Modification Contest

Do you remember what you did 39 years ago ... if you do not even born? Honda Civic-it's not the first to bring to the U.S. for model year 1973, during the Nixon administration. And here is the ninth generation, is offered in Coupe, Sedan, Si Coupe, Si Sedan, CNG, Hybrid and HF variants, still economical, well built car a distinctly non-sexy name brings feel-good aura of Pavlov. How, then, did you fix it?

In the case of Sedan, you make the body stiff-in-white, 7 percent lighter and with a slightly shorter wheelbase (105.1 versus 106.3 for the preceding entry), but the increase in overall interior volume of 3.7 cu. ft. Shoulder room is up to 2.9 in., and rear leg room increased by 1.6 in. Coupe has an interior volume of fractionally less than before, but with a similar increase in shoulder and rear leg room. You also make it more fuel-efficient, with i-VTEC 1.8-liter 4-cylinder that has nearly the same output as before (140 bhp, 128 lb.-ft. of torque) but improved mileage: 28 mpg city/39 mpg hwy . It is done with high-efficiency catalysts, friction-reducing coatings and modified valve timing on 2-stage VTEC, but the Civic still use 5-speed automatic and port fuel injection. Honda says that going to the injection of 6-speed and could immediately vault into the 40-mpg range, but is considered not worth the extra cost. To frugalista hypermiling, there are models of HF is the drag coefficient is lowered by 4.4 percent through flush wheels, underbody aero / gas tank cover and rear spoiler lips. These changes, plus a selection of tires that produce 20 percent reduction in rolling resistance, giving HF 29 city/41 hwy mpg rating mpg.

Want a higher mileage still? The Civic Hybrid is now achieving 44 mpg city/44 hwy mpg, thanks to reduced friction in the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, switching from nickel / metal-hydride rechargeable lithium-ion battery with almost three times the capacity, and lightweight (yet more powerful) motor running cold and with less internal resistance. In the mileage on the introduction of competition car, a reporter reached more than 60 mpg during the 10-mile loop. But going 40 mph on the highway with, er, "pointing" trucker streaming past on either side is not recommended for the daily commute. CNG models continue as well, with compressed natural gas filling stations programmed into the navigation system is optional.

You never heard about active headrests that uses rear-body strength to move to the front axle, to a better place in the aftermath of the head from behind? Well, Honda achieved an anti-whiplash effect of the same carefully slit the foam seat and adjust the support springs so that occupants sink into more seats and meet the headrest, not the headrests move forward. Electric-assist power steering Civic, in cooperation with the yaw-control system, will gently pull the steering wheel in the direction necessary to counter the slide. And in-version of a modern clean interior its own ex-what Honda calls its i-MID (Intelligent Multi-Information Display) is standard on all but the base model Civic DX. Its 5-in. Color LCD screen can be switched through music, nav, trip meter and a hands-free phone display through the buttons on the steering wheel.

For 2012, Honda gave 2.0-liter i-VTEC the heave-ho and put the machine 2.4 liter i-VETC in place. With 201 bhp and 170 lb.-ft. torque (final figures quantum leap from the 2.0 's 139 lb.-ft.), the new machines do not have to scream a little high-end predecessor, but more than compensated by a strong super-twist its midrange. Superimpose the old / new torque curve on the graph, and the foothills of the versus. And the sound noble-growling, throaty screams and can have in a single sweep tach needle.

In accordance with the Concept Civic Si is bent at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, the production of new Si developing "one-motion" design theme of the ancestors, with a sharper nose, mesh grille, chiseled body fat no side and rear spoiler with two vents near its center. This concept 19-in. wheels do give way to 17-in. alloys with the same basic style, shod with Michelin Pilot Exalto tires, size 215/45-17. The overall appearance of torn, leaner and angry, and the greenhouse still get front side glass door panel, and the thinner A-pillars for increased forward visibility. The last such, both 2-door coupe and sedan-style 4-door body has to offer, and the interior carries forward with double-tier instrument panel controversial. Tachometer looks a little lonely, swimming in the lower recess large, but the addition of sequential shift light backs up the sporty of grippy, amply backed chairs and red-stitched leather steering wheel.

2012 Honda Civic Si Coupe

We predict the 6-second 0-60 times, and a quarter-mile clockings in the high 14s. Honda also claims highway mileage increases, an estimated 31 mpg. And that's trunk for the drive, as we found on an autocross course that Honda is set for us. Handling is crisp, with flat cornering and ride faster than I remember from the last Si. Steering weight until well as tightening and torsion angles directing almost-impressive non-issue because there is so much more torque. And 6-speed shifter is only one of the best on the planet.

Citizenship nothing if not affordable, and the ninth-gen car to continue the legacy. Civic Sedan-$ 15,805 to $ 23,905, the Civic Coupe, $ 15,605 to $ 23,455; Civic Si Sedan-$ 22,405 to $ 23,905; Civic Si Coupe-$ 22,205 to $ 23,905; HF-$ 19,455 Civic, Civic Hybrid Sedan, $ 24,050 for $ 26,750. Price of CNG version has not been announced.