Thai Civic gets 2.0 i-vtec
 

March 17, 2003

Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co., Ltd. today adds the highest grade Civic to its lineup in Thailand. Remarkable for its new engine, sporty styling, and high performance, the new 2.0-liter i-VTEC Civic will be first launched in Thailand.

This grade addition offers customers a higher class sedan with a sportier character. Honda includes features of the popular 1.7 model Civic for more powerful and sophisticated performance. An original-design front grille, rear under spoiler, and aluminum wheels enhance Civic 2.0 exterior styling, giving it the appearance of a sporty sedan, and a special interior with black leather seats, and a luminous red meter cluster heighten expectations of sporty driving pleasure. And significantly, a new 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine plus a 5-speed automatic transmission deliver maximum power of 155PS, for a dynamic feeling of driving exhilaration in motion.

Projected price: 997,000B ($23k USD)

Major features

Exterior
The Civic 2.0 i-VTEC displays a distinctive new image that shares new design features with the Civic 1.7 - including front bumper, side-sill garnish, side protectors and rear combination lights. In addition, the Civic 2.0 i-VTEC offers special styling features that give the vehicle an even sportier appearance.

Special Civic 2.0 i-VTEC exterior features include:
-Front grille in a different color than the 1.7-liter Civic
-Built-in front fog light
-Sporty aluminum wheels specially installed on the Civic 2.0 i-VTEC
-Rear under-spoiler andadded exhaust pipe finisher
-"2.0 i-VTEC" rear emblem with a red color accent for sportier image

Interior
To bring a sense of sporty and elegant refinement to the elite Civic 2.0 i-VTEC, the interior emphasizes sporty black tones. Black leather seating is complemented by elegant woodgrain paneling accents and a sporty leather-bound steering wheel.

Interior styling elements include:
-Black punched leather seating
-Woodgrain accents on center panel, console panel, and door panels
-Sporty leather-bound steering wheel with punched grip
-Dynamic luminous red meter cluster
-Gleaming chromed parts, including AT lever escutcheon and glove box knob
-Sporty design headrests for driver and front passenger

Engine
Honda has developed a next-generation 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine with a balance of fine-tuned power delivery, consistent torque, reduced emissions, and lowered fuel consumption. This engine features intelligent valve timing and lift mechanism.

i-VTEC technology on the Civic 2.0 represents an intelligent evolution of VTEC engineering, combining DOHC VTEC and VTC (Variable Timing Control). This allows the timing of the intake camshaft to be continuously varied throughout the engine's entire rpm range.

Engine performance achieved:
-Maximum power: 155PS@6500rpm
-Maximum torque: 18.0kgm@5000rpm
-Emission level met: EU2000/EURO3 equivalent

Transmission
The Civic 2.0 i-VTEC employs the same advanced 5-speed automatic transmission utilized by the new Honda Accord. Lightweight and compact with best-in-class performance and fuel economy, it reduces shift shock and enhances shifting smoothness due to a new direct-control linear solenoid.

Additional shifting refinements include:
-ProgressiveHonda Grade Logic Control technology for optimized shift timing uphill and downhill
-Active lock-up mechanism

Body
Regardless of conditions, the Civic 2.0 i-VTEC displays impressive linear response and straight line stability for stress-free performance. Honda progress in high body rigidity creates a sense of exceptional driving enjoyment.

Specific improvements in body rigidity include:
-Large-size bulkhead gussets added to rear wheel housing
-Bulkheads added to rear cross member, enhancing floor rigidity
-Enlarged extension of rear inner panel

Suspension and Steering
The overall high-quality riding feel of the Civic 2.0 i-VTEC is due to specially tuned suspension systems, electric power steering (EPS) with sporty tuning, and YOKOHAMA ADVAN 195/60R15 tires, known for their popular high performance. Lightweight suspension with a high degree of damping provides a comfortably pliant riding feel, without loss of sporty agility in handling.

Front suspension tuning refinements:
-Improved road tracing ability and reduced steering vibration through greater rigidity of strut damper for better aligning torque toe rigidity and optimized compliance bushing
-Improved road tracing ability with extended damper arm
-Enhanced steering response and stability with optimization of lower ball joints, etc.

Rear suspension tuning enhancements:
-Greater stability with increased spring rate of bushing, etc.
-Greater comfort with decreased spring rate of compliance bushing

Tires exclusively selected:
-Employment of YOKOHAMA ADVAN 195/60R15 tires to accomplish high road holding without sacrificing comfortable riding feel.

NVH
The Civic 2.0 i-VTEC achieves class-above interior quietness through dramatic noise and vibration reduction, compared with the popular 1.7-liter Civic. In particular, the level of distracting resonance is greatly diminished while engine acceleration is remarkably quiet. Significantly, a highly rigid monocoque body isolates the cabin from intrusive sounds. The result is a "class above" sense of serenity.

Interior serenity is the result of engineering enhancements:
-Redesigned engine mount mechanism that suppresses idling vibration
-Employment of engine balancer system to reduce engine noise
-Improved air flow of intake and exhaust systems that greatly reduce resonance
-Employment of YOKOHAMA ADVAN tires also contributes to decrease the level of road noise
-Thicker insulation materials that absorb road noise

Safety
Honda supplies the Civic 2.0 i-VTEC with exceptional protection for passengers, pedestrians, and possessions. Based on rigorous crash testing, exclusive Honda G-Force Control technology absorbs impact force and helps provide a hard shell of "survival zone" shielding. The result is outstanding Civic protection for motoring confidence.

Other safety/security measures include:
-ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) and break assist
-Dual SRS airbags
-Three-point ELR seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters
-Engine immobilizer and security alarm system

sounds nice.....I would like to see some pictures though, are there any?

I've always wondered about the lack of lips/kits available for civic sedans.....and I'd like to see an OEM kit.

I also wonder if this will replace the current EL in Canada...

Wow, that's going to be a fast civic back in Thailand. As far as I know, most car in southeast asia is slow :D heck, my dad even drives a E230 back home :thumbup:

Anyway, here's the pic, since it's a wallpaper and I'm too lazy to resize it, so I'm just going to put the link :

Rear:
http://www.ilovecivic.com/2.0/images...wallpaper5.jpg

Front
http://www.ilovecivic.com/2.0/images...wallpaper2.jpg

Interior:
http://www.ilovecivic.com/2.0/images...wallpaper3.jpg

I really like the upgrades Honda has done, they definately spice up the sedan a little and make it look more upscale. Do you think any of these changes will come to the US Civic for 2004?

wow I love how that looks. It is very classy compared to the civics sold here. If that did come here, they would have to keep prices down otherwise it would eat into the Accord i4's sales.

That thing looks great :)

Maybe the red/clear tails, some more interior changes and the front fascia for 2004...but the Civic has no chance of getting the K20 in this country.

:drool: that is way phat.. $23k?? hmm does that par??

I'm sure cars in Thailand are more expensive than they are here. It'd probably be around $19,000 or so if sold here.

19K msrp wait 4months and the dealer will pay you to take it home :D

j/k

i like it alot, minus the wood trim.

That is about what I was thinking. The exterior changes are good, but the K20 would be really dreaming.

not like the k20 is hard to get in there (it's already in the jdm, edm, and usdm civic si ctr, etc)...plus the fact that the rsx shares the same platform

our 2k1 is nice but the d17 is only adequate...i looked into turbos but those are few and far between and most are only in prototype stage (i don't even know if hks has released it yet been over a year now)

a k20 would make the civic much more fun to drive and give it more potential with the next gen b (k) series powerplant

I think all that is fairly obvious, but what would keep it from eating up Accord LX sales? The Civic EX already chips away at them.

I think it has a chance here for 2004. Honda said it wants all it's 4-cyls to be iVTEC by 2005, and it wouldn't make sense to give the Civic an iVTEC for its final year. Anyway, a lot of companies are making more power standard and the Civic EX. Cavalier, Ion, Sunfire, Corolla, Protege, Focus (I heard the 148hp 2.3l will soon be standard across the line), Neon. Honda has alienated its sporty image, I think it knows, and I think it wants it back.

In all those more standard power cars (with the exception of the Corolla) you listed, did you happen to notice that their mpg were much lower? They are. BTW, the 140hp ION with the 5spd auto gets less mpg and is slower (0-60mph @ ~10+ sec) than its predecessor.

I don't think it has a big chance coming here either. If it comes here, it's going to cost more than $17,000 which cost almost the same as accord LX.

LuckyDog has a point, more and more econoboxes are entering the "HP wars" (for lack of a better term). New Mazda3 is rumoured to be getting a standard 2.0L 150hp and I wouldn't be surprised to see the next Focus get a similar bump. Fact is, the current Civic is already outgunned by similar GM/VW/DCX products and its Japanese rivals. I wouldn't be surprised if a top-line Civic got the engine. Also, Accord LX's sticker for about 19.2k and I think the target market is a bit different so there's room for differentiation. Although I'd agree that leather in a Civic would be gross overkill.

I would love to see that become the new civic Si.....try something new Honda....

I really dig the taillights, much better than the old ones

Ok so it might not have any changes as a UDSM Civic Sedan Si
But I'd like the Acura EL to get that power plant. It already has the fogs, the leather and a stylish exterior. What else could they give it for its midlife refresh?