Transforming an icon is never easy. However, Honda designers and engineers have done an excellent job of keeping the spirit of Soichiro Honda alive with the 2006 Honda Civic coupe. When Honda first entered the US market in 1962, it made motorcycles, but the manufacturer expanded into automobiles by presenting clean, economical and reliable cars. In 1963, Honda spent $350,000 on two 90-second commercials that appeared at the Academy Awards. The ads, though deceptively simple from the Rubin Postaer and Associates advertising agency, read: “You meet the nicest people in a Honda.” In a matter of months, the company sold millions of dollars worth of motorcycles, but it wasn’t until the introduction of the 1973 Honda Civic that the company achieved its first automotive breakthrough. The American-built 2006 Civic is stylish, fast, safe and fuel-efficient, averaging 40 mpg (51 mpg for hybrid) happily upholding the tradition. Winner of Motor Trend magazine’s 2006 Car of the Year, the 2006 Civic offers a challenge to the Toyota Prius, as the Honda icon is reborn.
Touring the exterior of the 2006 Civic Coupe, you can’t help but notice the aerodynamically sculpted front end that resembles a menacing bullet train at full speed, hinting at where the soul of this car lies. (The car is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine.) The beautifully contoured taillamps are wide and arch inward into the trunk, suggesting a friendly and approachable layout. Step into the cab and the ergonomically designed interior lives up to the hype with sleek, center-mounted, backlit RPM dials. The seats are firm and immediately put you at ease like a rogue sailor contemplating his next move. The overall purpose of the 2006 Civic Coupe is to enhance driving to the max, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and your foot on the gas.
At the heart of the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe is its remarkable 140-horsepower i-VTEC engine that comes standard on all Civic DX, LX and EX models. Honda’s racing heritage is strongly felt in i-VTEC technology that gives you more efficient acceleration across the entire RPM band, while achieving an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon. The most practical 2006 Civic, though, is the hybrid, capable of 49 mpg city and 51 mpg highway without spoiling any of the fun.
The Civic’s showcase is the Si, which offers the 197-horsepower envelope of a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. The Si is only available in a 6-speed manual transmission, with a limited-slip differential and a lower suspension.
Acceleration is only half the battle in today’s nanosecond world. The way the car brakes, turns and stops is also equally important. As a result, the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe also stands out for its safety. All new Civic models feature side curtain airbags, front side airbags, Advanced Compatibility Engineering(TM) and body structure reinforcement to redirect energy around the passenger compartment in the event of an accident. For active safety, an automatic seatbelt tensioning system has been implemented to safely restrain all occupants in the event of a collision, and 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) will help keep you in control. steering during hard stops, as the Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) system will even out the braking forces at each wheel. With such a diverse commitment to safety, the 2006 Honda Civic earned a 5-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If that wasn’t enough, the new Civic further rewards your senses with a state-of-the-art audio entertainment system. The car is pre-wired for XM® Satellite Radio, MP3 and WMA players and also has an Apple® iPod® adapter that plugs directly into the car’s audio. The 160-watt AM/FM/CD 6-speaker audio system amplifies sound in the cabin to fantastic effect. The Si features a 350-watt system with a subwoofer and has an additional amplifier for mega-bass. Just download your favourites, plug in your music and hit play.
Soichiro Honda understood the wishes of the open road. He understood the language of cool and the needs of youth-minded sports car enthusiasts. The 2006 Honda Civic lives up to its heritage as an affordable road car, with superb lines, a fuel-efficient engine and solid ergonomics. If you’ve owned a Civic before, the MSRP of $14,360 – $20,900 for the reimagined 2006 Honda Civic will excite all your senses. If you own a higher-priced luxury car, you may be tempted to trade it in. Whether you choose the Hybrid, Si, or DX/LX models, you’ll be buying one of the best fuel-efficient icons in Honda history.
