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2016 Honda Civic First Drive [w/video]

Before diving deep into the presentation for the 2016 Civic Sedan, Honda reps reminded us that the last generation of the car sold very well, thank you. Launched for the 2012 model year, and conspicuously updated for '13, the ninth-generation of Honda's Everyman Sedan was dinged in the media for its lack of innovative powertrains, a drop in refinement relative to the newest competitors, and generally staying the course instead of blazing a trail. That Civic still sold hundreds of thousands of copies. But at the presser for this new car, the sense of relief in moving forward, and excitement about the future, was palpable. Striking up the band and fawning over a new car is the job of Honda's staff, of course, but after driving the '16 Civic for myself, it was clear why the gushing seemed so genuine. This is a new machine, soup to nuts, built to draw crosshairs on the best compact cars in the world. To do that, Honda prioritized overall refinement, the steering experience, a quiet cabin, and high-speed stability as areas in which the tenth-gen car must excel. Those are new areas; the company accepts that things like excellent fuel economy and safety are elemental parts of any Civic by now. Having driven the current version of most every competitor, I set out to see if Honda could make good on that lofty and diverse set of goals. View 40 Photos Honda prioritized excellence in overall refinement, the steering experience, a quiet cabin, and high-speed stability. The new Civic powertrain lineup gives the model an immediate leg up. For 2016, Honda is bringing two new four-cylinder engines to the game: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, and a turbocharged 1.5-liter. I got a small sample of the 2.0L engine – it's generally up to the task of carrying Civic sales in bulk – but I spent most of my day with the more exciting 1.5T. (That's mostly what Honda brought along; the engineers are clearly proud of this motor.) The top three trim levels will include the 174-horsepower, 162-pound-feet turbo engine, connected to a continuously variable transmission. The added power makes sense for the more expensive versions of this car, as the easy acceleration it offers is a real luxury. Most drivers will appreciate that there's less "turbo-y" feeling to this engine than just about any I've ever experienced. Full torque output starts at 1,800 rpm – and sticks there right up to the 5,500-rpm horsepower peak – but there's no drama around the power coming on.

Acura ILX headed for Civic-like early upgrades

The not-yet-ready-for-primetime 2012 Honda Civic saw it quickly returned to sender for refurbishment, now the Acura ILX is headed in the same direction in its very first year. Automotive News reports that the small, Civic-based sedan from Honda's luxury brand isn't meeting sales expectations, with an annualized rate of 22,000 to 24,000 sales instead of the 30,000 the company is after. More telling is that the ILX "is being outsold by the Buick Verano, Volkswagen CC and Audi A4," and, except for two months since it launched, it has also been outdone by the Acura TSX it is meant to replace.
Part of the cause has been the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine: its 150 horsepower to motivate a sedan that can weigh up to 2,970 pounds doesn't offer the kind of performance or value experience that buyers in the segment respond to. Another big issue is that the top-level 2.4-liter engine is only offered with a six-speed manual even though most buyers of the highest trim don't really want to shift their own gears. Lastly, the ILX might not put enough space between it and its frugal underpinnings - our first drive review pegged it as "the world's nicest Honda Civic."
An automatic transmission is on the way for the 2.4-liter, but it isn't clear when. And while Honda admits that the 2.0-liter is underpowered and Automotive News says it's on the way out, the company hasn't yet said how that situation will be corrected.

Honda teases racing motorcycle-powered concept for Frankfurt

With upcoming models like the next-gen Civic and NSX, Honda is working to return to its performance glory days. We'll see one more manifestation of that desire at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show with the Project 2&4 concept. The single teaser image leaves the styling to anyone's guess, but the vehicle is powered by the potent 1.0-liter V4 from the RC213V MotoGP race bike. Stuffing the high-strung motorcycle engine into the car should at least make a great noise. Unfortunately, Honda is keeping the details very scant in the teaser. The Project 2&4 has no cabin and is meant to combine "the freedom of a motorcycle and the maneuverability of a car." That suggests a low-slung, minimalist body with an emphasis on handling, and the image appears to show open wheels at the front and rear. The company also doesn't say whether it has the race bike's full competition engine with over 235 horsepower or the new street version with 157 hp to over 212 hp, depending on the spec. The Project 2&4's shape is the result of a global competition among the brand's studios. The winning design is the result of cooperation from the motorcycle stylists in Asaka, Japan, and the automotive team in Wako, Japan. We're curious to see what it actually looks like in Frankfurt. Honda to Showcase Re-energized Model Range at 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show Honda 2015 model range of entirely all-new and refreshed cars Global premiere of Honda Project 2&4 powered by RC213V, modified for public road use, showcasing Honda's uniquely creative engineering Honda UNI-CUB ? to make its German debut August 26, 2015 - The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show underlines an important year for Honda and will see the brand presenting its new model range of entirely refreshed and all-new cars displayed together. Alongside the new line-up, Honda will also showcase design concepts and advanced technologies, all demonstrating Honda's unique creativity in meeting the personal mobility challenges of today and the future. Honda Project 2&4 Powered by RC213V – embodiment of creativity and craftsmanship The 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show will witness the global premiere of 'Honda Project 2&4'. A winner of the global design competition run by Honda between its global design studios, Honda Project 2&4 represents the company's drive to inspire and reward creative thinking.