Honda Canada today announced that it is ushering in a new era of high-efficiency transportation with the introduction of the new Honda Civic Hybrid. The five-passenger Civic Hybrid sedan, which goes on sale next month, will have a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $28,500.The 2003 Civic Hybrid, equipped with Honda's second-generation Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system (which debuted on the Honda Insight in 1999), is the first mainstream gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle to be sold in North America.
Combining a highly efficient 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, "intelligent" i-DSI (Dual and Sequential Ignition) engine with a high-torque electric motor located between the engine and transmission, the Civic Hybrid achieves impressive fuel economy with ultra-low emissions in a comfortable, five-passenger sedan.
Under normal cruising conditions, the gasoline engine propels the vehicle. When accelerating or climbing a hill, the electric motor draws power from an onboard battery pack to provide assistance to the engine. When decelerating, the vehicle switches to a "recharge mode" and the batteries are recharged by the electric motor. The Civic Hybrid's system is fully self-sufficient in that it does not need to be plugged in to an external power source for recharging.
In addition to the sophisticated powertrain, the new Civic Hybrid also features a host of unique technological developments, including:
Combining a highly efficient 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder, "intelligent" i-DSI (Dual and Sequential Ignition) engine with a high-torque electric motor located between the engine and transmission, the Civic Hybrid achieves impressive fuel economy with ultra-low emissions in a comfortable, five-passenger sedan.
Under normal cruising conditions, the gasoline engine propels the vehicle. When accelerating or climbing a hill, the electric motor draws power from an onboard battery pack to provide assistance to the engine. When decelerating, the vehicle switches to a "recharge mode" and the batteries are recharged by the electric motor. The Civic Hybrid's system is fully self-sufficient in that it does not need to be plugged in to an external power source for recharging.
In addition to the sophisticated powertrain, the new Civic Hybrid also features a host of unique technological developments, including: