The Honda Civic has been an environmental leader since its introduction nearly 30 years ago, with its long history of high mileage and low emissions. This holds true for the 2001 Civic which hit showrooms September 15.
When Honda developed the CVCC engine in 1975, the Civic became the first vehicle to meet the Clean Air Act without the need of a catalytic converter, something most manufacturers said at the time was impossible.
Honda has always believed that the automobile should perform in conjunction with the wants and concerns of the consumer, and in turn has attempted to manufacture vehicles that are environmentally friendly and safe. As the 2001 Civic was being developed, these priorities guided Honda engineers. They aimed to make the new Civic even more environmentally friendly than its predecessors.
One target was to improve fuel economy by approximately five to ten percent. This was accomplished through an enhanced fuel injector design.
The 2001 Civic was engineered to meet California's stringent ULEV (Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle) standard and will be distributed as such in all 50 states. Hydrocarbons were cut by 40 percent through employing engine control management that reduces emissions sooner and uses the latest improved catalytic converter technology. This voluntary move makes Honda the first company to take this step with a mass produced automobile.
According to Daniel Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming and energy program, "with Honda's decision to make all their Civics Ultra Low Emission Vehicles, Honda pulls into the lead of car makers making greener products."
Finally, major efforts were undertaken to enhance recyclability of the new Civic. For example, all instrument panel parts are now created of Olefin, making the panel itself completely recyclable.
Acura's all-new MDX luxury performance SUV, scheduled to go on sale in October, combines world class fuel economy and ultra-low emissions with outstanding performance. In designing this innovative new Acura, engineers set out to create the world's most conscientious sport-utility vehicle.
The Acura MDX will have the best overall fuel economy performance of any vehicle in its class (17 mpg city/23 mpg highway).
The MDX will also meet California's rigorous Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) requirement. In addition, the MDX will be one of the first SUVs equipped with an on-board vapor recovery system to reduce emissions during refueling.
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| Acura's MDX, which goes on sale in October, has the best fuel efficiency in its class. |
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| The seventh generation Honda Civic was built to meet California's rigorous ULEV standards and will be sold as such in all 50 states. |