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The Honda Civic, manufactured by Honda since 1972, was conceived as a compact car to meet the global demand for a car that met the demands of the new way of working; which was not to commute locally, but to travel to larger towns or even out of town. Importantly it would also need to be fun to drive when not being used for commuting. The Civic would go on to sell over 27 million units over the following 50 years and 11 generations.
The first-generation Civic introduced in July 1972 was a two-door coupe model, followed by a three-door hatchback that September. With a 1169 cc transverse engine and front-wheel drive like the British Mini, the car provided good interior space despite overall small dimensions, gaining a reputation for being fuel-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly.
Honda initially established itself as a leading manufacturer of motorcycles during the 1950s. Production of automobiles began in 1963 when Honda introduced its N360 minicar. The Civic however gave Honda their first market success competing with manufacturers of established compact cars. It was Honda's first model to have an impact in the export market. It became one of the most influential automotive designs of the 1970s, along with the Volkswagen Golf (1974), showing similarities as transverse-FF, hatchbacks occupying a size niche between minicars and compact saloons. The Civic was the first fully modern compact car in the European style, offering a level of prestige never before seen in this class in the market. The Civic quickly inspired Japanese domestic manufacturers to respond in with multiple new models.
The second generation Civic was introduced in June 1979 as a 1980 model. It was larger, to cope with the growing demand for carrying more equipment. Generation 2 had a more angular shape, and came with increased engine power. All Civic engines now used the CVCC design, which added a third valve per cylinder; this introduced lean-burn swirl technology.
The third generation Civic was released in September 1983 for the 1984 model year. The separate five-door hatchback and wagon models were merged into a five-door "shuttle wagon" or "wagovan" sometimes referred to colloquially as a "breadbox" because of its appearance, called the Honda Civic Shuttle. Once again Honda were pushing the envelope with design features never tackled before in the saloon car sector.
The Civic would continue to evolve through to the 6th Generation model in 1995, where Honda responded to the “Hot Hatch” sector introducing the now highly collectable Civic EK9 Type R. The now legendry high revving performance variant redefined and repositioned the Civic brand to a broader audience, and pioneered a new sub culture of tuning specialists who discovered that a Honda engine could, and would, produce more power than the car was advertised for.
The seventh generation of Civic captured the hearts and minds of the European market in a way that no Saloon car maker had ever experienced before, demand outstripped supply, and the Type R Version referred to as the EP3 Type R moved the bar even higher for handling and performance never seen before at that price point.
The eighth generation took another step forward with “Spaceship door handles and exhausts” whereas the ninth generation addressed the demand for a low C02 diesel variant with customers reporting a regular plus 60mpg on routine journeys.
The 10th generation moved the car back to its core routes of low emission petrol engines and a reworked chassis to make it a fun car to drive. This car was also conceived with an eye on the future with a fast-evolving market. Hybrid engines were just around the corner, and once again the Civic had to be a market leader.
Honda have not disappointed and the 11th generation Civic launched in Europe in September 2022 has received praise from even the most hardened motoring journalist.
Top Gear - “Quite possibly the most improved new normcore car of 2022.”
The 11th generation Honda Civic will be previewed at North Wales Honda on Argyll Road on Wednesday 14th September and thereafter on the weekend of the 17th and 18th September.
Don’t take our word for it, as The Telegraph say; “You’d be a fool not to have a look at this economical hybrid”
North Wales Honda is part of the North Wales Motor Company Group, situated on Argyll Road, Llandudno, LL30 1DF. Tel: 01492 875991. Email: info@nwmco.co.uk, or visit www.nwmco.co.uk
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