The all-new eighth generation 2006 Honda Civic debuts in September 2005 with a well equipped and technologically advanced Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe lineup highlighted by an environmentally friendly Civic Hybrid and an ultra-sporty Civic Si model, set to debut in October and December of 2005, respectively.
Totally reinvented, the 2006 Civic represents an extreme transformation of design and dynamics and establishes new segment standards with clean and efficient i-VTEC engine technologies and advanced standard safety equipment like side curtain airbags and the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure. Most noticeable features of the 2006 Civic include its expressive exterior styling, a high-tech and spacious interior, and fun-to-drive performance. The Civic further rewards drivers and passengers with as many as seven ways to listen to audio entertainment - including XM® Satellite Radio, MP3 and WMA support, and an accessory Apple® iPod® adapter that connects the popular music player to the Civic's audio controls.
Designed with a sweeping roofline and a sleek windshield angle, the 2006 Civic conveys an advanced one-motion profile with a low, wide stance, replacing the traditional "three-box" design theme of most sedans and coupes.
Available in two distinctive body styles with three engine choices and four transmissions, the Civic represents one of the most diverse vehicles in the automotive industry with 148 combinations of models, trim levels and color variations.
In keeping with Honda's "Safety for Everyone" initiative, safety systems include Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE)™ Body Structure for enhanced vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility and collision energy management. The ACE Body Structure enhances frontal collision energy management through a network of load bearing structures in the front of the vehicle. Conceived around "real world" safety, this newly developed front-end frame structure incorporates new upper and lower frame members to significantly enhance energy dispersion in a frontal collision. In addition, the Civic provides a long list of standard safety equipment including side curtain airbags, driver's and front passenger's side airbags, active front seat head restraints and a 4-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). Honda's commitment to safety extends to pedestrians as well as vehicle occupants. To help reduce pedestrian injuries in the event of a collision, the Civic's hood and fender areas are designed to deform if contacted by the head of an adult or child pedestrian.
Honda stylists and engineers prioritized sophistication to create a high-quality, advanced and sporty interior space with the latest technology, storage areas compatible with the latest electronics and innovative ergonomics. More standard features and new available features like a voice activated navigation system highlight the dedication to taking the interior of the Civic to an entirely new level.
A two-tier instrument panel positions priority gauges like the speedometer up high in the driver's field of vision. The increased body width allows the seats to be wider and more supportive, and a spacious multi-functional center console accommodates up to 20 compact discs and performs armrest duties for both front occupants.
The latest generation of the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on Si, Hybrid and EX models and features a 6.5-inch motorized display that opens and closes for access to the internal single-disc CD player and a new digital audio card reader that can play MP3 and WMA files from CompactFlash® and similar media via a PC card adapter. The navigation system features more than 7 million points of interest and the voice activation can control the navigation menus and audio system, along with input of city and street names.
The seven available audio sources include traditional AM/FM radio, compact disc, XM Satellite Radio, MP3/WMA CD, digital audio card reader, auxiliary input jack, and an accessory iPod® interface. All audio systems are more powerful with as much as 350 watts and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer on the EX Coupe and Si models.
All Civic audio systems have MP3/WMA CD playback capability. Auxiliary audio input jacks are standard equipment on LX and above trim levels (coupe) and EX and Hybrid models (sedan), allowing for portable music device playback through the car's speakers. XM® Satellite Radio is standard on navigation-equipped coupe models, while EX Sedan and Hybrid models are XM-Ready.
The Civic LX Coupe models have a six-speaker 160-watt audio system with a single-disc CD player (four speakers for the LX sedan). Coupe audio systems feature Speed-Sensitive Volume Control (SVC) that automatically adjusts the volume based on vehicle speed. Audio displays include CD/MP3 text readout, and the coupe provides a customizable welcome screen.
Honda has a tradition of making its vehicles fun-to-drive with responsive suspension tuning and refined road manners. Precise and sharp handling performance also contributes to accident avoidance maneuverability. The 2006 Honda Civic chassis delivers higher levels of sportiness and ride comfort with improvements in four key areas - enhanced suspension design, larger wheels and tires, a longer wheelbase, and a new generation 4-channel anti-lock braking system. The changes add up to a new Civic that is even more responsive and sporty in demanding situations while also maintaining a smooth and quiet ride.
Civic Si
The Civic Si showcases the performance potential of the Civic platform to the highest degree. The Civic Si can carve through twisty roads like a sports car, sprint from 0-60 quickly and still provide the everyday practicality of a Civic with its legendary quality, refinement and durability. Its exclusive exterior includes rear deck wing, aero cladding and Si badging and its interior has deeply bolstered seats, red fabric stitching and unique trim panels. The Civic Si's 2.0-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine produces 197-horsepower @ 7800 rpm and 139 lb-ft. torque @ 6200 rpm. A 6-speed manual transmission with helical-type limited slip differential is standard. The Civic Si rolls on 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 R17 87V tires (summer tire available).
Civic Hybrid
The Civic Hybrid provides clean and efficient technology to deliver the highest fuel economy and lowest emissions of any 2006 Civic. A new generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology helps the Civic Hybrid achieve an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 49/51 miles per gallon. The Civic Hybrid is equipped with Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) equipment in all 50 states and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is standard equipment for 2006. The Civic Hybrid can now deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain low-speed cruising situations. Power is provided by a 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 20 horsepower electric motor, producing a combined 110-horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 123 lb-ft. torque @ 1000-2500 rpm. Compared to a 2006 Civic Sedan with an automatic transmission, the Civic Hybrid provides a city fuel economy increase of approximately 63 percent and a highway fuel economy increase of approximately 27 percent.
Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe
The Civic Sedan brings together a balance between performance and economy demonstrated by the Si and Hybrid. Rich with features, the Civic Sedan boasts more standard equipment across its entire trim level range with higher quality audio systems, ergonomics and storage functionality.
The Civic Coupe represents a new generation of advanced personal compact vehicle that is stylish, fun-to-drive and practical. The Civic Si's sporty influence carries over into the Civic Coupe with a strong performance feel and muscular styling while providing industry-leading value and fuel economy. For 2006, the Civic Coupe offers more exclusivity from its sedan counterpart with a shorter wheelbase and 100 percent unique sheet metal.
The majority of Civics are produced and assembled using domestic and globally sourced parts in the United States and Canada. Civic Coupe and Civic Si models are solely produced and assembled at the Honda of Canada Manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario. Civic Sedan models are primarily produced and assembled at the Honda of America Manufacturing plant in East Liberty, Ohio. Civic Sedans are also produced and assembled at Honda of Canada Manufacturing in Alliston, Ontario. Some Civic Sedans and all Civic Hybrid models are produced and assembled in the Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Suzuka, Japan, manufacturing facility.
*For the 2006 model year, all Honda horsepower and torque specifications have been updated to reflect revised Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1349 (Rev 8/04) net calculations that went into affect in January of 2005. These new calculations reflect a number of significant changes in the way horsepower and torque are measured and may cause SAE net horsepower and torque totals published in 2006 media materials to differ from the figures published in previous years. To avoid confusion, all 2006 Honda press materials will specify "SAE net (Rev 8/04") after all horsepower and torque figures to denote adherence to the new standards.
**All fuel economy figures based on 2006 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary.