US bound Honda Civic to get new 1.5L VTEC turbo and six-speed manual or CVT gearbox



Americans are in for a real treat here following news that the next generation (10th-gen) Honda Civic will adopt the company’s new 1.5-litre turbocharged VTEC engine, and that a short shifting six-speed manual gearbox will also be thrown into the mix.

This Civic Concept debuted at the 2015 New York International Auto Show and is a major leap as far as its looks go. Executive Vice President of American Honda Motor, Mr John Mendel said the new C-Segment model will be the most refined and stylish Civic Honda has ever made. Mendel also defined the new Civic as most dynamic, most technologically advanced and an epic Civic in every way. Bold claims indeed.Civic Concept

It features a longer wheelbase, wider stance and sits lower than the outgoing version. The hood is evidently longer too, while the front face gets an aggressive style highlighted by the “Flying H” Honda grille. These improvements align with the brand’s reimagination of the Civic, which Honda aims to pay meticulous attention to its spirited performance and class-leading versatility. A total of five variants will be offered in the Land of the Free – Sedan, Coupe, Si, Hatchback (5-door) and Type-R.

Now comes the interesting bit. The new Civic will be the first U.S model to feature Honda’s VTEC turbo engines from its line of Earth Dream Technology powertrain series. One prominent engine choice would be the turbocharged 1.5-litre VTEC petrol engine with direct injection paired to either a six-speed short shifting manual gearbox or the improved CVT gearbox. No output figures have been released so far, but we can expect the engine to make between 180 to 200 horses, if not more.Honda Civic Concept (15)

Besides the emphasis on spirited driving, the Civic targets class-leading fuel economy with near-luxury levels of cabin refinement. All this is also taken into consideration without compromising on its safety. As such, the model will get Honda Sensing – the brand’s trademarked range of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies which include Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Multi-Angle Rearview Camera, Adaptive Cruise Control and Honda LaneWatch.

Honda says the production version of the new Civic will not stray too far from this Concept – a statement that adds on to the forced induction hype. We hate to burst your bubble, but it’s very likely that this Civic will not hit Malaysian roads. If you’re reading this Honda Malaysia, please give us the VTEC turbo.


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