American Honda Motor Co., Inc., today announced that it will debut its all-new Civic Hybrid to the public when the 2005 Sierra Club Summit opens its doors. Media demonstrations will take place during a 10:30 am press conference on Friday September 9, 2005 inside San Francisco's Moscone Center.
The Civic Hybrid provides the ultimate in clean and efficient technology with the highest fuel economy and lowest emissions of any Civic. Given the instability of price and availability of gasoline and other petroleum products, energy efficient vehicles are critical toward achieving US energy independence. Vehicles such as the Civic Hybrid, for the near term, and the natural gas powered Civic GX, for the midterm, are important components of an energy independence goal.
"As a leader in environmental innovation, we must strive for continuous improvements in energy efficiency," said Gunnar Lindstrom, senior manager of alternative fuel vehicle sales and marketing for American Honda. "This new Civic Hybrid is the perfect example of how to balance the needs of our customers with the needs of environmental protection."
The latest generation of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology allows the Civic to achieve an EPA estimated city/highway fuel economy of 49/51 miles per gallon while achieving Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in all 50 states. Equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard equipment for 2006, Civic Hybrid fuel economy increases by 4 percent in the city and 6 percent on the highway as compared to the 2005 Civic Hybrid with CVT and AT-PZEV certification. The Civic Hybrid can now deactivate all four of its cylinders and operate using only the electric motor in certain steady-state cruising situations. Compared to the 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 27 percent.
Honda first introduced U.S. consumers to hybrid technology with the Insight in December 1999. It launched its second hybrid vehicle, the Civic Hybrid, in March 2002, followed by the first-ever V6-powered hybrid, the Accord Hybrid, in December 2004. The company is introducing this all-new version of its popular Civic Hybrid featuring an advanced new look, class leading features and enhanced performance at dealerships this fall.
*All fuel economy figures based on 2006 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary.