According to reports coming from dealers, Honda will be offering a mid-cycle update to the Honda Civic sedan this fall – just 18 months after the new model was launched. The move signals a rush to improve the Civic in time for the 2013 model year after it received critical reviews from Consumer Reports and The Wall Street Journal.

Check out more news on the Honda Civic.

John Mendel, executive vice president at American Honda Motor Co., has previously said that Honda planned to get a mid-cycle refresh for the Civic sometime in 2013. Even that would been quite quick since most company’s wait three years into a 5-year lifecycle for a mid-cycle change.

Last year, Honda sold 221,235 units of the Civic, far below its traditional 300,000+ rate. However, in January 2012, Honda topped the segment selling 21,883 units of the Civic.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

Interested, perhaps distracted by the sucess of the Nissan Quashai compact crossover, Honda wants to jump in the game with a shrunken CR-V, which temporarily will be known as the Civic SUV until Honda publish a name for it.

Initially, the concept drew me some worry, thinking there might be some Mercedes-esque micro niching going on, perhaps pulling sales away from the CR-V, but in reality, it evokes thoughts of the kludgy looking and now sought after Civic 4WD Wagon.

This will be an interesting car to follow given that there aren’t strictly speaking, similar small and inexpensive four wheel drive cars on the market: no four wheel drive Focus, Cruze, Corolla etc. Except for maybe the Suzuki SX4.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: AutoExpress

A $10,000 lawsuit has been filed against Honda Motor Co. by a Los Angeles woman who claims her Civic Hybrid doesn’t meet its gas mileage outlook.

The claim was filed on Tuesday in American Honda headquarters city of Torrance, CA small claims court by 46 year old Heather Peters. Peters claims that the 50 mpg that her 2006 hybrid used to get has been reduced to 30 mpg, and sites battery deterioration as the cause. The former lawyer is looking to be reimbursed for additional fuel costs and the difference in purchase price between the hybrid and petrol Civic models.

While several class-action suits are being filed on behalf of Honda hybrid owners for the same reason, Peters decided the $200 cash payout and $500 – $1,000 towards a new Honda the suits are offering wasn’t satisfactory.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

Prior to Peters filing her lawsuit, she notified Honda in a letter of her intentions if she received no response from the automaker. After several attempts and no response, she proceeded to file, although according to Honda, no contact had been made until late November.

In addition to her suit, Peters also started a website, dontsettlewithhonda.org to encourage people in her situation do act as she has.

The case will be ruled by Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan this week.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoNews

Recently, angsty consumers and of course ‘the internet’ have not been kind to the new and perhaps uninspired Honda Civic; there is some hope though as Consumer Reports has just awarded the sportier Civic Si the “recommended” designation.

The news comes from a comparo between the Si and the VW Jetta GLI; though many feel that the GLI is no longer the sedan version of the spicy Golf GTI, it still outscored Honda’s offering in the test.

“The Civic Si has a great powertrain, but it needs a better car wrapped around it,” said David Champion, sr. director of Consumer Reports Automotive Test Center.

This may sum it up for most individuals looking to buy a normal Civic. CR cited simple ergonomic gambles Honda took when reinventing the previously successful Civic: the stereo is controlled by a single knob, which CR said is “tedious”. They also said that despite all of the glass, good head and knee room, there is not enough space for the driver’s right leg, thanks to a swollen center console. On a positive note, the Si gets 29 miles to the gallon, and according to CR, the engine is relaxed for everyday driving, offering excellent low end torque and exciting power at high revs.

It is important to point out that the GLI is not recommended by Consumer Reports just yet as it has not been out long enough for them to determine reliability.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

The engine, which weighs in at 396 pounds, is going to be the lightest engine in its class.

When asked whether he hopes the new diesel engine will put some pressure on V-dub, Honda engineer Junji Yamano said through an interpreter: “It is good if they have some sleepless nights because we have had sleepless nights” trying to develop a diesel that can compete against theirs.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

The engine will make its world debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show and will first be offered in the 9th generation Civic in early 2013. It will be produced at Honda’s Swindon, England factory.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

Manabu Nishimae, president of Honda Motor Europe said that the company will deliver to customers asking for performance and sport models.

You can expect the next Honda Civic Type-R to produce closer to 200-hp from a naturally-aspirated gasoline engine along with a bunch of body modifications.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

Sources also admitted to AutoCar that there is a possibility that more Type-R models could appear in the company’s lineup, however, nothing is official as of yet.

Refresher: The 2012 Honda Civic in Europe is offered with three engine options: a 1.4 l i-VTEC gasoline unit, a 1.8 l i-VTEC gasoline unit and a 2.2 l i-DTEC diesel engine. All the engines are combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, ECO Assist, and Idle Stop. They are also equipped with Hill Start Assist. The 1.8 l engine can be paired with a specially designed 5-speed automatic transmission.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoCar

“The ultimate responsibility rests with me,” Ito said top the press at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. “We take inputs from the various markets with sincerity…and try to work out the best actions for what we have observed. Those decisions rest with me.”

Sales of the Honda Civic have fell more than 15 percent to 183,557 units in the United States during the first 10 months of 2011.

For the first time in 10 years, the Honda Civic was left off of the list of ‘recommended’ vehicles by Consumer Reports magazine. The publication said it could not recommend the vehicle due to the poor quality of its cheap interior plastics. A review by the Wall Street Journal called the Civic redesign ‘a betrayal.’

So what is Ito going to do to fix it? Honda is planning to speed up the mid-cycle change for the Civic as early as next year for the 2013 model year – that’s 1 year ahead of schedule.

- By: Roman Bronfenbrener

Source: Automotive News

On the other side of the Atlantic, the Civic has always lived in the shadows of the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus – but now there is a new model that keeps its torsion beam rear axle and space-craft looks. Can the new 2012 Euro Honda Civic finally take the top spot? Our friends over at AutoCar took one for a spin to find out.

Check out more news on the Honda Civic.

Follow the jump for the video.

Refresher: The 2012 Honda Civic in Europe is offered with three engine options: a 1.4 l i-VTEC gasoline unit, a 1.8 l i-VTEC gasoline unit and a 2.2 l i-DTEC diesel engine. All the engines are combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, ECO Assist, and Idle Stop. They are also equipped with Hill Start Assist. The 1.8 l engine can be paired with a specially designed 5-speed automatic transmission.

- By: Omar Rana

“There is no other vehicle like the Civic Natural Gas on American highways, and this recognition has been a long time coming for Honda,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “The new-generation Civic Natural Gas features greater fuel efficiency, a handsome and roomier new design, and tailpipe emissions levels untouchable by any other internal combustion production vehicle.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas comes from a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine found in the Civic Sedan and Coupe modes. However, the engine features unique upgrades that allow it to operate on compressed natural gas. The compression ratio is increased to 12.7:1, compared to 10.6:1 in the Civic Sedan‘s gasoline-powered engine. The Civic Natural gas has a 3600-psi fuel tank located between the rear wheels. Prices start at $26,155.

- By: Omar Rana

Obviously, for a car that is the Japanese brand’s bread and butter, those kinds of words are horrible – especially when the new Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and the Chevrolet Cruze have been getting nothing but praised.

Honda is now moving quick to make some mid-cycle changes.

“We take feedback seriously, regardless of who it’s from, and we will act accordingly quickly,” John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president, said. “I don’t know how much we can do, and how quickly… but the comments of Consumer Reports and our customers have not gone unnoticed. We are appropriately energized.”

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

The mid-cycle refresh for the new Honda Civic would originally occur in spring 2014, but Mendel said the changes are likely to come sometime in 2013.

Refresher: The 2012 Honda Civic Sedan is powered by a 1.8L inline 4-cylinder engine making 140-hp at 6,500 rpm and 128 lb-ft of torque of 4,300 rpm. The Civic Sedan gets an EPA-estimated fuel-economy rating of 28/39 mpg (city/highway) and 32 mpg combined when mated to an automatic transmission (standard on Civic EX Sedan and all EX-L models). A manual transmission is standard on the Civic DX and LX (automatic transmission available). Prices start at $15,805.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

Power mods stack up to provide 450hp, and include a Full-Race intercooled turbo kit for the motor, featuring a BorgWarner EFTR turbo borrowed from the brand’s Indycar teams, Hondata FlashPro controls for fuel injection, and a new intake.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

A large set of 10.5 inch wheels have been fitted to the car along with a widebody kit and a coat of Ultrasonic Blue Pearl paint.

Inside, Fox added in a set of racing seats, customized with factory Si inserts.

Not bad from what we see.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Before Bugatti gets all upset, our headline is just a joke – the brand has no plans to build a competitor to the Aston Martin Cygnet for two reasons – first, it would be a horrible thing to do and second… well, Bugatti just doesn’t compete with Aston Martin.

Either way, someone, somewhere in this world is creative enough to turn there Honda Civic hatchback into something that looks like a mix between the Bugatti Veyron and the Galibier.

We’re definitely impressed. How about you?

- By: Omar Rana

Source: RideLust

“To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, American Honda is expanding its network of U.S. dealers which are qualified to sell and service the Civic Natural Gas to retail customers— expanding sales to 200 dealers in 35 states,” Honda said in a statement. “Previously, retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic had been limited to four states – California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma.”

Power for the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas comes from a 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine found in the Civic Sedan and Coupe modes. However, the engine features unique upgrades that allow it to operate on compressed natural gas. The compression ratio is increased to 12.7:1, compared to 10.6:1 in the Civic Sedan‘s gasoline-powered engine. The Civic Natural gas has a 3600-psi fuel tank located between the rear wheels.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

The 2012 Honda Civic has an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy of 27/38/31 mpg. That’s a 10.6 percent gain over the outgoing model. The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas also gets an ECO Assist system.

- By: Omar Rana

“It [the performance version] is already under discussion,” said Kariya. “We know Type R was a big success, especially in the UK market, and we are now looking for a car to be developed in that direction. Whether it will be called Type R is not certain though.”

Check out our original post on the Honda Civic Euro-spec.

Not much else was said however. But through the history of the Type-R, we could expect a high-revving four-banger that spins fast enough to generate its own universe and sharp handling characteristics.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: AutoCar

“The designers of the new Civic wanted to keep the sporty and advanced elements of the car’s character but tailor them to communicate the new model’s more dynamic feel,” Honda said in a statement. “Sources of inspiration included a ‘blended wing body’ aeroplane in which the fuselage and wings blend into a single body for superior aerodynamic performance.”

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

Honda said that nearly all of the body panels of the 2012 Civic have been redesigned with focus on ride and handling and cutting back on CO2 emissions. We’ll get all the powertrain details at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show tomorrow.

The 2012 Honda Civic will hit dealers in Europe starting early 2012.

- By: Omar Rana

Just days before the debut of the 2012 Honda Civic Euro-spec, the Japanese automaker has given one of the most popular hatchbacks an extra dose of Mugen power. The Honda Civic Type R Mugen debuted last year to huge acclaim, and a only 20 limited edition production run of the hand-built model went on sale in UK enthusiasts.

First time at egmCarTech? Visit our home page for the latest news.

Engineers at the Northampton-based Mugen Euro have now worked their magic and have extracted more power out of the 2.156cc engine. Known as the Honda Civic Type R Mugen 2.2, the special-edition model produces an extra 20-hp for a total of 256-hp with a peak torque of 177 lb-ft at 6,000 rpm. When compared to a standard Honda Civic Type R, both power and torque are up 30 increased by 30%.

Mugen and Honda will also offer an upgraded sports suspension, uprated brakes and a performance bodykit.

Click here for more news on the Honda Civic.

How many will be made? Apparently, plans for the Honda Civic Type R Mugen 2.2 still have to be finalized. Of the 20 limited edition 2.0 liter units launched in 2010, four remain unsold. Mugen Euro may offer those four in Type R Mugen 2.2-sepc. The company is also considering letter existing owners to return their cars for an upgrade. A decision on these two options is expected to be made shortly.

- By: Omar Rana

With the Frankfurt Motor Show just around the corner, Honda has decided to tease the new Euro-spec Civic just before its world debut next month.

Euro-spec Civics have been known to be quite neat and hip as of recent and according to the teaser, this new Civic is no different. It features a new unique spoiler that’s also integrated with the rear taillights and doubles as a third brake light.

Additionally, Honda said that the new Civic boasts being a class-leader for interior room as well as its “stand-out looks.” Be sure to stay tuned as we report on the full debut of the new Civic when Frankfurt rolls around.

- By: Chris Chin

Kelley Blue Book has just released their recommendation list for the four top new compact cars. The contenders that made it to the list are the Chevrolet Cruze, the Ford Focus, the Honda Civic, and the Hyundai Elantra—all of which are brand new as of this year.

The cars were ranked according to their exterior, interior, performance, comfort and convenience, and value.

“At some point in time, most everyone drives a compact sedan, whether it is a commuter car, second car, empty nester car or even a rental car,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for kbb.com. “Because this vehicle class is an inevitable part of most American drivers’ lives, we wanted to put the top new models up against each other head-to-head to see how they would fare.”

The list goes as follows. Fourth place goes to the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ, which according to KBB’s ranking, walked away with a not great, but passing 6.7 out of 10 and was complimented for its ability to “provide big-car virtues in a smaller package.”

Third place is taken by the 2012 Ford Focus SEL for its sense of athleticism and for being the sportiest out of everything in its segment. The Ford Focus’s score was 6.9 out of 10.

Second place is non-existent because two cars tied for first. The 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited was chosen for its good looks where as the 2012 Honda Civic EX-L Navi tied with Hyundai for it being a “superb example of balance, value, and pedigree.”

“While the caliber of vehicles is better than ever in the compact sedan category across the board, each model proved to have different strengths and weaknesses that potential buyers should know about before they make their final decision,” added Nerad. “The cars are in the same segment, but they certainly aren’t the same, and we found that each meets the needs of a particular set of consumers.”

Kbb.com 2011 / 2012 Compact Sedan Comparison Test: Sneak Peek, with Links to Read Full Content, Scoring and More

Fourth Place: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ

Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating: 6.7 out of 10

Synopsis: Best at providing big-car virtues in a smaller package.

The 2011 Chevy Cruze is a new face in this field, with many advocates pointing to it as the weather vane for the coming era in American cars. Recent sales and strong consumer interest in the Cruze, despite on-again/off-again economic forecasts, point to a healthy wind blowing in…

To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Cruze in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.

Third Place: 2012 Ford Focus SEL

Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating: 6.9 out of 10

Synopsis: The Ford Focus SEL is the athlete of the bunch.

New for 2012, the Ford Focus is a “world car” with European sensibilities trying to find a home in America. Riding on a new platform, running with new engines and staring at itself in the mirror with new sheet metal, the 2012 Focus is a more substantial small sedan than the car it replaces…

To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Focus in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.

The Winners, Part One: 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited

Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Synopsis: The 2011 Hyundai Elantra is the fashionista of this test.

The most anticipated major redesign among small-car fans and auto-show enthusiasts belongs to the 2011 Hyundai Elantra. After what seemed like permanent also-ran status, Hyundai scored back-to-back styling and value wins with its new Genesis and Sonata four-doors, but what about the small sedan that needed to be a numbers car for the Korean carmaker? If this were a beauty contest or a price war, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra would win it hands down. Instead, this story has a second act…

To read the complete scoring, editorial commentary, strengths and weaknesses of the Elantra in the kbb.com comparison test, click here.

The Winners, Part Two: 2012 Honda Civic EX-L Navi

Overall Kbb.com Editors’ Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Synopsis: A superb example of balance, value and pedigree.

Also new this year, the 2012 Honda Civic bears a lot of responsibility as the next generation of a wildly popular car. With every player in the compact-sedan segment getting stronger overall, Honda had to decide: Does it take a risk, or does it stand firm with a proven formula? The 2012 Honda Civic stands firm…

- By: Chris Chin