The Honda Civic is the cornerstone of Honda and its automotive heritage, earning recognition and acclaim as an icon in the automotive industry since its introduction in 1973. The Civic represents the first high volume production automobile that showcased Honda's spirit of innovation to a North American audience ready for something new. Cumulatively, Civic has reached 16 million customers globally and 7 million in the United States, where it has been the best selling retail compact car for the past nine years. The Civic was the seventh best selling vehicle overall in 2004 and third best selling passenger car. If the Civic were its own individual brand, annual sales in excess of 300,000 would make it the 13th top selling brand in the United States out of more than 40 possible brands.

As the Civic has been re-invented throughout its previous seven generations, each new model has consistently set new standards in the automotive industry with its innovative packaging, attractive styling, high fuel economy, low emissions, fun-to-drive performance, reliability and safety. The pioneering eighth generation 2006 model amplifies the defining character of the Civic with a long list of Honda technology and engineering innovations, resulting in a vehicle that is pure Honda, exclusively Civic and outside the boundaries of traditional small car thinking.

The 2006 Civic represents an extreme transformation of design and dynamics. Multiple powertrains for 2006 range from 197-horsepower high performance to 50 mpg petrol-sipping hybrid to an all-around performer with two body styles, representing one of the most diverse vehicles in the industry. An expressive and futuristic design with exciting performance and a dedication to providing advanced safety technology set the Civic apart from the competition.

America's 2006 Honda Civic sedan

America's 2006 Honda Civic Si coupe

The Civic Enters a New Dimension

The Civic has always offered features designed to reward customers with fun-to-drive performance, efficient and environmentally friendly operation and enhanced safety, and the 2006 model goes further than any Civic before it. The first noticeable difference is that both Civic Sedan and Coupe have entirely new dimensions that make each vehicle wider for a sleek, futuristic appearance that also benefits packaging efficiency, handling and ride quality.

Compared to its 2005 predecessor, the 2006 Civic Sedan has grown 1.4 inches in overall length (176.8 inches) and 1.5 inches in width (69.0 inches). Its 106.3-inch wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer, while the rear overhang is 3.1 inches shorter and the front overhang is 1.8 inches longer. Height has been reduced by 0.2 inches. The front track is 1.1 inches wider (59.0 inches) and the rear track is 2.2 inches wider (60.2 inches). Vehicle weight has increased by approximately 5 percent on each trim level - a relatively small gain considering the addition of extensive standard safety equipment, new features and greatly increased bending and torsional rigidity.

The 2006 Civic Coupe has been reduced 0.6 inches in overall length (174.8 inches) compared to the 2005 model, and is now 1.4 inches wider (68.9 inches). Its coupe-exclusive 104.3-inch wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer, while the front and rear overhang lengths remain unchanged. Overall height has been reduced by 1.6 inches (55.1 inches). The front track is 1.1 inches wider (59.0 inches) and the rear track is 2.1 inches wider (60.1). Like the sedan, vehicle weight has increased by approximately 5 percent on each trim level.

Advanced Personal Concept Provides Specialized Performance and Dynamics

The Civic's popularity spans a wide range of customers - some prefer its high-performance potential, others want an all-around great car for daily commuting with style and economy, while some desire the ultimate in clean and efficient technology. For 2006, Honda is advancing multiple powertrain technologies to meet the needs of a diverse Civic customer by offering a 197-horsepower Civic Si, a 50 mpg Civic Hybrid, and a stylish and sophisticated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe. No other vehicle in the segment covers as much ground as the Civic with its two body styles, three engines, four transmissions and five trim levels. All totaled, there are over 148 model, trim, option and colour combinations for the 2006 Civic, more than ever before.

Honda recognises that a "one size fits all" approach does not always fit the broad spectrum of compact car buyers and that special technology applied to various models provides greater satisfaction and benefit. For example, some cars offer sporty performance across an entire model range, but compromise on fuel economy, ride comfort and/or safety. Others provide good fuel economy and ride comfort, but offer minimal fun-to-drive performance. The Civic combines more desirable traits into a compact vehicle than any other nameplate, and then adds more performance, fuel economy, safety technology and sophistication to meet the demands of the market head-on (with its ACE body structure, of course).

America's 2006 Honda Civic Si coupe

Civic Si and Civic Coupe Overview

The Civic Si showcases the high-performance potential of the Civic platform to the highest degree. The Civic Si can carve through twisty roads like a sports car, sprint quickly and still provide the everyday practicality of a Civic with its legendary quality, refinement and durability. Bottom line, the 2006 Civic Si is the best handling, best performing Civic to ever touch the asphalt in America.

America's 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid