EU Spec 2017 Honda Civic – Video
The all-new Civic is the first model in Europe to offer Honda’s 1.0 litre three-cylinder and 1.5 litre four-cylinder gasoline turbocharged engines. Honda’s engineering heritage encompasses some of the most celebrated high performing engines in the industry, and the new VTEC TURBO units are designed first and foremost to offer dynamic performance to support the all-new Civic’s soulful, fun-to-drive character. Nevertheless, they also achieve highly competitive fuel economy and efficiency. Both engines will be available with either a newly-designed six-speed manual transmission or a bespoke CVT automatic.
The powertrain development programme for the new VTEC TURBO engines built upon the experience gained during the development of Honda’s first ever VTEC TURBO unit – the 310 PS 2.0 litre that made its debut in the 2015 Civic Type R. The new 1.0 and 1.5 litre VTEC TURBO gasoline units are directly related to their 2.0 litre forerunner, sharing technologies that boost output and efficiency, some of which have their origins in Honda’s motorsport programmes.
With direct injection, a compact, low-inertia mono-scroll turbocharger, electronic wastegate, Honda’s Intelligent-Variable Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC) and Dual-Variable Timing Control (Dual-VTC), the turbocharged Civic powerplants have been designed to develop the power and torque of much larger engines. As a result, the new pair of VTEC TURBO engines achieve engaging driveability and soulful performance – with high specific outputs of maximum torque and power – while also delivering Euro 6compliant environmental performance that is among the class leaders.
The three-cylinder 1.0 litre VTEC TURBO gasoline unit delivers a significant improvement in everyday driveability – thanks to greater torque at low and mid-range engine speeds – as well as fuel efficiency, over the 1.8 litre VTEC engine of the previous generation Civic. Maximum torque of 200 Nm with the six-speed manual is available at 2,250 rpm, and 180 Nm with the CVT is available between 1,700 rpm and 4,500 rpm. Maximum power is 129 PS (95 kW) at 5,500 rpm. Official CO2 emissions are as low as 106 g/km for the CVT-equipped model, with fuel economy on the NEDC combined cycle from 4.7l/100 km (60.1 mpg).
The larger four-cylinder 1.5 litre VTEC TURBO gasoline engine provides substantially greater performance – in power and torque – over the previous Civic’s 1.8-litre VTEC. Maximum power is 182 PS (134 kW) at 5,500 rpm (at 6,000 rpm with CVT). With the six-speed manual, 240 Nm maximum torque is delivered between 1,900 rpm and 5,000 rpm. With the CVT, 220 Nm is delivered between 1,700 rpm and 5,500 rpm. Official CO2 emissions are 133 g/km for the six-speed manual model, with combined fuel economy (NEDC combined cycle) of 5.8l/100 km (48.7 mpg).
Honda’s engineers utilised a number of advanced technologies in each unit to optimise power and efficiency, and improve the responsiveness of the engines, with reduced internal friction and weight saving representing core concepts