As the world turns to turbocharging as a means of increasing performance and efficiency, Honda->ke34 looks to be planning the same for the new Civic.->ke236 Automotive News is reporting that Honda will bless the upcoming redesign of its iconic model with a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder to help comply with tightening emissions standards. While gentler on the environment, the new engine should still offer decent performance characteristics.
“Downsized turbocharging will be the base, even for the Civic,” said Yoshiharu Yamamoto, Honda’s global R&D head, to Automotive News last month.
In addition to the turbo four-banger, an optional naturally aspirated mill will probably be available. The current Civic is offered with a NA 1.8-liter engine. Click here to read our full review.
"Quite a bit will switch over to turbo, but there will still be some naturally aspirated ones remaining," Yamamoto said. "In America, there aren't that many companies with turbo models. The power is very good."
It’s expected that the turbo engines will be built in the Anna, Ohio, engine plant that Honda recently invested $340 million in. Automotive News also says that Honda may produce as many as 200,000 1.5-liter engines a year in North America, starting in the fourth quarter.
Automotive News
Continue reading to learn more about the next-generation Honda Civic.0}
As several major performance-oriented models make the move to boost, with the list of notable examples including the Ferrari 488 and Mercedes-AMG C63 S, it should come as no surprise that the Civic is also adopting the way of the snail. Gas may be cheap now, but it’s pretty obvious folks are concerned such low prices won’t last forever. And with sustainability and carbon emissions a constant topic of discussion, we are sure to see more and more vehicles take up turbocharging. NA engines surely won’t go away, but will almost certainly see further reduction in availability.
But beyond environmentalism, Honda’s new 1.5-liter turbo is great news for enthusiasts. For decades, the cheap, reliable, and fun-loving Civic has been a tuner favorite, with many speed hounds finding the addition of a compressor to be the perfect complement to the more-than-willing Civic platform.
Now, with all the plumbing ready and set from the factory, that tradition is sure to continue. Want more power? Just turn up the boost! The aftermarket must be salivating at the thought. Throw in the new 300-horsepower, 167-mph Type-R, and things are looking quite good for speedy H-badge lovers.