Honda Civic Coupe (2016)

Exterior Styling

The new Honda Civic Coupe provides an even sportier spin on its 10th generation sedan sibling with a distinctive sporty profile, lower roof line and shorter rear overhang that produces a crouched, dynamic style. Lower, longer, wider and more muscular than the previous generation, its flowing lines, new signature chromed "wing" front fascia and available premium LED lighting, extended wheelbase and short overhangs brand the new Civic as a leader in its class, both technologically and in design.

In front, aggressive aerodynamics, LED daytime running lights and an available in-line LED headlight array lend the new Civic a modern demeanor.

The muscular, high-tension side profile soars upward from the front wheel arches rearward, with a decisive character line rising through the doors and extending to the rear wheel arches. A second, lower character line extends from behind the front wheels up through the doors and meets the rear wheel arches, emphasizing the dynamic and emotional design. The new larger and wider wheel and tires further emphasize Civic's purposeful stance, while the long wheelbase, short overhangs and sweeping cabin greenhouse further add to the dynamic feel of the exterior.

The windshield is flush-mounted to the cowl, improving aerodynamics and quieting the interior. Panel gaps are minimized and the B-pillars are black-finished, with stainless trim surrounding the side windows to visually emphasize the sweeping cabin shape. The side glass is flush with the pillars to reduce wind noise in the cabin, while also improving the quality feel of the new Coupe. Behind the sweeping roofline and C-pillars, the flush-mounted rear window is sleek and shallow, aiding to the new model's aerodynamic efficiency.

From the A-pillars rearward, the Coupe features unique exterior styling with a lower and more steeply raked roofline, nearly 1 inch lower than the Sedan, and more compact proportions, with the rear overhang and overall length shortened by 5.5 inches. The new Coupe also features an exclusive rear taillight design that carries the arch of the distinctive C-shaped LED taillights across the full length of the rear deck lid.

LED Lighting

All 2016 Civic trims incorporate a wide range of LED exterior lighting features, including standard LED daytime running lights (DRL), LED one-touch turn signals (Touring), and LED taillights, license-plate light and center high-mounted stop light. Additionally, the Touring trim receives new Honda LED headlights in an in-line configuration and side mirror-mounted LED turn signals.

Civic Touring Coupe

In a first for the Civic, the Coupe in the new Touring trim includes LED low- and high-beam headlights. Arranged in a low, sleek and compact in-line display, the LED high beams provide a longer a wider range of visibility during nighttime driving. The Touring trim also includes LED turn signals integrated into the side mirror housings.

The LED lighting has several advantages beside improved visibility. The LEDs are both mercury free and lead free, benefiting the environment. They require less power to operate than traditional incandescent lighting, which helps the Civic's fuel efficiency. They have a longer life and are maintenance free. And finally, the LED arrays are versatile, enabling the new Civic Coupe to offer breakthrough design elements not previously possible.

Interior

Benefitting from Honda's vehicle packaging expertise, the Civic interior - its spaciousness, smart design, comfortable fit and intuitive controls - has always been a competitive strength. The new Civic interior takes that concept forward with new levels of quality, refinement and spaciousness for Civic and the compact class.

With 91.0 cubic feet of passenger cabin volume, the Civic tops the compact-class for interior space and comfort, with class-leading headroom, legroom, shoulder clearance and side head clearance. Class-leading forward visibility of 84.31 degrees is aided by new, ultra-thin A-pillars, and rear-seat passengers will appreciate newly shaped front seats with a narrower upper profile (in the shoulder area) and smaller headrests that lend the rear cabin a more open, airy feel. The reworked instrument panel provides greater knee room for the driver, while rear-seat foot space in improved with an increase of 27mm in the space between the front seat rails.

The Civic Coupe has a trunk capacity of 12.1 cubic feet (LX and LX-P) - 0.4 cu-ft. larger than the previous model and among the largest in the competitive class. Spacious enough to easily accommodate four large golf bags, the new trunk area is easier to access and use, with a lower lift-over height and wider opening. The Civic Coupe features a 60/40 split and folding rear seatback. The shape of the trunk pass-through is now more rectangular with a 20-percent increase in area.

Interior Materials

The new Honda Civic Coupe interior takes the refinement of Honda's most affordable coupe to a new level with high-quality premium touches and upscale materials applied liberally throughout. Highlights include a soft-touch instrument panel upper surface, door pad deck seams and soft door upper panels. Fit, finish and materials have received close attention, and soft leather-trimmed seating is standard on EX-L and Touring trims.

Interior Design

The new Civic interior blends a dynamic and wide layout with smoothly integrated technology features and-high quality materials. All Civic models have handsome new instrumentation, while EX-T and above trims feature a full-color 7-inch Driver Information Interface (DII) display, and 7-inch Display Audio color touchscreen with a clean and sleek appearance. The Civic has always been known for its user-friendly design, and the new generation builds on that reputation. With completely redesigned packaging, the Civic has a more open roomy feel assisted by such design changes as the backs of the front seats having new sleek styling giving rear passengers a spacious feeling. A redesigned instrument panel made possible a more compact climate control system opens up added knee room, and the tandem distance (distance between the front and rear seat hip point) is increased by 4 inches.

All important systems and controls in the Civic are positioned within easy reach of the driver. Controls for the systems used most frequently - audio, cruise control, Bluetooth®3 HandsFreeLink®, available navigation system with voice recognition and intelligent Multi-Information Display - are conveniently positioned on the steering wheel. The main instrumentation is an easy-to-read analog design, supplemented with digital and graphic displays. Typical of Honda interior design, the soft-touch switchgear of the Civic is engineered to deliver a high-quality feel and positive action.

Front Seats

The Civic's all-new front bucket seats are designed to provide welcoming support for a wide range of body types, along with secure lateral support for cornering. New seat frame designs are 17-percent lighter, more comfortable and more adjustable. A relocated seatback recline pivot point improves comfort, and the range of the seat bottom height adjustment has been increased by 10mm (0.4 in). A new available adjustable thigh support for the driver's seat offers 14-degrees of tilt. To help improve the forward view and create a feeling of openness for rear seat passengers, the front seatbacks have a narrower upper profile and smaller headrests. The Civic seats feature fabric seating surfaces in LX, LX-P and EX-T trims, with leather-trimmed seats in the EX-L and Touring trims, using perforated leather on select areas of the front seats.

The driver's seat in the Civic Coupe is manually adjustable for fore-and-aft, seatback angle and height adjustment. Heating is now applied on the cloth interior EX-T as well as the leather trimmed seats of the EX-L and Touring with heated seat bottom cushions and front seatbacks. The 3-level front seat heater controls are positioned within easy reach, just below the climate control system controls.

Rear Seats

The Civic's roomy second-row seating is designed for maximum comfort and versatility, with a folding seatback. A 60/40 split and folding design makes it easy to accommodate passengers or long cargo.

Center Console

The Civic interior offers a range of convenient storage features for the driver and passengers. The center console is specially engineered to offer a sporty appearance coupled with the versatile usability you might expect in an SUV. With the prevalence of smartphones in most people's lives, the console is engineered around a "tech center" theme. Up front, it has a 2-tier smartphone tray with a wire management pass-through for organized connectivity. EX-T and above trims have a rubber mat to help secure a phone and include LED lighting for nighttime visibility. There's also an additional phone storage pocket on the driver's side.

The new electric parking brake replaces the conventional manual parking brake lever, freeing up more console space for a larger armrest and greater storage space. The main storage compartment is topped by a sliding, deeply padded armrest that features an added inch of adjustability, compared to the previous Civic. A pair of cup holders are centrally located, and can accommodate large 42-ounce cups when the padded armrest is placed in the rearmost position. By sliding the adjustable cup holder rearward, there's space to accommodate even a large sports drink bottle. Inside the console, a small item tray slides fore and aft the full length of the console. With the cup holder removed, the console offers a class leading 7.2-liters of storage, enough to accommodate tablets and other large items. Two additional cup holders are located in the side linings of the second row.

Powertrain

With two advanced new engines and new and updated manual and Continuously Variable Transmissions, first introduced in the 2016 Civic Sedan, the Civic Coupe offers a range of new powertrain choices that combine fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive performance.

The base engine is a 2.0-liter 16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC®, with its larger displacement (replacing Civic's previous SOHC 1.8-liter engine), offers more horsepower and torque than any previous base Civic engine in the U.S. The new 2.0-liter engine is rated at 158 horsepower at 6500 rpm and 138 lb-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm (an increase of 15 horsepower and 9 lb-ft. of torque). The 2.0-liter engine is paired with a new 6-speed manual transmission (LX) or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for efficient automatic operation.

For drivers looking for even greater performance coupled with equally high EPA fuel economy ratings, the Civic is available with a turbocharged engine. The 1.5-liter 16-valve DOHC direct-injected turbocharged powerplant is rated at 174 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with torque output an impressive 162 lb-ft. of torque between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm.

2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Engine

Related to the European Civic Type-R 2.0 liter turbo charged engine, the Civic's new standard 2.0-liter i-VTEC powerplant produces more horsepower and torque at all operating speeds compared to the 1.8-liter engine it replaces. The new engine also is anticipated to help the Civic receive superior EPA mpg ratings.6 The new 2.0-liter engine is rated at 158 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 138 lb-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. The anticipated EPA fuel economy rating is 26/38/31 mpg city/highway/combined with 6-speed manual transmission, and 30/41/34 mpg with CVT.

Cylinder Block and Crankshaft

The Civic's new 2.0-liter inline four has a lightweight die-cast aluminum block with a bedplate main-bearing design that creates a rigid assembly to help minimize noise and vibration. Cast-in iron cylinder liners provide long-lasting durability. Thin slits between each adjacent cylinder sleeve help improve engine cooling and knocking.

Each journal on the lightweight heat-forged steel crankshaft is micropolished to reduce internal friction and improve smoothness throughout the rpm range and help lower noise levels.

Pistons/Connecting Rods

Designed with "cavity-shaped" crowns, the 2016 Civic's pistons help maintain stable combustion and contribute to improved efficiency. To reduce weight, minimize vibration and increase operating efficiency, the lightweight pistons have a carefully optimized skirt design. Ion-plated piston rings help reduce friction for greater operating efficiency.

Heavy-duty steel connecting rods with tapered small ends are heat-forged in one piece and then "crack separated" to create lighter and stronger rods with an optimally fitted bearing cap.

Cylinder Head and i-VTEC Valvetrain

The Civic's 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine has a lightweight DOHC cylinder head that is made of low-pressure casted aluminum alloy. With exhaust-port passages cast directly into the cylinder head, the need for a traditional separate exhaust manifold is eliminated.

A low-friction silent-chain drives dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The cam drive is maintenance free throughout the life of the engine. To help further reduce friction, the finish of the camshaft journals has been improved. To improve cooling and detonation resistance, the cylinder head has a cooling passage placed between each pair of exhaust valves.

To help boost fuel efficiency and power, the combustion chamber shape and valve angles have been optimized. The included valve angle is 35 degrees, to decrease the surface-to-volume ratio of the combustion chambers and help create a flatter, more compact combustion chamber that reduces unburned hydrocarbon emissions. With this new combustion chamber shape, the compression ratio has been increased to 10.8:1 (up from 10.6:1 on the previous 1.8-liter engine), yet the engine still operates on regular unleaded fuel.

The cylinder head features a new high-tumble intake-port design. In combination with the new combustion chamber and piston crown shape, the design's high level of airflow tumble helps create a homogenous fuel mixture for low fuel consumption and high airflow for high power output.

The Civic's 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC® engine uses an advanced valve control system to combine high power output with high fuel efficiency and low emissions. The system combines dual VTC (Variable Valve Timing Control), which continuously adjusts the intake and exhaust camshaft phase, with Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC), which changes valve lift, timing and duration of the intake valves.

The "intelligent" portion of the system is its ability to continuously vary the timing of the intake and exhaust camshafts using variable valve timing control (VTC). This helps increase power and also provides a smoother idle (allowing idle speed to be reduced). The cam timing is varied based on input from sensors that monitor rpm, timing, throttle opening, cam position and exhaust air-fuel ratio. The result is increased fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Under certain conditions, the VTC can hold the intake valves open longer to allow a reverse airflow of intake air into the intake manifold.

Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI)

The 2.0-liter engine's Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) continually adjusts fuel delivery to yield the best combination of power, low fuel consumption and low emissions. Multiple sensors constantly monitor critical operating parameters, such as throttle position, intake air temperature, coolant temperature, ambient air pressure, intake airflow volume, intake manifold pressure, exhaust air-fuel ratio and the position of the crankshaft and cams.

Turbocharged 1.5-Liter 4-Cylinder Engine

The Civic's available new DOHC 1.5-liter engine is the first turbocharged engine ever to be offered in a Honda-brand automobile in America. With direct injection, low-inertia mono scroll turbo system with electrical wastegate and dual Variable Valve Timing Control (VTC), the turbocharged Civic powerplant develops the horsepower and torque of a much larger engine, and is anticipated to help the Civic Coupe receive excellent EPA estimated fuel economy ratings.

The turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is rated at 174 horsepower at 6,000 rpm with 162 lb.-ft of torque between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm. The Civic Turbo is anticipated to be rated by the EPA at 31/41/35 mpg.

Cylinder Block and Crankshaft

The Civic's 1.5-liter engine has a lightweight die-cast aluminum block with individual reinforced main bearing caps to minimize weight. Cast-in iron cylinder liners provide long-lasting durability. Each journal on the lightweight forged-steel crankshaft is micropolished to reduce internal friction.

Pistons and Connecting Rods

The 1.5-liter engine's pistons help maintain stable combustion and contribute to improved efficiency with "cavity-shaped" crowns. The lightweight pistons have a carefully optimized skirt design to minimize reciprocating weight, which minimizes vibration and increases operating efficiency. The pistons are cooled by twin oil jets directed at the underside of each piston crown. Ion-plated piston rings help reduce friction for greater operating efficiency. Lightweight, high-strength steel connecting rods are heat-forged in one piece and then "crack separated" to create a lighter and stronger rod with an optimally fitted bearing cap.

Cylinder Head and Valvetrain

The direct-injected Civic 4-cylinder turbocharged engine has a lightweight DOHC cylinder head that is made of pressure-cast aluminum alloy. With exhaust port cast directly into the cylinder head, the need for a traditional separate exhaust manifold is eliminated.

A low-friction, silent-chain drives dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The cam drive is maintenance free throughout the life of the engine. To help further reduce weight, new thin-wall hollow camshafts are used.

To benefit fuel efficiency, emissions and power, the turbo engine utilizes sodium filled exhaust valves. A hollow chamber within the valve contains sodium that is cooled by the exhaust port cooling jacket. As the chamber reaches close to the valve head, the sodium helps to cool the entire valve. As the valve is internally cooled it doesn't need the enriched fuel mixture that was generally used in turbo engines to help cool the exhaust valve. The resultant leaner mixture reduces emissions, increases fuel efficiency and helps increase power.

The cylinder head includes smaller M12 sparkplugs, down from the more common M14, to save space and weight. The head also includes direct-injection multi-hole fuel injectors with a small diameter bore. Higher-pressure direct injection optimizes fuel atomization, allowing for more efficient combustion. To provide a high-tumble intake charge that further enhances combustion efficiency, both the intake port and piston crown have special designs.

The Civic Turbo engine features Variable Valve Timing Control (VTC) that can vary the timing of both the intake and exhaust camshafts independently. With the turbo engine's variable cam timing, the cam timing can be optimized to suit the driving conditions. Under light loads, valve overlap can be increased to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency. When engine speed is low and engine load is large, such as during initial acceleration, the amount of overlap is increased to boost the scavenging effect, which improves torque and responsiveness. When engine speed is high and engine load is also high, such as during full-throttle acceleration, the amount of valve overlap is reduced, improving both intake and scavenging and increase engine output.

Direct Injection System

The direct-injection system enables increased torque across the engine's full operating range along with higher fuel efficiency. The system features a compact, high-pressure, direct-injection pump that allows both high fuel flow and pulsation suppression, while variable pressure control optimizes injector operation. A multi-hole injector delivers fuel directly into each cylinder (not to the intake port, as in conventional port fuel injection designs), allowing for more efficient combustion.

The multi-hole injectors can create the ideal stoichiometric fuel/air mixture in the cylinders for good emissions control. Theoretically, a stoichiometric mixture has just enough air to completely burn the available fuel. Based on the operating conditions, the direct-injection system alters its function for best performance. Upon cold engine startup, fuel is injected into the cylinders on the compression stroke. This creates a weak stratified charge effect that improves engine start-up and reduces exhaust emissions before a normal operating temperature is reached.

Once the engine is fully warmed up, for maximum power and fuel efficiency fuel is injected during the intake stroke. This helps create a more homogeneous fuel/air mix in the cylinder that is aided by the high-tumble intake port design. This improves volumetric efficiency, and the cooling effect of the incoming fuel improves anti-knock performance.

Low Inertia Mono Scroll Turbo System with Electric Wastegate

The turbocharged Civic engine employs a small-diameter turbine for maximum responsiveness. The mono scroll housing design helps the turbo build boost even at relatively small throttle openings and low rpm. The electrically-actuated wastegate allows boost pressure to be precisely controlled.

A large air-to-air low-restriction intercooler is positioned low in the front of the car where it receives unobstructed airflow when the vehicle is in motion. Intake air travels from the air filter, to the turbo compressor, on to the intercooler, then to the engine's intake ports. The intercooler helps reduce the temperature of air entering the engine, making it denser for greater performance. To reduce weight, the turbo system is plumbed with rigid, lightweight resin composite inlet pipes to carry intake air to and from the intercooler.

Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT)

Two different CVTs are offered in the new Civic to best suit the power output and operating characteristics of each available engine. Both Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) offer smooth and predictable gear ratio transitions and excellent acceleration matched with efficient low-rpm cruising. A wide ratio spread results in strong acceleration performance coupled with reduced engine rpm at high road speeds.

Each CVT is comprised of an engine driven torque converter that in turn drives two variable-width pulleys connected by a steel belt. With its angled inner faces, the belt can circle the angled pulley faces at varying diameter depending on the pulley width, which alters the effective ratio between the pulleys. Since there are no steps in the pulley faces, the range of possible gear ratios is essentially infinite. This ultra-fine control of the gear ratio is the key to the CVT's greater efficiency over a conventional automatic transmission with a limited number of discrete gear ratios. Instead of approximating the correct ratio for the conditions like a conventional automatic does, the Civic CVTs can precisely select the optimum ratio from moment to moment without steps or slippage. Computer control of the transmission allows the ratio between the pulleys to be altered almost instantly to best suit the driving conditions and accelerator pedal setting.

Continuously Variable Transmission for 2.0L i-VTEC

The Civic LX and LX-P which are powered by the 2.0-liter engine offer a CVT (available in the LX and standard in the LX-P) that is a refined version of the CVT that was offered in the previous generation Civic. It features a retuned torque converter, and a new generation of G-Design shift logic.

Continuously Variable Transmission for 1.5L Turbo

Turbo Civic models have a CVT that is an evolution of the CVT transmission offered in Accord 4-cylinder models. In this application, the transmission's final gear ratio is 4.69-percent taller than the Accord CVT on which it's based, to allow for lower engine rpm while cruising. A new generation of G-Design shift logic aids acceleration and has a more familiar driving feel. A new turbine twin-damper design for the torque converter provides tighter control and helps reduce turbocharger lag as the vehicle accelerates.

Chassis

The 2016 Civic Coupe utilizes the most sophisticated chassis design in model history, delivering quicker and more accurate steering, more responsive handling, and exceptional ride quality that exceeds the mainstream, compact-car class to challenge even luxury C-segment products.

Key suspension upgrades include a sophisticated new multi-link rear suspension and rigid rear subframe; fluid-filled suspension bushings that greatly enhance ride quality while providing robust isolation from road vibration; stabilizer bars with bonded bushing mounts for improved body control; dual-pinion, variable ratio Electric Power Steering (EPS) that enhances steering feel, performance and comfort; and a Straight Driving Assist feature that reduces steering effort when driving on a sloped or crowned road. Additional new Civic chassis features include Agile Handling Assist and an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) with Automatic Brake Hold.

Front and Rear Suspension

The 2016 Civic suspension system provides agile and direct handling that puts the Civic at the top of its class, and in the league of benchmarked European luxury-class competitors. The system uses a combination of front MacPherson struts and an all-new rear multi-link with new rigid subframe. Using a strut-style front suspension improves the room available for crash reinforcement, and the multi-link rear suspension helps maximize second-row seating and cargo space - all while also providing outstanding handling characteristics and ride quality. Front and rear stabilizer bars on all trims improve turn-in response while reducing body roll during cornering. The stabilizer bars are bonded to their mounting bushings and use low-friction connecting links for smoother operation. The 2016 Civic Coupe has a 20mm (0.8 in) lower center of gravity, significantly helping to improve handling agility.

MacPherson Strut Front Suspension

The MacPherson strut front suspension is engineered to provide engaging performance and a responsive feel for the driver. Performance-calibrated geometry ensures a high degree of quickness and precision, smoothness and stability. The lower suspension arms are connected to the subframe and to the body via fluid-filled bushings, which provide the ideal combination of handling responsiveness and precision, along with maximum isolation from road noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). All front suspension arms and the front hub carriers are steel, and all Civic Coupe trims use a tubular front stabilizer bar. The LX-P trim and above have increased front roll stiffness to balance the additional weight of the sunroof and resultant increased inertia. Furthermore, a small increase in damping force controls that inertia and maintains ride quality. The Civic EX-T Coupe and above trims have front springs with a rate 15 percent stiffer than the LX and LX-P trims and the damping force is increased by 20 percent for more direct, agile handling response and body control. Due to the lighter alloy wheels on the Touring trim, the damping rates are specifically tuned for the reduced unsprung weight, increasing road isolation and providing a premium, direct feel.

Multi-Link Rear Suspension

The multi-link rear suspension includes stamped-steel arms, cast aluminum hub carriers and a stabilizer bar. Mounted on a rigid subframe, a first for Civic, the new rear suspension provides agile handling, both during normal driving and in emergency maneuvers, together with a flat ride. On the Civic EX-T and above trims the trailing arms are connected to the unibody by fluid-filled bushings for exceptional control of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) while maintaining precise handling. The EX-T and above trims also have 20 percent stiffer rear springs and the damping force is increased by 90 percent to deliver high levels of body control and direct agile handling response. All Civic Coupe trims use a solid rear stabilizer bar for improved crisp turn-in and body roll control. As with the front suspension, the rear damping rates are specifically tuned for the reduced unsprung weight of the lighter Touring trim wheels.

Hydraulic Suspension Bushings

In a first for Honda, the 2016 Civic suspension uses fluid-filled bushings to provide superior ride isolation as well as chassis vibration control. All Civic models utilize front fluid-filled bushings and the EX-T and above trims additionally use rear fluid-filled bushings. These bushings are specifically tuned to provide minimum vibration transfer to the occupants, raising the new Civic to the top of its class in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction.

In front, the lower control arms pivot in the fluid-filled bushing, which is designed to absorb road harshness and vibration while still retaining the exacting precision required for sharp, nimble handling. For the front suspension only, a specially ventilated under-cover allows airflow to cool the bushings, ensuring more consistent performance in all ambient temperature conditions, as well as enhanced long-term durability.

An additional duct, located near the middle of the aluminum front under-panel, cools the engine's torque rod bushing, likewise reducing operating temperatures and ensuring longer performance.

Dual-Pinion, Variable Ratio Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS)

Another Civic first, the Electric Power Steering (EPS) incorporates dual pinion gears and a variable gear ratio for improved steering feel, performance and comfort that surpasses the class.

The dual pinion steering provides substantially improved feel compared to the previous-generation Civic. Compared to a traditional single-pinion steering system, the dual pinion EPS utilizes the physical steering input from the driver as well as from a supplemental electric motor. A non-contact torque sensor measures the driver's steering effort and an ECU determines how much electric motor assist to add, with the result being a seamless, natural feeling steering in all situations.

The steering ratio is variable over a 17-percent range with a final full off-center rotation ratio of 10.93:1. This provides a quick 2.2 turns lock-to-lock compared to 3.1 turns lock-to-lock for the previous Civic, significantly reducing hand movement and the steering effort required when parking or maneuvering. Also contributing to the enhanced steering performance and feel of the 2016 Civic Coupe, the steering mount stiffness is higher, and the 30mm steering column diameter (up from 22mm on the previous generation Civic) also provides greater stiffness.

Straight Driving Assist

A new Honda technology, Straight Driving Assist reduces the steering effort required when driving on a sloped or crowned road. When the Straight Driving Assist system detects that steering effort is being applied to keep the car driving along a slope, the Electric Power Steering system applies motor assist. This reduces the muscle effort required to maintain the desired direction on the sloped road to the same level as is required on a flat road.

4-wheel Disc Brakes with ABS, EBD and Brake Assist

In a first for Civic, all trims are equipped with 4-wheel disc brakes. All systems incorporate 4-channel ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist as standard equipment. The system provides a comfortable and refined feel at low speeds, predictable and easy operation on the highway, a sporty, fun-to-drive feel on winding roads, and a reassuring high-performance stopping in emergency situations. Compared to the previous-generation, the 2016 Civic's brakes require less pedal travel, provide a firmer pedal feel under normal conditions, and deliver greater efficiency.

The 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) independently modulates braking power at each wheel to help the driver retain steering control during heavy braking. The Brake Assist system recognizes emergency braking situations and almost instantly applies full braking force when appropriate to help shorten braking distance.

Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control

Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is an Electronic Stability Control system that works in conjunction with the Civic Coupe's Drive-by-Wire™ throttle and its 4-channel ABS systems to enhance control capability while the vehicle is accelerating, braking, cornering or when the driver makes a sudden maneuver.

VSA also provides a limited-slip differential effect for the driving wheels by applying braking force to a slipping wheel, thereby redirecting driving force to the wheel with more traction. While the driver can reduce the traction control effectiveness allowing more wheel slip during stuck condition by pressing the VSA button, ABS remains fully operational at all times.

Agile Handling Assist

A Civic first and standard on all trims, Agile Handling Assist selectively uses the vehicle's brakes to improve initial turning response and overall cornering ability. Agile Handling Assist utilizes brake vectoring to improve corner traceability and confident handling feel. By applying braking force to the inside wheels during cornering at high lateral G, the system creates a yaw moment, thus generating more turning force and reducing understeer.

Hill Start Assist

The Hill Start Assist function helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the driver switches from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is stopped on a hill. Hill Start Assist automatically activates when the vehicle senses a certain incline and is fully stopped in any forward gear when facing up hill or reverse gear when facing downhill. The system uses a longitudinal G-sensor along with a wheel speed sensor to control the hydraulic brake modulator. Hill Start Assist, when activated, will release the brakes when the driver depresses the throttle or if the driver doesn't press the accelerator after a few seconds.

Electric Parking Brake (EPB)

In a first for both the Honda Civic and its market segment, the standard Electric Parking Brake (EPB) is simpler, more convenient and comfortable to use than a traditional parking brake. The EPB also frees up center console space, allowing a higher console and an extended armrest length.

Engaging the parking brake now requires only a pull on a switch on the center console. To release the parking brake, the driver simply presses on the accelerator pedal (while the seatbelt is buckled) when the transmission is in Drive or Reverse, or else pushes on the parking brake switch while operating the brake pedal.

Besides promoting the use of the parking brake, EPB makes hill starts easier when the Civic is parked on a grade. As with a traditional manually activated parking brake, EPB functions on the rear wheels only. Electric servo actuators are integrated into the rear brake calipers.

Automatic Brake Hold

When activated, Automatic Brake Hold retains brake pressure when the vehicle comes to a stop such as at a traffic light or in heavy traffic. This frees the driver from continually pressing the brake pedal to maintain the vehicle in a stopped position, a significant improvement in driving enjoyment in difficult conditions. Operating the system requires two simple actions from the driver:

• Activating/deactivating the system via a switch on the center console
• Pressing on the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a stop

Once these steps are taken, Automatic Brake Hold will indicate engagement and then maintain brake pressure when the vehicle has come to a stop, even if the driver later releases the brake pedal. A green "Brake Hold" icon on the instrument panel illuminates to show that the system is functioning. The Civic then remains stopped - even on a hill - until the driver presses the accelerator pedal. At this point Automatic Brake Hold releases the brakes and the vehicle resumes normal braking function.

Wheels and Tires

Civic LX Coupe and LX-P ride on 215/55R16 tires mounted to 16x7.0-inch alloy wheels. The tires are 20mm wider, and the wheels are one inch larger in diameter and 1.0-inch wider, than the previous Civic LX and EX models. Civic Coupe EX-T, EX-L and Touring trims use 215/50R17 tires and 17x7.0-inch aluminum wheels. All tires carry an all-season M+S rating, making them suitable for year-round use in all weather and conditions.

The Civic Coupe LX and LX-P come with Firestone FT140 tires while the EX-T and above trims come with Continental ProContact TX tires. Developed cooperatively with Honda engineers and the tire companies, despite being wider, the tires help reduce rolling resistance by 10-percent while also helping to reduce noise and vibration, improving both fuel efficiency and ride quality in the process. The tires contribute to the Civic's greatly improved rolling resistance performance. They also help reduce unsprung weight by 6.6 pounds, allowing the engineers greater control of suspension tuning, which further improves ride and handling characteristics.

Space-Saving Spare Tire

For all new Civic models, the spare tire is a T125/80D16 space- and weight-saving temporary unit that is mounted under a carpeted floor in the trunk.

Low-Friction Wheel Bearings

For 2016, the wheel hubs in all models feature new low-friction bearings that measurably reduces rolling resistance, which directly contributes to the improved fuel-efficiency for all models.

Exhaust

The Civic LX and LX-P trims use a single exhaust system for light weight and simplicity. Applied to a Civic for the first time, dual exhaust outlets provide the Civic in EX-T and above trims higher power output for the turbocharged engine. Additionally, in another Civic first, all trims incorporate an exhaust flex tube that directly reduces noise and vibration. The silencer is also aerodynamically shaped, another Civic first, to help improve airflow underneath the vehicle, helping to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and further reduce air turbulence-inducing noise at highway speeds.

Fuel Tank

The 12.4-gallon fuel tank and fuel lines are molded of high-density polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion, impact resistance and fuel vapor losses. The tank and filler pipe are formed as a single unit, reducing weight and complexity, while further improving safety in the event of a collision. Additionally, the tank is positioned ahead of the rear wheels to help guard against collision damage. A high-efficiency fuel pump is housed inside the tank, and the fuel filter is a lifetime design that never needs replacement. An integrated baffle system positioned inside the tank reduces the sound of fuel sloshing.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The 2016 Civic uses an indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)3 that is lighter and simpler than previous systems. Instead of using sensors mounted on each wheel to monitor tire pressures, indirect TMPS uses the existing ABS wheel-speed sensors to continually monitor the rotational speed of each wheel. Because a tire with low pressure rotates more quickly than one with a higher pressure, by comparing these values with a specifically designed computer algorithm, indirect TPMS can determine when a tire is low on pressure. This information is delivered to the driver in the form of a warning symbol on the instrument panel. Special logic included in the TPMS processor is designed to eliminate false warnings.

Safety

With advanced, unibody engineering, significant use of high-strength steel, and a wide array of advanced passive-safety features, the 2016 Civic Coupe was designed to achieve a superb level of active and passive safety performance for vehicle occupants - as well as for the occupants of other vehicles and other road users, including motorcycle and bicycle riders and pedestrians.

The Civic Touring Coupe is equipped with Honda Sensing™, among the most comprehensive suites of safety and driver-assistive technologies in the competitive class, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow.

Standard passive-safety features such as a new driver's Spiral Airbag and a new front passenger's safety vent airbag, SmartVent® front side airbags, and side curtain airbags with rollover sensor help protect occupants in a collision. In addition, the greater use of high-strength steel and advanced crash engineering features, including its Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, new crash stroke front frame rails, and tailor-tempered B-pillars and rear frame structures, helps better protect occupants in a collision while minimizing weight for superior fuel efficiency.

Top Safety Ratings

The Civic was engineered to earn top-class collision safety ratings. In particular, these include a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), along with a TOP SAFETY PICK (LX through EX-L trims) and TOP SAFETY PICK+ (Touring trim) rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). A significant area of improvement is the goal of achieving a Good rating in the latest IIHS small overlap frontal crash test.

Pedestrian Injury Mitigation Design

Structures in the front of the 2016 Civic are designed to help absorb energy in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. Research by Honda shows that the following features can dramatically improve a pedestrian's chance of survival if struck by a moving vehicle.

Specific pedestrian head injury mitigation features include:

• Hood is designed to deform if contact is made with either an adult or a child pedestrian
• Sufficient clearance exists between the hood and hard engine parts, allowing the hood to deform if impacted by a pedestrian
• Windshield base has a unique section structure for efficient impact energy absorption
• Energy-absorbing fender mounts and supports
• Breakaway windshield wiper pivots
• Deformable hood hinges