Honda has had a great time with the Civic in
India. Apart from the last two months, Honda have been successful in
making more than 1,000 customers in India lap up the 132 bhp petrol
sedan, month after month. Now Honda has two dramatically different
versions of the Civic in their international lineup – one is the Civic
hybrid, that wears a green halo, and the other is a tribute to the
internal combustion engine, the manic Civic Type-R. So if it comes down
to the wire, what would you want Honda Siel India to add to its Civic
repertoire?
It's quite a hard choice actually, since both the Civic hybrid and
Type-R are the kind of cars that appeal to your senses. One rational,
the other irrational. The hybrid uses a 1300cc 8-valve i-VTEC petrol
motor that is mated to an electric motor; the combination has been
dubbed as the Integrated Motor Assist or IMA. The 90 bhp petrol engine
might sound a tad underpowered at first, but in fact is quite up to
keeping pace with even highway motoring. It gets more help from the 20
bhp permanent magnet electric motor that is located between the engine
and the transmission. This DC brushless motor acts as a starter,
pushing the engine up immediately to idle speed while working as a
generator for the integrated system while decelerating. At speeds up to
56 kph, the electric motor helps provide momentum, after which the
petrol engine does all the hard work. Then there's a small bit that
provides succour to mother earth – the idle-stop function that shuts
off the petrol engine during idle moments such as at traffic signals.
It cuts out once the foot is released off the brake pedal. Honda have
also added their efficient continuously variable transmission (CVT) to
the package to improve overall efficiency.
On
the other hand, the Type-R is what everyone with an ounce of adrenaline
would like to drive. The 225 bhp Civic uses a naturally aspirated
2000cc petrol engine that screams all the way up to 8000 rpm. Honda
says it is 30 kilos lighter and 65 bhp more powerful than the standard
Civic 1.8 sold in Japan – now that should be reason enough to start
licking your fingers. The Type-R looks more aggressive, with its big
rear spoiler, the side-skirts and airdam and the red Type-R stickers on
the grille and boot. It also has its own set of stiffer suspension that
makes it a wonderful handler. Even on the inside, the occupants are
well aware of its serious intentions, thanks to its driver hugging
seats, engine start button and sport steering and pedals. With a 0-100
kph time that's in the region of six seconds and a top speed that bests
220 kph, the Type-R has always been accepted as a tuner favourite, with
every generation getting its own set of go-faster bits.
Now, either of these two cars would cost about the same in India, at
double the price of what the regular Civic commands. So what will it
be: an extremely fuel efficient sedan that brings your running costs to
ridiculously low levels or a hot saloon that stirs your soul?
Environment or performance? Let me know..