Given its aggressive push on the e:HEV entrance in current occasions, it’s no shock to seek out Honda Malaysia (HM) planning to introduce one more hybrid mannequin, with the announcement that the native line-up for the Eleventh-gen Honda Civic will quickly embody an e:HEV variant.
The Civic e:HEV hybrid will arrive as a RS-badged model in Malaysia, and when it does, will sit on prime quality. Whereas no pricing particulars have been revealed, the order books have formally opened for the automotive. As a gauge, the petrol RS is presently priced at RM150,700, and in Thailand, the hybrid RS instructions a 25% premium over the petrol, so we will anticipate it to be costlier – the query is, by how a lot.
Forward of its full introduction, the corporate held a preview of the hybrid FE in Sepang. As is often the case with HM previews, we’re solely in a position to current the outside of the automotive, with visuals of the inside being saved for the launch correct.
Exterior-wise, the RS styling therapy for the automotive implies that it seems to be very very similar to the petrol RS at a fast look, with an 18-inch twin-style five-spoke wheel (or 10-spoke, in twin tone, if you’ll) offering the principle visible cue to distinguish it from the petrol model.
Look nearer and also you’ll see smaller, however distinguishable, components, just like the blue accents on the Honda logos in addition to an e:HEV emblem on the rear to determine the variant. The hybrid additionally will get dressed up with extra chrome bits, with the entrance grille, headlight inside bezel and window line getting the sparkly therapy. It additionally comes with a single tailpipe finisher.
Underneath all that pores and skin, the Civic e:HEV options probably the most highly effective model of Honda’s Clever Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) system, with the setup within the automotive consisting of an electrical motor rated at 184 PS (181 hp or 135 kW) and 315 Nm, driving the entrance wheels.
Just like the Accord Hybrid, it’s paired with a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, which supplies the juice for the lithium-ion battery. Nonetheless, not like the Accord, the petrol mill on this one is direct-injected. By itself, the unit presents 143 PS (141 hp) at 6,000 rpm and 189 Nm of torque, output numbers which are marginally increased than that of the Thailand-spec model.
Additionally on, a brand new 72-cell battery that varieties a part of the smaller and lighter Clever Energy Unit and an electrical repeatedly variable transmission (E-CVT). By and huge, the petrol engine acts as a generator, with the i-MMD system working just about like an EV, with the electrical motor doing a lot of the work. Nonetheless, at increased speeds, the engine can present direct drive – through a lock-up clutch – for higher effectivity.
Little or no technical particulars have been offered in the course of the preview, however the Thailand-spec model – which went on sale in June – presents sufficient data of what to anticipate from a normal viewpoint, away from package specification.
By way of dimensions, the hybrid is nearly similar to the petrol model, measuring in at 4,678 mm lengthy, 1,802 mm large and 1,415 mm tall, with a 2,734 mm-long wheelbase (2,733 mm for the petrol). It does nevertheless trip a bit increased off the bottom at 128 mm (126 mm, petrol), and the related hybrid parts implies that it’s heavier, on the Thailand-spec vehicles by round 100 kg.
Inside, there’s a 9.0-inch touchscreen Superior Show Audio infotainment system with wi-fi Apple CarPlay help and Distant Engine Begin, amongst different issues, and the RS specification in Thailand provides a black inside, dual-zone local weather management and 60:40 split-folding rear seats in addition to a Qi wi-fi charger, so these also needs to be on right here. What’s confirmed is that the Malaysian Civic e:HEV will characteristic a Honda Good Key Card, which the present Civic line-up Civic (E, V and RS) doesn’t get.
The native automotive will even include Honda Sensing as commonplace, with the suite of driver help gadgets consisting of autonomous emergency braking, lane preserve help, lane departure warning, auto excessive beam, adaptive cruise management and entrance automobile departure alert.
The preview session for the automotive at Sepang additionally contained a brief drive programme, and so there was an opportunity to pattern the automotive briefly on observe. Granted, it’s a bit at odds of what the thought of a hybrid is all about, provided that the transient with that’s about gasoline financial system, however the concept was to point out that the hybrid isn’t any slouch on the subject of efficiency, and an excellent higher bat than the Turbo on the subject of shove.
Even with half a observe and there being a necessity to cut back tempo for a slalom in the course of the structure, the hybrid made brief work of the petrol – which feels brisk sufficient – underneath full acceleration, each from a rolling begin at 60 km/h from the pit lane exit and likewise by way of a drag race from standstill to 100 km/h. On the latter, it aced the Turbo by greater than a automotive size over the three runs.
The course additionally contained one other train to point out off the automotive’s pace progress up the vary from a lifeless cease, this time going uphill from standstill proper after Flip 9. In comparison with the petrol, it was simpler to hold extra pace by Flip 11, lending to a pacier – however quieter – assault into the Flip 12 and 13 esses.
Right here, the hybrid retains all of the composure of the petrol when it comes to physique management, with the added weight imperceptible. Aided by the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubbers, there’s loads of grip, and the automotive locations precisely to steering enter, no much less exacting than the Turbo, and at the next pace at that.
Whereas the session confirmed how succesful the hybrid is when it comes to pace off the road, the expectation is that the majority who will personal one finally received’t be gunning it alongside in such vogue, and that effectivity will actually be the drawing level. A highway take a look at sooner or later will present how properly it measures up on this regard. For now, it does reveal one factor – when it arrives, the Civic e:HEV would be the quickest Eleventh-gen Civic this facet of city, till the brand new Sort R seems.
