1 Million Civics Produced At Honda’s UK Factory

Honda UK is celebrating its one millionth Swindon-built Civic today (Nov. 9, 2007). The Japanese carmaker began producing Civic’s at their Swindon plant on September 19, 1994 and in that first year 6,652 Civics were produced. This year, HUM (Honda of the UK Manufacturing Limited )will produce 138,792 Civic cars which will be exported to more than 60 countries worldwide. The millionth car is a red Civic Type R which is destined for the British market.

Ken Keir, Managing Director of Honda (UK) and Senior Vice President of Honda Motor Europe said: “Civic remains the cornerstone of our UK and European success. Customers love its innovative design and build quality, which not only retains a huge loyal customer base, but is key to us winning new sales across Europe.”

Civette: RWD Honda Civic With Corvette Powertrain!

It’s about time we saw some… serious tuning today. We’re sure that most of you remember the story we posted back in June about the Civette project, which concerned fitting a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette V8 powertrain into a 1996 Honda Civic hatchback (doesn’t ring a bell?, click here). Well, the project is finished and to prove that all went well, the owner has circulated a video of the V8 powered, rear-wheel drive Civic hatch. Think if we asked nicely, he’d let us play around a bit?

Update: 2008 Honda Civic Mugen Si Photo Gallery

Honda just released a new set of images of its factory prepped Civic Mugen Si Sedan that’s scheduled to go on sale in the States in mid-October. Powered by the same 197Hp 2.0L i-VTEC as the standard Si, the Mugen version features a track-tuned suspension, lighter alloy wheels, a new sports exhaust and a bodykit. See the full press release on Honda's Civic Mugen Si Sedan here. -Follow the jump for the high-res image gallery

Video: ’78 Honda Civic V8 Dragster

One of readers sent us this link of a first generation 1978 Honda Civic equipped with a V8 powerhouse, or to be precise, a ’78 Civic body built on a chassis with a V8 engine. Looks great, sounds even better. -Continued: Follow the jump for the video

Thanks for the link Andrei!

Via: hondaswap

EuroNCAP: 4-Star Ratings For Honda Civic Hybrid & Skoda Fabia

In the latest batch of Euro NCAP crash tests, the new Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid and the Skoda Fabia didn’t manage to receive the maximum five-star rating expected in adult occupant protection by most consumers in Europe. Instead both models scored four out of five for adult occupant protection meaning that the Honda received the same ratings as the Civic 5d and the Skoda as the previous generation Fabia. -Continued after the jump

In child occupant safety, the Honda Civic Sedan Hybrid achieved four out five stars while the Skoda managed a mere three stars. Similarly in pedestrian protection, the Civic was rated with a satisfactory three out of four stars while the Fabia was contempt again with a mediocre two out of four.

SKODA FABIA II

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID

2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si Sedan: US Sales Starting In October

As promised at the 2006 SEMA show last fall when Honda presented a prototype version of the Civic MUGEN Si, the Japanese automaker announced the addition of a factory-prepared 2008 Civic MUGEN Si Sedan for the American market with sales kicking off in mid-October. Just in case you don’t remember, the American MUGEN doesn't bear any mechanical changes meaning that the 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine remains untouched at 197 Hp – no 240 Hp here like the Japanese market only, Civic MUGEN RR.

In particular the Civic MUGEN Si Sedan features a sports suspension with aggressive spring and damper tuning that lowers the vehicle’s ground clearance by 0.6 inches combined with lightweight 18-inch forged aluminum wheels (27 percent lighter than the stock 17-inch alloys) and BFGoodrich g-Force KDW 215/40ZR18 summer tires. Complementing the suspension and tire upgrade are a new sports exhaust system and a bodykit that adds a front spoiler with a sports grille, side spoilers, a rear bumper diffuser and a rear wing. Inside the MUGEN gets a center console placard along with a spherical 50 mm MUGEN aluminum shift knob.

The limited-production MUGEN version will be available solely in Fiji Blue Pearl finish in a maximum of 1,000 units for the 2008 model year priced just below $30,000 -compared to $21.290 of the base Civic Si Sedan. -Press release and image gallery after the jump

PRESS RELEASE

A factory-prepared 2008 Honda Civic MUGEN Si Sedan will debut in mid-October, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The Civic MUGEN Si Sedan is equipped with a high-performance suspension, forged aluminum wheels, aerodynamic body styling and a sport-tuned exhaust system.

"Honda enthusiasts have long been asking for factory-installed MUGEN performance products similar to what the company offers in Japan," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda. "We're enthusiasts, too, and the ultra-premium Civic MUGEN Si Sedan offers exclusive style and elevated handling performance with legendary Honda refinement."

The track-tuned suspension, tested at the Twin Ring Motegi racing circuit in Japan, lowers the vehicle by 0.6 inches with aggressive spring and damper tuning for enhanced handling performance while still maintaining a high level of ride comfort. Compared to the conventional Civic Si Sedan, front and rear damping force (both bump and rebound) was increased between 8- and 24-percent. Lightweight 16.98-pound 18x7.5-inch forged aluminum wheels (27 percent lighter than the stock 17x7 alloy wheel) and high-grip BFGoodrich® g-Force KDW 215/40ZR18 summer tires help to create MUGEN's unique, rewarding and well-balanced handling performance character. The full-vehicle aero-package adds a front spoiler with a sports grille, side spoilers, a rear bumper diffuser and a rear wing.

The sport exhaust system reduces back pressure from the catalytic converter back. The Civic MUGEN Si Sedan will be available exclusively in Fiji Blue Pearl and include front and rear MUGEN emblems. Inside, a MUGEN Limited Edition placard is located on the center console along with a spherical 50 mm MUGEN aluminum shift knob.

The name MUGEN symbolizes Honda performance throughout Asia and around the globe. MUGEN, under license by M-TEC Co., Ltd., of Japan, has been closely associated with Honda for more than three decades in the design and manufacture of racing and premium aftermarket performance products.

The limited-production vehicle (maximum of 1,000 units for the 2008 model year) will have a retail price of less than $30,000 when it goes on sale and include a full factory warranty. A prototype of the Honda Civic MUGEN Si was shown at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in fall 2006.

Civic MUGEN Si Sedan Specs:

Engine Type = i-VTEC DOHC 4-cylinder engine

Displacement = 2.0 liters (1998 cc)

Transmission = 6 Speed MT

Horsepower = 197 @ 7800 rpm

Torque (lb.-ft.) = 139 @ 6100 rpm

Ride Height = 5.3 inches (-0.6 inches from Civic Si Sedan)

Overall Length = 177.8 inches total (+1.1 inches from Civic Si Sedan)

Wheels: Forged GP 18x7.5 (pattern 5H-114.3 +48)

Color: Fiji Blue Pearl

Weird Accident: Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla

We’ve heard that the Toyota Corolla Altis is topping the Honda Civic in sales in Thailand, but this is totally ridiculous… But seriously now; if the Toyota Corolla didn’t fall from the sky, how the heck did it end up “humping” this poor Honda Civic? If you’ve got any information please share it with us, we’re really curious about this one. The accident was shot in Thailand's frenetic capital, Bangkok.

Images via: Flick

Civette: Honda Civic With A Corvette LS1 Drivetrain!

Insane; crazy; audacious; hazardous; call it whatever you want but we’re totally sucked into this conversion that concerns squeezing a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette drivetrain into a… 1996 Honda Civic hatchback! To make a long story short, in order to get his mind off his divorce, this guy decided to spend some time on two written off vehicles that were laying around his garage. Like a modern King Solomon, he decided to cut his babies into two and make something never before seen: a rear-wheel drive Honda Civette V8 LS1. Even though the task seems impossible, he’s determined to complete it without spending a buck.

Undeniably, the most intriguing part of the conversion is the engine that has to be fitted far back. The controversial owner says he used the entire Corvette drivetrain -front suspension, steering, rear suspension minus the subframe. What tops it all is the fact that he’s trying to fit several elements from the Vette’s interior into the Civic’s cabin! Utterly crazy and we love it. We’ll return on this unique project as soon as its finished. Follow the jump for more pictures.

Thanks for the tip Billy!

Via: LS1Tech