda Civic's conservative tradition will be surprised to find a dramatic-looking interior that features a new two-tier dashboard layout. A digital speedometer sits on top of the dash, while the tachometer is the lone instrument gauge behind the steering wheel. In terms of premium features, the DX is pretty limited, and you'll have to jump up to the EX and LX trims to get air-conditioning and powered accessories. The EX and LX also add upgraded stereo systems and sportier 16-inch wheels.
The sedan is also available in two special trims, GX and Hybrid. Powered by a 113-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, the Civic GX runs on clean-burning compressed natural gas. The Civic Hybrid features Honda's latest Integrated Motor Assist system, which consists of a 1.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine and a 20-hp electric motor. Total output is 110 hp.
The Hybrid comes exclusively with a continuously variable transmission, and its EPA-estimated fuel economy is 49/51 mpg.
In reviews and road tests, our editors found the Honda Civic to be a well-rounded car. The 1.8-liter engine won't overwhelm anyone, but it provides enough power for comfortable city driving. Honda has tuned the coupe to feel sportier than the sedan. Both are fun to drive, with great steering feel and wonderful handling.
Driving enthusiasts might want to take a look at the Civic Si. Offered in both coupe and sedan body styles, the Si is powered by a high-revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which pumps out 197 hp. It comes exclusively with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission and a front limited-slip differential. The Si also features a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels and the kind of all-around performance that challenges cars costing thousands of dollars more.
Always known for its reliability, the Honda Civic has also earned a reputation for performance and fuel economy. Honda's VTEC technology first appeared in the fifth-generation Civic, which was sold from 1992-'95. The Civic VX featured a fuel-efficient 92-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder with VTEC.
More powerful was the 128-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder VTEC engine found in the Civic Si and EX sedan trims.First sold only in hatchback and sedan body styles, the fifth-gen Civic got two coupe trims in 1993, the DX and EX. The lower CX and DX trims each had a 70-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine.
Sold from 1996-2000, the sixth-generation Civic was in many ways a refinement of the style and technology found on the outgoing model. A 106-hp 1.6-liter engine replaced the engine on the lower CX hatchback and all DX trims (available as a hatchback, coupe and sedan). The EX trim (coupe or sedan) got a 127-hp 1.6-liter engine with VTEC. Honda didn't release an Si trim until 1999. Based on the coupe body style, the Si was powered by a high-performance 1.6-liter engine that was tuned to put out 160 hp.
Although the seventh-generation Honda Civic, which was sold from 2001-'05, might have looked like an extension of the sixth generation in styling, there were manysmall tweaks to the Civic formula to reduce fuel consumption. Both the 115-hp base engine and the 127-hp engine in the EX were more fuel-efficient than the outgoing 1.6-liter engines. Even bigger news was the launch of the Civic Hybrid in 2003. Powered by Honda's early version of the Integrated Motor Assist system, the Hybrid mated an 85-hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder gas engine to a 13-hp electric motor for a combined 98 hp. The only hatchback available in the seventh generation was the European-designed Civic Si, which was powered by a 160-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder.
