New Civic Leads Quartet of Honda Models Debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Tokyo, Japan, Sept 1, 2005 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Europe Ltd. announced today that Honda will display an exciting quartet of new and reinvigorated models at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show (September 17th - 25th; Press days September 13th & 14th).

The highlight of Honda's show will be the public debut of the new Civic, just six months after the concept version appeared at the Geneva Motor Show. Honda will also be giving a world debut to the all-new Civic Hybrid, which is expected to deliver a world leading level of emissions performance with the improved Honda hybrid system. With an enhanced Accord range and reinvigorated Honda S2000 also due to be unveiled at the show, Honda is expected to deliver a stunning display.

In addition to the quartet of new and revised models, Honda will also be exhibiting the European Legend Prototype, and a Technical Display showing Legend's advanced safety systems such as the Pop-up Hood designed to reduce pedestrian head injury, Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS), and Intelligent Night Vision System.

A press conference is scheduled for September 13th from 11:15 (CEST), at the Honda booth.

The New Civic for Europe

This eighth generation of the vehicle promises to set new standards in the highly competitive European C-segment and particularly in its premium sector. The new Civic is remarkable in that the transformation from concept to production has seen little change to the exterior design.

The new Civic combines striking styling with clever packaging. A dynamic wedge-shaped cab-forward design is key to the new model; however, flexibility and packaging have not been compromised. The tandem distance*, which is a key indicator of in-car roominess, is on a par with some larger D-segment contenders. Utility is provided by rear seats that have a one-motion, dive down feature instantaneously creating a flat loading space, as well as a unique cargo floor that can either conceal items stored beneath it or be dropped down to reveal the under-floor compartment.

The new range is available with a choice of three engines, all making their debut in the Civic. The 1.8-liter is a completely new unit and benefits from innovation in the i-VTEC system and promises fuel economy on a par with that of a 1.5-liter engine but the off-the-line acceleration equivalent to that of a 2.0-liter. The range will also feature Honda's acclaimed 2.2 i-CTDi diesel engine, which will establish a new benchmark in the segment, and a 1.4 i-DSI (intelligent-Dual and Sequential Ignition) unit producing no more than 143 g/km of CO2.

Honda has ensured that the new car will be one of the safest in its class and the model benefits from standard features such as ABS with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and an innovative seat belt reminder system for the rear passengers. The company expects that the new Civic will achieve Euro NCAP ratings of 5 stars for front and side impact safety, 3 stars for pedestrian safety and 4 stars for child protection safety.

New Civic Hybrid

The all-new 4-door Civic Hybrid, which will make its world debut at Frankfurt, promising world-leading emissions performance and even more economical motoring than its predecessor, in addition to its modern and distinctive styling.

A new 1.3-liter 3-stage i-VTEC engine is employed with a more efficient Integrated Motor Assist system (IMA), which can improve the recovery of braking energy by 10% compared to the current Civic IMA. In addition, the new Honda Hybrid System achieves an approximately 20% greater output over the current system - and its performance is equal to that of a 1.8-liter engine - while improving fuel economy by 5%.

New Accord for 2006

An enhanced version of Honda's award-winning D-segment contender will also have its first public outing at the show. As well as receiving an interior and exterior facelift, the Accord range will also benefit from the first application in Europe of Honda's ADAS (Advanced Driving Assist Systems) technologies.

The innovative suite of systems is aimed at making the driving experience relaxing and, above all, safer. Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which regulates the speed of the car and its distance to the vehicle in front, will be equipped. In addition, the European first Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), which detect lane markings on motorways and applies the appropriate amount of torque to the steering, will also be available (as a factory-equipped option on right-hand drive models only).

The Honda S2000

Frankfurt will also provide the first opportunity to see the revitalized Honda S2000, Honda's iconic two-seater roadster. The driveability of the Honda S2000 has been enhanced by fitting a DBW (drive-by-wire) system for better throttle control and engine management. The addition of VSA and an improved gear shift complete the changes to the mechanical specification.

In addition to the new factory option hard top, a new three-part speedster cover is available. The cover fits over the folded hood and features a pair of raised domes that sweep back from the two headrests/rollover bars to provide a distinctive look reminiscent of many classic sports cars.

The fresh look and feel is completed by the addition of two new exterior colours; Deep Burgundy metallic and Bermuda Blue pearlescent; a new interior combination; brown (birch) and black; and a new audio system featuring 60W speakers located within the two roll-over hoops behind the head rests.

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