Honda has today announced a new addition to the popular British-built Civic range. The 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport.

• New 1.4-litre petrol engine joins Civic Sport line up from May
• Available from £199 a month on PCP
• Similar aggressive styling to race car for the road Civic Type R

Honda has today announced a new addition to the popular British-built Civic range.  The 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport will become the entry level product in the Civic family when it hits showrooms next month.

Priced at £18,360 OTR or £199 a month on a three year PCP deal with 5.9% APR and a deposit of £3,415, the new 1.4-litre petrol engine variant, available in manual transmission, joins the 1.6-litre, 120 PS diesel engine and the 1.8-litre, 142 PS petrol engine in the Civic Sport line up.

Specifically styled as a more sporty and aggressive version of the family hatchback , the Civic Sport features a unique colour-coded rear spoiler and 17-inch alloy wheels and shares some of the striking design characteristics of the Civic Type R, with a lower grille mesh and a black roof lining for the cabin.

The advanced 1.4-litre i-VTEC single overhead camshaft (SOHC) engine has been fine-tuned to boost both its dynamic performance and its environmental credentials.  CO₂ emissions are at 131 g/km while the engine delivers a maximum power output of 100 PS and a torque figure of 127 Nm. 

With the next generation Civic concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and due in showrooms at the start of 2017, Honda UK is revising the current Civic family line up in line with customer demand.  The Sport will become the entry level with the SE and SR grades completing the line up.

Philip Crossman, Managing Director at Honda UK, commented: “The addition of the 1.4-litre petrol engine version of the Sport strengthens our Civic family line up and makes the more aggressively styled version of our popular family hatchback more accessible. 

“The smaller engine makes the Civic Sport more economical and more efficient and therefore a much more attractive proposition.”

The new 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport will be available in Honda showrooms from May onwards.

Ariel stays true to it;s origins by extending the deal to run all its products with Honda units, why choose second best !

Honda (UK) and Ariel renew exclusive engine supply deal as 1,500^th Honda-powered Ariel roars out of the (very small) factory

• Honda (UK) and Ariel Motor Company renew exclusive engine supply deal for Atom and Nomad
• 1,500^th Honda-powered Ariel in 16 years roars out of the factory
• Supercharged Civic Type R engine delivers a scorching 350bhp and top speed of more than 155mph in the famed Ariel Atom

Honda (UK) and Ariel Motor Company have renewed their 16-year strong exclusive engine supply agreement which sees the famed Atom powered by the Civic Type R engine, and the new off-road Nomad by the Civic 2.4 unit.

The news comes as the two brands celebrate the 1500^th Honda-powered Ariel roaring out of the small factory in Somerset, where just eight highly skilled build technicians spend 100-200 hours painstakingly hand-crafting one vehicle each at a time, from start to finish. Over the last 16 years 1,500 new Ariels have been built here – just a few day’s work for Honda’s Civic-producing Swindon plant.

Walking into Ariel’s small British workshop is like walking into a luxury tailor to be measured for a bespoke suit. No two Ariels are the same: each is made to order and there are thousands of possible configurations. Ariels are extremely affordable, very fast and will run and run at a track day with almost zero maintenance. At the heart of every Ariel lies the engine, however.

Since 2003 Ariel has been using as standard the Civic Type R engine to power these pocket rockets, firstly with the flagship Atom and now, with the Civic 2.4 unit, the new off-road Nomad. Atom base models use a completely untouched unit off the shelf to offer 245bhp with Ariel-tuned ECU and exhaust or, it can be supercharged to either 310bhp or 350bhp offering a 0-60mph of less than 2.7 seconds and a top speed of more than 155mph.

Ariel’s founder Simon Saunders comments: “Our customers are hugely passionate about driving so the engine is everything. When we tell new customers that it’s a Honda they simply nod and move on to the next question. They just know that it works. Switching to Honda engines is one of the best decisions that we’ve ever made. It’s a brand that can’t be matched for performance and bulletproof reliability and we’re delighted that this success is set to continue well into the future.”

Philip Crossman, managing director of Honda (UK), says: “The Ariel brand is an incredible British success story with a fascinating history and pedigree in producing bespoke machines which driving fans love. The two brands are a perfect match – not least with our common engineering expertise and reputation for unrivalled performance, reliability and durability. With the engine such a key factor it’s a huge endorsement for Honda that Ariel chooses ours over others, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership for many years to come.”

As well as custom-building the Atom and new off-road Nomad, Ariel recently introduced the Ace motorcycle which, true to form, is also exclusively powered by Honda. Under the cowling of each Ace sits a V4 1237cc Honda unit, delivering 173bhp with a top speed of 165mph.

Honda UK launches two special Editions One Civic Limited Edition and the CR-V Black Edition makes a return.

• Civic Limited Edition based on 1.4 i-VTEC S and priced at £14,995 OTR
• New CR-V Black Edition starts at £29,995 OTR
• Both available from early February

Honda UK is set to launch two new special editions of the popular Civic and CR-V next month. Both arriving into dealer forecourts from the start of February, the Civic Limited Edition is just £14,995 on the road and the CR-V Black Edition starts from £29,995.

Three years after the last version of the CR-V Black Edition first launched, Honda has revived the more sporty, premium look.  

Available in 4WD with a choice of petrol or diesel and manual or automatic, the new CR-V Black Edition starts from £29,995 for the manual 2.0 i-VTEC and tops out at £33,730 for the automatic 1.6 i-DTEC.  

On the exterior, owners will get running boards, a tailgate spoiler, 19” black alloys, a gloss black front grille as well as gloss black skid plates on the front and rear.  The high-quality full leather interior features contrasting stitching with an embossed Black Edition logo on the front and rear seats while the door panels and arm rests are also leather.  The interior is finished off with premium carpet mats complete with the Black Edition logo.

Based on the standard 1.4 i-VTEC S manual, the new Civic Limited Edition lands in dealerships from the start of February and comes with 16” aero alloys, body coloured wheel arches, front panel and rear skirt to give the car a slightly more aggressive sporty look.  Available in Brilliant Sporty Blue, Polished Metal, Milano Red and Crystal Black, the new car is priced at £14,995 on the road.

Philip Crossman, Managing Director at Honda UK, commented: “This time last year we had the oldest range on the market and were about to launch the latest Civic and CR-V.  This limited edition Civic and the Black Edition CR-V are fantastic additions to the core product line up and will make for a great start to 2016.”

USA - Honda celebrates a brace of wins at the 6th Annual Hispanic Motor Press Awards.

 6^th Annual Hispanic Motor Press Awards® select best vehicles for Hispanic families

Honda claimed two Hispanic Motor Press Awards® with the all-new 2016 Honda Civic named ‘Best Compact Sedan” and the all-new 2016 Honda Pilot named “Best SUV.” The awards honor the best all-new or heavily refreshed vehicles for Hispanic families in 2016.

“The all-new Civic and Pilot were designed to define their segments with striking styling, industry-leading safety ratings and advanced technology unmatched by competitors,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“Receiving these awards from the Hispanic Motor Press for Civic and Pilot validates the efforts of the many Honda associates throughout North America who developed and built these two great new vehicles.”The all-new 2016 Honda Civic has been redesigned from the ground up to be the sportiest in brand history. The 10^th-generation Civic includes dynamic styling, two all-new powertrains, including a Civic-first turbocharged engine, a 178-horsepower 1.5-liter direct injected turbo, and a bevy of consumer and safety tech, including Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, along with the available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.

The 2016 Honda Pilot puts families first with seating for seven or eight occupants, a powerful, efficient direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine, as well as an available 9-speed automatic transmission and advanced new Intelligent Traction Management system. The Pilot also offers all of the features families want and need, ranging from available Honda Sensing™ safety and driver-assistive technologies, to Blu-Ray DVD rear seat entertainment.

“The 2016 Civic is a bit longer, with a roomier interior and a high level of connectivity, with a smooth power plant. These enhancements make this new platform a real winner for the Hispanic consumer,” said Ricardo Rodriguez-Long, Jury Director, Hispanic Motor Press. “The new Pilot has grown into a practical and efficient family vehicle. With the AWD option, three-row seating, safety features and a premium feel, it stood out among the other options tested by the jurors. It’s a very good all-around package for the larger Hispanic family."

The Honda Civic Type R takes the Hot Hatch award at the Scottish Car of the Year Awards.

Honda’s new Civic Type R has scooped the hot hatch at the 2015 Scottish Car of the Year (SCOTY) Awards. The Civic Type R’s high revving all-new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, advanced new suspension systems and eye-catching looks have not gone unnoticed by the SCOTY judges who were all impressed with its performance, handling, looks and quality.

Double British Touring Car champion and fellow Scot Gordon Shedden, who drove the Honda Yuasa Racing Civic Type R to victory this year, was present to collect the trophy at the glittering awards ceremony held in Edinburgh on 27 November.  

The awards are judged by members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, who represent publications and websites from across the country.

Alisdair Suttie, President of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers, said: "The Civic Type R won because it shows what's possible with a hot hatch, pushing the boundaries with more than 300bhp through the front wheels yet it remains easy and civilised to drive in daily use. However, it comes alive in an instant when the driver wants more, bringing a bit of touring car brilliance to everyday driving."

Philip Crossman, Managing Director, Honda (UK) added; “We are very proud of what we have achieved with the Civic Type R, particularly as it’s built here in the UK.  Seeing the car being recognised by industry experts is very rewarding, and I’m confident that we’ll need a bigger awards cabinet pretty soon!”

Billed as a ‘race car for the road’, the all-new British built Honda Civic Type R is powered by the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built. The direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 310 PS at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm – both higher than for any previous Honda Civic Type R model.

Available for £299 a month on a 5.9 per cent APR representative PCP, customers can also benefit from a 5 year servicing package for £555 (a saving of £780).

USA - The Honda Pilot is awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Rating and NCAP 5-Star rating.

• Pilot has now achieved both an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating
• 2016 Pilot offers one of the most comprehensive sets of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies available on a Honda vehicle
• Available Honda Sensing™ suite offers collision avoidance capabilities

The U.S. designed and developed 2016 Honda Pilot has received a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score, the top score available, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)¹. 

The Pilot also has earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with optional front crash prevention, making it the first three-row mainstream SUV with the highest available U.S. government (NCAP) and IIHS safety ratings. 

The 2016 Pilot offers an available frontal crash prevention system that earns a top rating of superior from IIHS.

"The 2016 Pilot has set the new benchmark in the midsize SUV segment by achieving both class-leading fuel economy² and the industry’s highest safety ratings," said Jeff Conrad, Honda Division senior vice president and general manager. "With the addition of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies available through Honda Sensing, no other midsize mainstream SUV on the market today can match the Pilot’s top IIHS and NHTSA safety scores."

Available on Pilot EX trims and above, Honda Sensing™ can help improve drivers' situational awareness with its various systems, which include the Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). These systems benefit from the adoption of a sensor fusion technology integrating the capabilities of a windshield-mounted monocular camera and front grille-mounted millimeter wave radar system to provide enhanced sensing with the ability to identify and anticipate multiple collision scenarios, including those involving a pedestrian. When the system anticipates a collision or road departure, it can initiate warnings and, in certain instances, initiate emergency braking and steering. 

In addition, the 2016 Pilot adopts the next generation of Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure along with a new "3-bone" underbody frame design and new hot-stamped ultra-high strength steel door rings. Together with Honda Sensing™, these engineering features and technologies deliver major gains to the Pilot's collision avoidance and collision protection capabilities.

Standard safety equipment on all Honda models include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) electronic stability control system, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, frontal airbags, side airbags, side-curtain airbags and a front seat design that can help reduce the severity of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. Honda is also leading the industry in the deployment of rearview cameras, which are standard equipment on all model year 2015 and newer Honda vehicles.

The third generation of Honda's popular three-row SUV, Pilot was designed and developed by Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in Los Angeles and Ohio, and is manufactured exclusively by Honda’s auto plant in Lincoln, Alabama.³

Honda Safety Leadership

Honda has a long history of leadership in the development and application of advanced technologies designed to enhance the safety of all road users, including automobile occupants, motorcycle riders and pedestrians. The company operates two of the world's most sophisticated crash test facilities, in Ohio and Japan, and is responsible for numerous pioneering efforts in the areas of crashworthiness, airbag technology, collision compatibility and pedestrian safety. The company is broadly applying its Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced driver-assistive technologies to its product lineup and has applied rearview cameras as standard equipment to 100-percent of its line-up for 2015.

¹ Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov).

² 2016 EPA fuel-economy ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

³ Manufactured using domestic and globally sourced parts.