TMQ

The back looks handsome, a bit similar to the current civic coupe (which looks much better than the sedan).

Corolla is very boring. Mazda 3 on the other hand is great looking.

Python2121

like i said before, i wouldn't TOUCH A corolla, i would take a civic with no question any day in my sleep without fail

gocubsgo55

hopefully that hump on top of the dash near the middle of the interior is for informative purposes other than Instrumentation, I HATE Center Instrument Panels.

gavriil

Nah. The rear looks totally like a CIvic.

gavriil

Source: http://www.VTEC.net

1killercls

no thanks.

chef chris

Mini-maxima

phile

Geez, you'd think by now the Civic would at least be at 2.0L standard.

biker

Going from 117 to 140HP is a healthy enough jump. I wonder if that DI is for this engine. That would make it the least expensive car with a DI engine. Not a big deal in Europe, where lots of cheap cars have it, but in cost cutting US putting something like that on a sub 20K car would be impressive. The Jetta already has it but that's a more expensive car.

dom

That info at Vtec.net is their best guess is is not? If I recall correctly that info has been up on their Model release Matrix for quite some time, long before the new Civic was recently shown.

Zapata

ya 140hp is very healthy jump and would really make the car very nice to drive.

phile

It depends on where you're measuring it from. The top model EX already has 127hp. 140hp is like a ~10% gain.

gocubsgo55

140 HP is a nice jump indeed.

Zapata

yea, true but if the low end model has 140 then

Weck

Here's some '06 Civic info supposedly leaked from the Alliston, Ontario assembly plant (source vtec.net). BTW, the Canadian Si is the American EX.

... my apologies if this is a repost

>>>>>>>>>>

New Civic is to be launceh next September and I finally get some info. Will be 75mm wider (about 3" for people from USA) and almost that much longer wheelbase. In fact wheelbase is just slightly bellow Accord's. Engines are all brand new. Base engine 1.8L and 140hp, for 1.8EL will be 155hp and for SiR will be 2.0L and 200Hp with 6 speed manual. As I said earlier Nissan, Mazda, Mitsu, Toyota and all Americans will be very sorry why they ever start horsepower war. Do I need to say about SULEV status and class leading fuel consamption. Can't wait for new EL. Mine is now over 131,000km and didn't touch anything so far. Great car for money.

We will be building two '06 Civic's on Wed Mar 30th. I'll convey my findings later this week.

Correction, built two, 2 door Civic Si coupes, both 6 speed manuals. One Canadian, one American.

The Canadian Si had rear drum brakes, and a 1.8 engine. Listen carefully! On the engine block it said R18A1. Both cars had XM sat ready radios. Auto climate control. rear suspension is different then current Civic. The shock and coil are separate components now. I had a chance to measure the shifter throw. It came out to 5". Measured from tip of the shifter rod (without the knob) and ran the shifter from 3rd to 4th gear. Tires are P215/45R17. Sorry the exhaust is NOT integrated into the bumper. Standard exhaust pipe. The American Si engine was 2.0 (same series R engine) with a big ass straight alloy intake (like on the S2000) going straight into the head. No bends on that intake! Saw no port injectors. Assume new direct fuel injection. Gas peddel is hinged at the floor. Saw a neat button that allows the driver to switch between MPH or KPH. American Si gets rear disk brakes. And no there not Brembo Brakes.

----

I'm only conveying what I saw. I'm positive the two cars were Si's (saw Si badge on both cars). I checked the asssembly sheet, One Canadian, one American. I can honestly say I didn't see the engine code on the American Si 2.0 because I had management all around me and people trying to put parts on the car. Also, the massive intake was in the way (I'll have a better look today). I did clearly see the R18A1 on the Canadian Si. However looking at the size of the engine head it does look like the Canadian Si is a SOHC (90% sure). Unless you're right about them building a Si R for Canada. Don't forget we the workers at Honda are 'mushrooms' (kept in the dark and covered in ****).

Another interesting point, the engine exhaust on the USA Si is towards the firewall. On the CA Si the exhaust is at the front toward the radiator. And yes it only looks like the exhaust manifold is integrated into the head but it isn't. I saw the bolts from the exhaust manifold to the head. Strange thing the exhaust manifold is a alloy not steel. At first I thought it was the intake but then I saw the O2 sensors at the catylitic which is just below the exhaust manifold. Just like ot the current Civic's.

I have no info on " if " our plant will be building the Hybrid Civic.

In any event I'll have many hours today to play with one of recently built Si's.

----

All I can say about the EL is that it will be 200 HP. A person working directly on the new model El / Civic told me 180 and 200. So it looks like the El might be getting two motor options.

Which would make sense. In the past americans get the Civic EX with VTEC motors. Canada never got the EX Civic with VTEC. If you wanted the American EX motor you would have to buy the Acura EL. I think the previous poster, Jeff, mentioned that.

From what I saw of the EL, it's moving upscale. Nice entertainment system in it! It had AM FM CD DVD 5.1 (WITH SUB) NAVI, XM SAt ready and the sceen folds down to reveil a MP3 player and drives for the DVD and CD players! Not sure if it will play movie DVD's or if it's just the drive for the NAVI mapping software.

----

Strange indeed. The EL I saw had paddle shifters just behind the steering wheel. Do you think they would put these shifters in a car that wasn't going to have some serious performance behind it. The new Audi A3 Sportback which is coming to Canada this May will have V6 and paddle shifters but that version won't come here until 2007. I had the opportunity to drive the new A3 Sportback on Germany's autobahn....fantastic car! That will be another serious competiter to Honda's new Civic! In 2007 as well we MAY be getting the BMW 1 Series which may be a contender to the Civic. The thing that will seperate the two will be price.

----

Honda does not tell us anything. we build the cars and it is more or less up to the employee to figure out the specs of the car based on personal knowledge of cars and mechanics.

Your right. Different regions of the world do get different engines. I found in Europe the engine displacement to be smaller and thats do to the fact that fuel is VERY expensive. It doesn't make sense. North America gets powerful cars but the speed limits here are a joke. Where as most of the western European countries get low power cars but they have higher speed limits AND better roads. Italy just increased there autostrada limits to 150kph and 'most' of the autobahn in Germany is unlimited. I don't understand it

I would love to get a Civic diesel in Canada. It's available in Europe. Loads of torque!

Currently in Canada the EL is only available as a 4 door sedan (North America), saloon (British), limousine (Germany) I'm not sure what you call it in Asia.

I have a friend a Honda Head office in Toronto tell me a year ago that the EL was going to be 200HP. So far everything he did tell me about the car I've seen on the new EL we have. Only time will tell...

----

I'll have time to go over the car later today. Sorry no dash mounted shifter. The shifter is actually mounted on the parking brake assembly which is mounted to the floor.

----

Oh, I forgot. The dash is really, well, long and round. Hard to explain. There are two instrument displays. One closest to the steering wheel displays the tach and then another hump protrudes from the dash close to the front window which displays the speedo, which is digital. We had no power to the car. Maybe today.

----

I had a closer look at the new Si yesterday. velour seats on both. No power steering pump so I assume electric. Side curtains. Both engines are r series. My source at head office told me today the press vehicles are coming within the next month.

Infamous425

so ... the acura EL will be as fast or faster than a TSX ?

SeCsTaC

Isn't the TSX getting a refresh next year? Hopefully that includes a power bump

phile

The EL has no choice but to move upscale. Acura must rely on it for its Canadian sales, but at the same time, it cannot continue to erode the Acura image as being just a nicer Civic. At least with 200hp, it could be at the level of the RSX.

biker

You'd think Honda could at least spring for rear disk brakes! The double hump has been verified in the pics before. I though the idea of a digital speedo was killed years ago. People prefer a sweeping needle. If they keep the weight down to 28-2900 lbs, then yes the EL will be faster than a TSX, but that's only a Canadian thing. Like now, you'll probably have the 155HP engine in the top of the line EX in the US and 140HP engine in the rest of the line up - they might even drop the DX. Those buyers will have to step down to the Fit next year.

MSZ

RSX should be dead in a year or two. TSX should have a HP upgrade in a year or two as well.

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

yea it's probably going for the euro market.

either way, not a fan

Infamous425

yeah but if i owned a tsx now i'd be pissed if i got smoked by an acura civic

Infamous425

yeah but around here ive seen quite a few imported EL's

MSZ

I have a TSX.

There are a lot of cars out there faster than TSX. Most people who bought TSX aren't for straight-line performance.

Water-S

if the CRX is brought back or a sporty version of a hatchback I'll be first in line for one. .
but you gotta remember i got a 89 Si CRX with a blown now mildly built D series motor(dynoed at 125 wheel hp),full roll cage with camera bracket,coil overs,short throw shifter, DC sport headers,CAI, cherry bomb exhaust, lightweight rims, racing tires, MSD igition box, the interior gutted weighs about 2100 or 2200 lbs.2 sparco seats with 5 point harnesses. racing tach with tach light,and speedometer.
I was concidering dropping a spoon B18C5 motor in it but i might just wait since this is maybe coming out.) only thing is my buddy wants me to put in that B18C5 because he said on street tires i should put down low 13s maybe high 12's in the 1/4 mile.

dom

If the EL has 200HP this petty much guarantee's a HP bump for the 06 TSX which is great news.

Belzebutt

CRX sounds like an appropriate name for an Acura...

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=348667

They've also included a leased home fueling station with the car made by a company called Fuel Maker.

For a city car, this thing might be really good, but its limited range sort of limits its usability. Also, currently it is only available in Cali.

Moog-Type-S

stangg172004

Havent they been selling them for a while? I saw an interview on tv like 2 years ago about these nuns that use cng cars to get around...

charliemike

200 miles on a tank? I get that now in my Mazda 3.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Prior sales were limited to fleet sales for organizations that had access to CNG fueling stations and a handful of private buyers willing to risk getting caught without a fueling station.

This is the first real attempt to retail to the general public.

Python2121

in new delhi all of the busses and autorickshaws are cng because pollution a few years ago was absolutly insane

biker

Like the hybrid craze, this thing won't work unless the economics makes sense. While they may advertize the lowest cost/mile using natural gas, as soon as you factor in the $50/mo for leasing of filling station and that the GX is about 3-4K more than a regular Civic the savings go out the window. Yes it makes sense for fleet operators - not yet for regular consumers unless you're a real die hard tree hugger that uses the HOV lanes a lot.

Ken1997TL

3 things need to happen before this will "work" for the majority:

1) Improved range, 200 miles just doesnt cut it
2) Cheaper/quicker refuelling at home
3) Gas Stations that support such a thing. Most stations that DO have natural gas, do so on a business payment plan, not individual purchases from one time consumers.

gavriil

Source: Autoweek Forums

Teh Jatt

wow that looks nice.............

Minch00

And blurry. And small.

Teh Jatt

Minch00

Nice. Give me a turbo and AWD with navi and HIDs and I'm so there.