Honda Civic Si Concept coupe and Civic Concept sedan debut at NAIAS; hybrid and natural gas variants
12 January 2011
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| Honda Civic Concept. Click to enlarge. |
The Honda Civic Si Concept coupe and Civic Concept sedan made their world debuts at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, providing the first official glimpse at the styling direction of the 9th-generation 2012 model set to go on sale this spring.
The next-generation Civic will offer three different powertrains, said John Mendel, Executive Vice President, American Honda Motor Co.: gasoline, hybrid and natural gas. The new Civic Hybrid will feature the first application of a lithium-ion battery technology in a Honda hybrid. The gasoline-engined lineup includes a sedan, coupe and two Si performance versions.
The Civic’s family of engines with intelligent Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC) technology becomes more fuel efficient for 2012. The upcoming Civic Hybrid offers the latest generation of the compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) gasoline-electric hybrid system and features the first application of a lithium-ion battery in a Honda hybrid.
Building on Honda’s emphasis on fuel-economy, most upcoming Civic models receive Honda Eco Assist (Ecological Drive Assist System) technology (earlier post), already available in the CR-Z and Insight hybrids. The 2012 Civic is the first US Honda model to employ Eco Assist technology in a gasoline-only powered vehicle.
Eco Assist is a driver-selected fuel economy information system designed to help the driver develop and maintain a fuel-efficient driving style. Eco Assist comprises two basic functions:
- A feedback system; and
- A driver-selected ECON button that automatically helps increase the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Additionally, Honda is expanding retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic GX model, which is the only OEM-built, dedicated CNG passenger car assembled in America.
All 2012 Civics are equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) as standard equipment. Additionally, the ninth-generation Civic continues to provide Honda’ Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure for frontal collision energy management.
As a top-selling model for Honda, the current, eighth-generation Civic has sold more than 1.5 million units since the 2006 model went on sale in late 2005. In 2010, Honda sold 260,218 units in the US, up marginally from the 259,722 units in 2009. The 2006 Civic earned both the Motor Trend Car of the Year and the North American Car of the Year awards.
So you can get an NG fueled Civic but how do you fill the tank? Buy a compressor for you home?
Posted by: nordic | 12 January 2011 at 10:16 AM
Honda did own part of Fuel Maker, a company that made home fueling station natural gas compressors. More than a year ago Honda pulled out and left them to the bankruptcy courts, the last I heard someone bought Fuel Maker.
Posted by: SJC | 12 January 2011 at 11:08 AM
Of course there are numerous home garage compressors available on the market I doubt many or any are talking liquid phase just yet, but you can do that from home too.
This approach, while not cheap is usually cheaper than petrol or diesel in the longer term on a $/klm basis.
Posted by: Arnold | 12 January 2011 at 01:52 PM
Fuel Maker was pretty much it for home use and Honda depended on them exclusively, which begs the question of why Honda would shaft Fuel Maker.
There are other natural gas compressor companies, but they make products for commercial use. The only one to my knowledge to make a home unit was Fuel Maker.
Posted by: SJC | 12 January 2011 at 01:58 PM
Phill now made be Italian firm BRC:
http://www.brcfuelmaker.it/ing/rifornimentoVeicoli.asp
Phill dealers by state are listed at:
http://www.impco.ws/phill-dealers.asp
Posted by: Nick Lyons | 12 January 2011 at 02:01 PM
Most excellent, thanks Nick :)
Posted by: SJC | 12 January 2011 at 07:45 PM
A bit of cleverness and very little money would allow the use of ordinary propane torch cylinders for emergency fuel. There are garden tool engines that run on such tanks. A pound tank of fuel might give four or five miles of operation and up to ten with a very efficient car. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 13 January 2011 at 12:46 AM
Some scuba compressors can be used to compress natural gas, and large steel cylinders can be filled with the gas to be released into the auto tank. You can make your own methane at home from sugar and flour and many other things. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 13 January 2011 at 01:03 AM
The best way to fill your cng vehicle is at a fast fill station. A list can be found at www.cngprices.com.
Posted by: tom dotstar | 17 January 2011 at 01:40 PM