This is a continuation of this
thread.
The new 2006 Honda Civic, due this fall, is more fun to drive than the car it replaces, our spies tell us, and there will even be a return of the racer’s favorite CRX badge in 2007. That’s not bad news, is it?
Those we spoke to who have driven the new Civic were enthusiastic about it.
“It’s an awesome car. It drives like the Integra Type R,” said one.
“This is exactly what Honda needs,” said another.
And these were performance-lovin’ guys.
The new Civic makes those gains without a return to double wishbones in front. The new suspension still has MacPherson struts. The rear suspension is also “revised,” but details are scarce. Expect a slightly tighter multilink setup.
Top of the engine chart is the 200-hp version of the K20 four-cylinder that will power the Civic Si and CRX. Civic Si, the most powerful Civic ever, according to Hond will bow at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas this November.
Of course, with the new SAE horsepower ratings, that 200-hp figure might wind up being 197, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as 200. Honda is wringing its corporate hands over that. Even so, a 197-hp rating is still better than the 160 hp of today’s Si, though maybe even that’s now 158 or so, SAE.
The new Si engine will have 16 valves operated by dual overhead cams and i-VTEC, or variable lift electronic control with intelligence. Redline will be 8000 rpm. The Si engine will be mated to a six-speed manual and it will get a helical limited-slip differential. It will ensure power goes to the ground instead of spinning the inside-front tire uselessly.
Most of the Civic lineup will have a new 1.8-liter four that will make more power and offer a 6 percent improvement in fuel economy. Honda says the 1.8 offers the acceleration of a 2.0-liter and the fuel economy of a 1.5-liter engine. The 1.8 uses improved i-VTEC, drive-by-wire and variable-length intake runners to achieve its increased performance. Peak power is 140 hp and peak torque is 128 lb-ft, though there are suggestions a 155- or 160-hp version could be coming.
The 2006 Civic line will get a new hybrid engine that will be 20 percent more efficient than today’s. The gasoline engine portion of the hybrid will be 1.3 liters and offer three phases of i-VTEC, one for low rpm, one for high and one for idle. At idle the gas engine shuts down, restarting when the driver steps on the gas.
All that running gear will be placed in what Honda calls a new body from the floorpan up. Standard wheels are expected to be 15 inches, with 16-inch wheels on the EX and 17-inch wheels on the Si.
The Civic will come in two body styles, a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe. Sources say the bodies are slightly longer and wider. Combined with a slightly more cab-forward style, interior space is thus opened up. The Civic dash, meanwhile, is two-tiered, with an instrument binnacle bulging out of it. The interior generally gets favorable reviews from those who have seen it.
The slightly larger 2006 Civic will move it upscale just enough to make room for the coming five-door Jazz/Fit, due in the first half of next year. That smaller car will be aimed at Scion and at whatever Nissan decides to call its entry-level youth-oriented line. Stay tuned for word on all that.
>>>For Sale? Clicky!<<<
-----The orginal Mr.Goodwrench on the JBO since 11/99-----
Mr.Goodwrench-G.T. wrote:there will even be a return of the racer’s favorite CRX badge in 2007.
Here let me fix that quote.
Rob wrote:there will even be a return of the ricer's favorite CRX badge in 2007.
Rob
Sold 2/2/05
CRX's are awesome. Maybe some of what people do to them is crappy, but from a stock standpoint it was a very nice, upgradeable car
honda needed an upgrade, i dont see anything worth buying performance wise in the current civic lineup
if it looks decent id say there gonna have a hit
and yes the CRX is a good car if you engine swap it, the cars can moveeeeeeeeeeeeee.....but the stock engines blew dick
REDGOTE (ROBZ IL CAV) wrote:Mr.Goodwrench-G.T. wrote:there will even be a return of the racer’s favorite CRX badge in 2007.
Here let me fix that quote.
Rob wrote:there will even be a return of the ricer's favorite CRX badge in 2007.
Rob
Sorry Rob, it should say......"RICERS favorite cavalier badge"....
I've seen way more nice and original CRX's than J-bodies in my lifetime. I owned one with a JDM ITR motor and it chirped in 5th gear...true story. it would probably hand a GTO it's a$$...but i no longer own it, with the JDM motor i couldn't be smogged so it had to go. but i know for a fact i ran with vettes easy. CRX weighs nothing plus 200hp=alot of fun.
"Formerly known as Jammit - JBO member since 1998" JBOM | CSS.net
all time ugly
1. Scion Ice cream truck
2. Honda Element
3. Honda CRX
4. Pontiac Aztek
5. Chevy Aveo
1989 Turbo Trans Am #82, 2007 Cobalt SS G85
^^^ No way in hell does a CRX make an ugliest car list!
So what exactly is the difference between this new Si and new CRX? I'm hoping they're returning the Si to coupe form and letting the miniminivan body style go to the CRX.
is it just me or does Honda Completely redesign the civic every year since like 2000?
They do, but better that way than GM's way of changing Cavalier headlights and taillights only after a 5 year period and calling it a "redesign".
^^^
is it??
I dont think it is very cost effective. But I guess we will find out.
I like how they plan on losing HP from the SAE rating. That is classic. Kinda makes you wonder what the current honda engines really put out.
Civic resale value vs Cavalier resale value
Civic overall quality vs Cavalier overall quality
Yup, seems to be working.
^^
cavaliers arent made anymore
also some of the newer civics aren't all that impressive so far
just a cheap econo car
the resale is just what the majority of consumers approximation of what a car is worth
I'll admit CRXs are fast, my buddy had one with a B18 in it a full exhaust and an intake, jesus did that little car move. I never seen him lose a race and there were quite a few Mustangs and Maros that said he never stood a chance then got walked on
if it ain't broke...MAKE IT GO FASTER
^^^
which happens to cost $50k
I have nothing really against Honda, but nothing they make really appeals to me, 96-2000 civic I liked, Acura TSX I like, but that's about it. I think the present generation civic feels rally cheap, and looks awefull.
The only car's I would buy right now is either GM or Honda, but since nothing from Honda is appealing (in my price range), it's GM for me.
"drive-by-wire"
This is interesting. Not many cars have this, but it is expected to take over the industry in the next decade.
I kinda like something on my machine to be mechanical though. Now i'm going to feel like i'm driving my computer to work.
I'm sure pepole said the same thing when EFI replaced carb'ed engines though.
www.drluc.ca
That might explain why i thought the cobalt felt like driving a video game car, no feedback from the steering.
www.drluc.ca
