 A Honda Civic Si in the U.S.A. (marketed as the Civic SiR in all other markets) The Honda Civic is an automobile manufactured by Honda. It was introduced in 1973 as a 1169 cm³ or 1238 cm³ engine-powered small hatch or two-door small sedan. With a "east–west" engine like the British Mini, and front wheel drive, the car provided good interior space despite overall small dimensions.
While sold with minimal equipment (typically a low quality AM radio, and rudimentary heater) when initially introduced, many regard the Civic as representing value for money, with good performance, reliability and economy.
Models and Equipment
Initially the Civic was sold as either a four speed manual, or two speed "HondaMatic" model. Later models went to five speed manual and full four speed automatic gear boxes. Like the Mini, the gear box / differential was integral with the engine unit, but drive shaft technology in the Civic was a well ahead of the universal joints of the Mini.
Additionally, the hybrid version became available in 2003, which uses both a small (1.3-liter) main gasoline engine as well as auxiliary electric motors to provide initial acceleration and for coasting. The electric motors are powered by a battery array which is charged by regenerative braking during deceleration, which reduces exhaust emissions and extends fuel mileage.
The Civic evolved through 1335 cm³ (1980) to larger capacities and more creature comforts (air conditioning, electric windows etc) through the 1990s and into the 2000s.
International marketing
While the Civic is sold in largely the same form worldwide, differences in the name of the models exist between markets. In Japan the hatchback Civic is just called "Civic" while the sedan or coupé model is called "Civic Ferio". In the United States "Civic" generically refers to any of the coupe, sedan or hatchback models. A five-door or station wagon model called the Civic Shuttle was available from the early to late 1980s. (This brand name would later be revived for the mid-1990s Honda Shuttle people carrier, known in some markets as the Honda Odyssey.)
Other models have been built off the Civic platform, including the Ballade, the CR-X, the Quint and the Integra. Also, at various times the Civic or Civic-derived models have been sold by marques other than Honda for example, Rover sold the 200, 400 and 45, each of which were Civic-based at some point, as was their predecessor, the Triumph Acclaim, based on the Honda Ballade. The Honda Domani, a Civic variant, was sold as the Isuzu Gemini in Japan (1993–2000). In Thailand, the Civic was available as a four-door Isuzu Vertex (1995–2000). The sixth-generation station wagon was sold as the Honda Orthia (Honda Partner as the downmarket commercial variant). The seventh-generation minivan model is called the Honda Stream or the Honda Civic Stream.
The two-door-hatchback body style has been somewhat unpopular in the United States, but has achieved wide acceptance in Canada, as well as popularity in Japan and European markets. Starting in 2001, the Civic two-door hatchback has been built exclusively at Honda's manufacturing plant (http://www.mfg.honda.co.uk/Internet/HUM00254.nsf/All/5DEBYCJSEO?opendocument) in Swindon, England. Accordingly, all instances of that model (left- or right-hand-drive, anywhere in the world) are British-made cars designed with Japanese engineering.
Historical development
An interesting engine development used in 1980 to 1983 models was the CVCC system, where a small auxilary inlet valve allowed a rich fuel/air mixture into the cylinder near the spark plug, while the main charge was lean. This design could meet clean air emission standards without the power robbing emission control devices fitted to many cars of that time. This engine was a rare example of commercial development of a Stratified charge engine.
Current generation Civics use variable valve timing (VTEC), and are approaching the size and weight of the early Honda Accord models, which were initially introduced as a larger, up-market alternative to the Civic in the mid 1970s.
 2002 Honda Civic four-door hatchback in the UK Modifications and the Enthusiast community
In many areas, the Civic is popular as a platform for modification and customization by an enthusiast community. For example, because of parts interchangeability, early Civics (such as fourth-generation models) which were originally equipped with lower-horsepower motors can later be equipped with a transplanted Honda City Turbo powerplant by replacing the original motor. The City Turbo engine is a good fit to the Civic engine bay in many models, and provides a significant increase in the power-to-weight ratio compared to the non-performance motors, thus boosting performance. A hybrid version is also available that uses a combination gas-electric hybrid engine for propulsion, which reduces exhaust emissions and greatly extends fuel mileage.
Also, many fourth-, fifth- and sixth-generation Civic models can be similarly upgraded by replacing their original economy-oriented motors with a DOHC VTEC engine commonly one of the B series motors such as a B16A, which was also original equipment in some performance models of the Civic.
With the release of the movie The Fast and the Furious (which featured various tuner cars, including the Civic), popular awareness of the Honda Civic as a tuner car increased. However, antipathy toward the Civic also arose, such that the Civic has been given the epithet of "rice" car by some (see also Rice Boy regarding a stereotypical import-car enthusiast who applies modifications to his car which are considered gaudy, excessive or of poor taste).
Awards
The Civic was Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year for 1980. The Civic has been on Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best list six times, in 1985, 1988 through 1991, and 1996.
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