This is good news for a car that is known to be one of the most popular small car among individual buyers

The 2013 Civic Sedan recently received the top 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in the NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), and the highest possible rating of Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, including a top score of Good in the new small overlap frontal collision test.

Honda said it leads all automakers with every one of its tested model year 2013 vehicles earning a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe are the first and only small cars to earn the IIHS’ highest safety rating of Top Safety Pick, and the NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for the Civic Sedan further separates Civic from the competition in safety ratings performance.

The 2013 Accord also earned these high safety ratings in the midsize segment.

“Car shoppers cannot find a small car with higher overall safety ratings than the 2013 Honda Civic,” said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and logistics at American Honda. “Safety ratings leadership across product lines is a fundamental part of not only our strategic business plan, but also our philosophy as a company.”

The Civic Sedan, which Honda said was significantly re-engineered for 2013, is equipped with Honda’s next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which contributes to make Civic the first small car to earn a Top Safety Pick+ crash safety rating, and the first to earn the highest rating of GOOD in the IIHS’ new small overlap frontal crash test (sometimes called a ‘narrow offset’ test).

This aggressive test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or an object such as a tree or utility pole at high speed.

Honda said the reinforced ACE body structure found on the 2013 Civic further enhances frontal crash energy through a wider range of these offset and oblique collision scenarios.

Additional standard safety equipment on all Civic models include Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; and driver and front passenger side airbags.

The post Honda’s Civic Tops All Safety Ratings appeared first on HybridCars.com.

This fine is the largest ever ordered by a court in Canada for a bid-rigging offence under the Competition Act.

The evidence shows, according to the Competition Bureau, that Furukawa secretly conspired with other Japanese motor vehicle components manufacturers to submit bids or tenders in response to requests for quotations to supply Honda of Canada Manufacturing Inc. (Honda) with certain motor vehicle components.

“Cracking down on cartels, including bid-rigging offences, is a top priority for the Bureau,” said John Pecman, Interim Commissioner of Competition. “This criminal activity defrauded the automobile sector in Canada and the substantial fine demonstrates the seriousness of such an offence.”

Furukawa’s plea relates to electrical boxes, including fuse boxes, relay boxes and junction blocks, sold to Honda between 2000 and 2010 for the Honda Civic. The total volume of commerce in Canada affected by the bid-rigging conspiracy was approximately $41 million.

Since 2000, Honda has produced over 2.2 million Honda Civics in Canada. The Civic has been Canada’s best-selling passenger car for 15 consecutive years.

The Bureau said its investigation only relates to motor vehicle components manufacturers. There is no allegation of wrongdoing against motor vehicle manufacturers, such as Honda, or the customers of the companies under investigation.

The Bureau became aware of the motor vehicle components cartel by way of its Immunity Program. The investigation also benefited from the cooperation of numerous companies under the Bureau’s Leniency Program.

Furukawa participated in the Bureau’s Leniency Program and provided substantial assistance to the Bureau and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. The company’s cooperation has saved considerable costs associated with the investigation and prosecution.

The Bureau’s ongoing investigation into the motor vehicle components industry is its largest to date with respect to bid-rigging, and is being coordinated with a number of other jurisdictions, including the United States, Japan, the European Community and Australia.

The Competition Bureau, as an independent law enforcement agency, ensures that Canadian businesses and consumers prosper in a competitive and innovative marketplace.

The post $5M Fine for a Japanese Supplier of Motor Vehicle Components appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Fuel economy for the new Civic GX will improve a bit for 2012, with city mileage increasing from 24 mpg to 27 mpg and highway mileage bumping from 34 mpg up to 38 mpg, for a combined rating of 31 mpg. Of course, since natural gas is typically at least 30 percent cheaper than gasoline and runs on a different efficiency formula, those numbers can be very misleading.

Edmunds, which calculates efficiency based on
projected monthly fuel cost, recently pegged the cost to run a 2011 GX at $55 per month—compared $90 per month for the 50-mpg Toyota Prius. So according to Edmunds, despite receiving an EPA fuel economy rating that’s about 45 percent lower than that of the Prius, the cost to fuel a Civic GX is about 40 percent cheaper. As is usually the case when doing these kinds of fuel economy calculations, your results may (and probably will) vary.

This equivalency may prove too confusing for many consumers to handle. As Autoblog Green
points out , the Civic Hybrid starts about $1,350 cheaper than the GX model and offers an EPA rating of 44 mpg. Without an understanding of the true cost-to-operate equation for both cars, the hybrid—and even non-hybrid—versions of car seem like far superior values. Under the Edmunds’ monthly fuel cost estimate, the average GX driver will save $624 per year compared to the 2011 Civic Hybrid and $1,188 per year compared to the $15,805 Civic Sedan.

Of course, if natural gas supporters in Congress get their way, the proposed
2011 NATGAS Act could change the equation dramatically for car shoppers. The bill would offer a tax rebates of as much as $7,500 toward the purchase of a new natural gas vehicle—matching the incentive offered for electric cars. Knock that amount off the price of a new Civic GX, and the car could instantly become one of the best fuel economy values on the market in the United States.

The post Honda Announces Pricing for Natural Gas Civic, but Comparing it to Other Models Could Prove Difficult for Consumers appeared first on HybridCars.com.

Last week, a bipartisan coalition of 133 House members signed on to co-sponsor the latest incarnation of the NAT GAS Act, which would provide credits for consumers, OEMs, fleet operators and filling station owners to encourage the adoption of compressed and liquified natural gas vehicles. The legislation was first introduced several years ago—thanks largely to the backing of energy magnate T. Boone Pickens—but had stagnated in congress until last week, when President Obama endorsed it as part of a major energy policy speech outlining White House proposals to cut annual oil imports by one-third within ten years.

With gasoline prices climbing ever closer to the $4 per gallon, momentum behind the newly updated bill is said to be growing in Washington. Pickens claimed recently that this time around, NAT GAS is a “no-brainer” to win congressional approval—predicting that it will pass with about 300 votes in the House of Representatives. The current bill is largely the same as its predecessors, though it would expire after just five years instead of 17, and create no mandates for public or private CNG adoption. The total cost of the bill hasn’t been released, but some proponents have placed it at about $1 billion per year.

Among NAT GAS’s provisions:

• Tax credits of up to $7,500 toward the purchase of consumer compressed natural gas and liquified natural gas vehicles, and as much as $64,000 for heavier grade commercial trucks.
• Up to $4,000 per vehicle for manufacturers of CNG and LNG vehicles.
• A $0.50 per gallon discount on the federal fuel tax.
• A 50 percent tax credit (maxing out at $100,000) toward the installation of CNG/LNG pumps at public and private filling stations.
• A $2,000 credit toward the installation of home refueling stations.

If NAT GAS were to win approval, it would constitute the first major victory for T. Boone Pickens and his Pickens Plan, which the billionaire began touting three years ago as a remedy for the nation’s foreign oil addiction. Pickens freely admits to being heavily invested in the gas and wind sectors promoted in his proposals, and his companies would be among the chief beneficiaries to any major market penetration by natural gas vehicles.

But Pickens isn’t alone in his enthusiasm for CNG. Honda has been quietly selling its Civic GX in California, Utah, Oklahoma and New York for six years—though that car is currently the only mass-market consumer natural gas vehicle available in the United States. Last year though, Honda announced that it will be expanding availability of the GX to all 50 states in 2012. Recently, word has spread that the car is being updated in anticipation of a more aggressive American market push, though Honda has offered modest sales projections for 2012—just 4,000 vehicles per year, or twice the current numbers.

Still, if the current version of NAT GAS becomes law and the federal government offers OEMs and consumers a combined $11,500 per vehicle to take a chance on CNG, Honda may need to adjust its forecasts.

The post Generous New Federal Incentives Could Put CNG Vehicles on the Map appeared first on HybridCars.com.

The only slight changes to speak about are minor style adjustments, a few new options, and the expansion of the model line with two new trim levels. The Civic now offers seven sedan models—including the Civic Hybrid and Civic GX Compressed Natural Gas vehicle—making it one of the most varied line-ups on the market. The MSRP starts as low as $15,505, and goes up into the $20,000s.

The 2009 Civic finds power from one of two carryover engines. There’s a 1.8-liter inline-four with 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter inline-four yielding 197 horses and 139 pound-feet of torque. Transmission choices include a five-speed manual, a five-speed automatic, and a six-speed automatic. Our test sedan was equipped with the 1.8 and five-speed auto, which has fuel economy ratings of 25 city/36 highway.

We took our 2009 Civic out on our regular 114-mile mixed driving route to see what kind of mileage it gets in the real world. We drove the loop twice, once very passively with a light foot and with all unnecessary electronics turned off. And then a second time in a more spirited, everyday fashion, with harder acceleration and left-lane driving.

In our first run, we achieved mileage of 35.5 miles per gallon. The second loop, with more aggressive driving, gave us 27.8 miles per gallon. Most drivers will post everyday mileage in the low 30s—a level of efficiency surpassed by only a few conventional models and a handful of hybrids, including the Civic Hybrid.

Our Civic had a solid and planted feel with firm handling. Steering was responsive and precise. The ride was also quite smooth with less road and wind noise than most others in its class. The Civic’s relatively long wheelbase contributes to the compliant ride.

Exterior styling differences over the previous model are pretty much limited to the car’s front-end. The grille opening is new, as is the three-port lower air intake. The previous model’s lower intake was one continuous vent. The inside of the car is familiar to any Civic driver. It’s spacious, modern, and well packaged. For 2009, there are a couple of new available technology enhancements like Bluetooth and a USB audio interface.

Aside from that, everything remains the same—including the fold-down capabilities of the rear seat, which unfortunately is not available in the Civic Hybrid or CNG Civic. This feature significantly expands the already large 12 cubic foot trunk.

The 2009 Civic is an economical commuter with eye-catching style, a roomy interior, and Honda’s reputation for reliability. The Civic might not grab headlines, but there are few compacts, or sedans, that can offer so much for such a reasonable price.

The post 2009 Honda Civic appeared first on HybridCars.com.

• The Honda Civic, a compact car available with either a hybrid or gasoline engine, displaced Ford’s F-series pickup truck as the month’s best-selling vehicle
• The three Detroit automakers were outsold for the first time ever by their Asian rivals
• A passenger sedan—not a truck—was the top-selling vehicle in the United States for the first time in 16 years

Most industry analysts expected a shift in car buying patterns, resulting from high gas prices—but the immediate and dramatic effect of $4 gas caught car companies, including Toyota, by surprise.

Sales for the Toyota’s Prius, the most popular hybrid vehicle, were off from 24,009 units a year ago to 15,011 vehicles in May. The drop was due to limited availability of the Prius, Toyota said. The head of Toyota Motor sales, Bob Carter, said the company had been hindered by production constraints and that the Prius was selling as quickly as they could be built. “Dealer stock for Prius is best measured in hours rather than days,” Mr. Carter said.

The post Civic Outsells Ford F-Series Trucks appeared first on HybridCars.com.

]]> http://www.hybridcars.com/civic-outsells-ford-f-series-trucks/feed/ 0 http://www.hybridcars.com/honda-reaches-hybrid-tax-credit-cap/ http://www.hybridcars.com/honda-reaches-hybrid-tax-credit-cap/#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:08:00 +0000 Brad Berman http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1456 Nov. 20, 2007: Source – Houston Chronicle The federal tax credit for buying Honda hybrid vehicles will begin to phase out at the end of this year. The hybrid credit, designed to motivate sales of fuel-efficient, eco-friendly cars, stays in effect until an automaker sells a total of 60,000 hybrids. Once that limit is reached, [...]

The post Honda Reaches Hybrid Tax Credit Cap appeared first on HybridCars.com.

]]> Nov. 20, 2007: Source – Houston Chronicle



The federal tax credit for buying Honda hybrid vehicles will begin to phase out at the end of this year. The hybrid credit, designed to motivate sales of fuel-efficient, eco-friendly cars, stays in effect until an automaker sells a total of 60,000 hybrids. Once that limit is reached, the tax incentive is phased out over the following year, until the credit is no longer available for a specific carmaker.

Honda becomes the second automaker to reach the sales limit and initiate the phasing-out process. The incentive for Toyota hybrids began phasing out in June 2006 and does not carry any tax credit for purchases made after Sept. 30, 2007.

Consumers who purchase a Honda hybrid before the end of the year can still benefit from the full tax credit, which is $2,100 for the Honda Civic Hybrid. The tax credit will be cut in half beginning on Jan. 1, 2008. Another reduction will occur after July 1, 2008, reducing the incentive by 50 percent yet again—to $525 for the Civic Hybrid.

Ford, GM, and Nissan will continue to offer tax credits at their full value—as much as $3,000 for the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid. These three companies are not expected to reach the 60,000 vehicle cap before 2009, when the incentive laws will be reconsidered or entirely discontinued. New energy legislation—which could include tax incentives for hybrids, clean diesel vehicle, and cars that run on alternative fuels—is currently being considered on Capitol Hill.

***

> Read Full Story

> More Hybrid Cars News

The post Honda Reaches Hybrid Tax Credit Cap appeared first on HybridCars.com.

]]> http://www.hybridcars.com/honda-reaches-hybrid-tax-credit-cap/feed/ 8 http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-hybrid-tax-credit-expires/ http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-hybrid-tax-credit-expires/#comments Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:52:02 +0000 Brad Berman http://127.0.0.1/wordpress12/?p=1419 New hybrid owners who recently purchased a Toyota or Lexus hybrid, and expect to get some relief on their income taxes, could be disappointed. The Internal Revenue Service has discontinued the federal tax credits for all such vehicles—including the flagship Prius—as of Oct. 1, 2007. Toyota Motor Corporation has hit a legal cap in the [...]

The post Toyota Hybrid Tax Credit Expires appeared first on HybridCars.com.

]]> New hybrid owners who recently purchased a Toyota or Lexus hybrid, and expect to get some relief on their income taxes, could be disappointed. The Internal Revenue Service has discontinued the federal tax credits for all such vehicles—including the flagship Prius—as of Oct. 1, 2007. Toyota Motor Corporation has hit a legal cap in the number of vehicles sold that can offer the credit. Only hybrids purchased before the Oct. 1 deadline are now eligible for the incentive.

According to IRS rules, the tax credit for new hybrid vehicles begins to phase out when an automaker sells 60,000 hybrids. Toyota hit the magic number last summer, which initiated the beginning of the phase out process. Honda recently reached the mark of 60,000 hybrids sold, and will now start their phase-out into next year. GM, Ford, and Nissan are not expected to reach cap before 2009 (when the incentive laws will be reconsidered or entirely discontinued).

Customers who bought any one of the five Toyota and Lexus hybrid models between April 1 and September 30 of this year are eligible for tax credits ranging anywhere from $450 for the Lexus LS 600h L to $787.50 for the Toyota Prius. The reduction of tax credits for Toyota hybrids, which began phasing out in 2006, have apparently had little effect on sales of the carmaker’s hybrids—which continue to dominate the hybrid market.

***

> Read Full Story

> More Hybrid Cars News

The post Toyota Hybrid Tax Credit Expires appeared first on HybridCars.com.

]]> http://www.hybridcars.com/toyota-hybrid-tax-credit-expires/feed/ 0