WHEELS 24 .CO.Za

Managing Editor: John Oxley

12/13/2005 09:46

http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/N...850041,00.html


Came over my Civic Google Alert Today:

Terry

 

Too bad they're not selling the 5 door Civic hatch in North America, we're stuck with the sedans and coupes. Interestingly, that description of the Civic's i-vtec engine sounds like it runs an Atkinson cycle at low throttle settings and then switches to an Otto cycle at higher throttle settings.

 

Yes, they highlighted that in a technical bullitin about the new Civic 1.8 liter back in July or August. The throttle-by-wire system helps to make it a seamless changeover since it can alter throttle position and activate vtec at the same time without the driver needing to know. It just works and does it's thing.

 

That is one sweet looking car!
Why do the North American versions of foreign cars always have to look worse than the international versions, and why are they always cheapened out so much?
The Euro or international version of the HC is so much better looking than the US version, if they had the 5-door hatchback in the US as a hybrid I would consider switching from the Prius to the HCH, but not with the sedan or coupe version. With the Prius it's the same, Europe gets disc brakes on all four, we get oldfashioned drums in the back, Europe gets nice looking 16" rims, we get 15" rims with plastic trim.

 

OK, Honda, are you listening? That car, in black, hybrid version. Call me when it's ready, and I'll hand over my money. You hear that?
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Honda?
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Are you there?
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Hatchbacks historically don't sell well at all in North America as has been proven time and time again. The perception is that they are only for cheap economy cars and most buyers in North America don't want that. They also don't have the structural rigidity of a 4-door with trunk so they are noisier and handle a bit looser, even though they are typically more practical from a cargo perspective.

I agree that the 5 door Civic is pretty cool looking.