First look at Civic Hybrid

18 December 2001: IFirst Look: Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda's Civic Hybrid saloon which debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in October and goes on sale this month in Japan, will be available in the US as the first direct competitor to Toyota's Prius from March 2002. The car is almost exactly alike as the conventional model, with differences only to the grille, front fascia and boot lid.

Using an updated Integrated Motor Assist system like that used on Insight, the Civic Hybrid claims the highest fuel mileage figure ever achieved in Japan for a five-seater, petrol-powered production vehicle with a performance expected to be in the mid-50-mpg range.

The car uses Honda’s Multimatic S continuously variable transmission, and a new 84hp, 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. A power control unit and nickel-metal hydride battery combine into a single 'Intelligent Power Unit', stored behind the rear seat, to control the electric motor.

The petrol engine is the main power source and is assisted by a 10kW electric motor when more power is needed with 36 lb-ft more torque. The motor assist system is shut down in cruise mode.

The petrol engine uses Honda’s lean-burn combustion technology (two spark plugs per cylinder) as used in the new Jazz supermini, along with VTEC and a cylinder cut-off system that works to increase the amount of electrical energy recovered during deceleration through regenerative braking.

Honda has not yet announced prices for the Civic Hybrid, but it sells the 2-seater Insight in the US for a heavily-subsidised $20,000 (in Ireland the Insight goes on special order sale nex year for around EUR 41,000).