PETALING JAYA: Honda fans in Thailand won’t have long to wait as the all-new 10th-generation Civic will arrive next month, and also in time for an appearance at the 2016 Bangkok Motor Show from March 21.
Honda is touting the new Civic as having a premium sports car design with European styling, boasting that it will set a new standard in the compact car class.
The much-anticipated model will sell in Thailand with two engine sizes of 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO and the usual 1.8-litre block, which is compatible with E85 gasohol.
The new 1.5-litre turbo variant is to be badged as the Civic RS to underline its sportiness and better performance compared to the 1.8-litre variant. Its turbocharged engine makes 173hp and 220Nm, about the same performance as Honda's NA 2.4-litre engine but with better fuel economy. In comparison, the 1.8-litre version produces 139hp and 174Nm.
The Civic RS is expected to be priced around 1 million baht (RM119,000), above that of the 1.8-litre version.
The all-new 1.5 VTEC TURBO is part of Honda’s growing Earth Dreams Technology range and is said to deliver a combination of dynamic performance, class-leading output and excellent fuel economy. The first new VTEC TURBO engine, a 2.0-litre, was launched last year in the current Civic Type R, capable of 306hp and a 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds.
Based on a completely new engine structure and using its newly developed turbo system, the new engine feature variable valve motion technology to reduce friction and achieve class-leading output and environmental performance. The new engine uses a turbocharger with a low moment of inertia and high responsiveness, and direct injection technology to achieve a balance between high output and torque, above those of conventional naturally-aspirated engines.
In Thailand, Nissan is already selling turbocharged mass market cars, with the Sylphy sedan and Pulsar hatch offering a charged 1.6-litre variant able to make 190hp.
The Civic comes on the heels of the facelifted Accord, which will be launched earlier in Thailand on Feb 25.
