The History of the Honda Civic
The History of the Honda Civic
1972 was a time of innovation and advancement in the auto industry, and right in the middle of it was the debut of the Honda Civic. Before the debut of the Civic, Honda was known for its motorcycles. This quickly changed when it released its first generation of 2-door and 3-door Civic models, quickly followed by the five-door sporty Civic RS. Throughout its run, the Civic was well-received and was awarded Car of the Year in Japan from 1972 to 1974.
The positive reception of the Civic paved the way for the second generation Civic, which was released in July 1979. It had an improved engine performance and a wider interior. The third generation Civic followed in 1988 and featured two new body styles: the coupe and the four-door wagon.
The fourth generation Civic, released from 1988 to 1991, highlighted improved performance and efficiency, offering five engine configurations. It featured a revolutionary valve timing technology and electronic fuel injection, two innovations that made the Civic a popular choice among drivers.
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In 1991, the fifth generation Civic was introduced, featuring an aerodynamic body style and flexible interior. By then, the Civic was equipped with a 170-horsepower engine. It was yet another milestone, after being hailed as the Car of the Year in Japan in 1991 and 1992.
Continuing the winning streak of the Civic, the sixth generation was unveiled in 1996. Honda focused on low CO2 emission and safety, without compromising the performance. Although the style wasn’t exactly a reinvention, the engine was: it had a 3-stage VTEC engine and variable speed auto transmission for the Hondi Multimatic. It was again the Car of the Year in Japan in 1995 and 1996.
From 2001 to 2005, the seventh generation Honda Civic was moved to the compact car category. Although much of its exterior design was retained, the interior was maximized. With the Civic’s G-CON collision safety technology, the safety features were incredibly improved, having received the highest rating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US. This, combined with inexpensive maintenance and cost effective auto glass and part replacement, make it ideal for first time drivers.
The eighth generation is officially the latest in the Honda Civic line. In 2006, two body styles were released for the North American and the European market, with the latter having a more aggressive design. While the European Civic had a more sloped windshield and a lower rear suspension and the US version had a steeper windshield.
To continue the legacy of the Civic, Honda will release the ninth generation Civic in 2012 in four body styles – a coupe, sedan, and two Si versions. It will also have Eco Assist Technology for more energy-efficient driving. Because the exterior isn’t vastly improved, windshield repair should be just as affordable as in the current Civic models.
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