LONDON: In the UK, Honda is enhancing the appeal of its Civic e:HEV hybrid line-up with Honda S+ Shift technology first seen on the recently revealed Prelude sports coupe.
There is also an upgraded Sport trim grade with additional equipment and bespoke interior accents.
Honda S+ Shift simulates the sound, feel and driver engagement of quick automatic gear changes.
Building on Honda’s Linear Shift Control, Honda S+ Shift introduces more advanced synchronisation of engine speed, vehicle speed and sound to deliver a more engaging and responsive acceleration feel.
It enhances this by precisely controlling engine RPM and drive force during both acceleration and deceleration.
In combination with Active Sound Control (ASC), engine sound is amplified and harmonised with engine RPM, reinforcing the perception of gear changes.
It features a virtual eight-speed transmission.
By using the steering wheel paddles, that ordinarily control the level of regenerative braking when Honda S+ Shift is not engaged, the driver can now change gears in a similar fashion to a high performance automatic.
When changing down, drivers will also experience a real engine braking effect for even greater control, plus a perfectly timed rev-matching throttle ‘blip’ for smooth downshift.
