The 2012 Honda Civic

In the early 1970s, Honda aimed to design a practical, fuel efficient car for every day drivers - civilians - who populated cities throughout the world.The result was the Honda Civic, a small two-door coupe introduced in the summer of 1972. The fun-to-drive Civic offered room for four passengers and fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Honda followed up by introducing the Honda Civic hatchback in the fall.

With leading edge technology and thrifty operation, Civic would become the gold standard for small cars for the next 40 years, and Honda's competitors scrambled to develop models to equal it.

In 2000, Civics featured a new low, flat floor which enabled passengers to easily move from front to rear. In 2003, Honda offered its first Civic Hybrid powered by a 1.3 liter, 85-horse power four cylinder gas engine and a 13-horsepower electric motor. The 2006 Civic featured futuristic styling and a 1.8 liter, 140 horsepower inline four cylinder engine with i-VTEC offered on all trim levels.

Honda has introduced its latest generation of its iconic small car with an all new exterior and exterior design, plus a variety of fuel thirsty powertrains. For the 2012 Civic base sedan and coupe, Honda offers a 140-horsepower, 16-valve single overhead cam 1.8 liter engine. The sedan comes with a choice of a five-speed manual or automatic transmission.

For those looking for more performance, Honda will offer the 2012 Honda Civic Si sedan powered by a 201 horsepower, 2.4 liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC engine and the 2012 Honda Civic Si coupe with its 197 horsepower, 2.0 liter DOHC i-VTEC engine. Standard equipment on the Si series will include anti-lock brakes, McPherson struts and a multi- link rear suspension.

In addition to gas-powered versions, the 2012 Honda Civic lineup also includes a Hybrid model and, eventually, a natural gas-powered version. The 2012 Honda Civic HF - or high efficiency - will be offered with the Honda EcoAssist system, a computer controlled technology designed to change throttle response and shift times to maximize fuel economy.