All-new natural gas-powered Civic to go on-sale October 18 at qualified Honda dealerships nationwide
09/30/2011 - TORRANCE, Calif.
The all-new 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formally known as the Civic GX), the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger vehicle manufactured and sold in the U.S., will go on sale at qualified Honda dealerships nationwide on October 18 with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price1 (MSRP) starting at $26,155.
To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, American Honda is expanding its network of U.S. dealers which are qualified to sell and service the Civic Natural Gas to retail customers- expanding sales to 200 dealers in 38 states. Previously, retail sales of the natural gas-powered Civic had been limited to four states - California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma.
The Civic Natural Gas offers multiple benefits including significantly reduced operating costs compared to gasoline and lower fuel costs, with natural gas purchased at public fueling stations historically costing about 30-percent less than gasoline on a gasoline-gallon-equivalent basis. As an alternative-fuel vehicle with extremely low smog-forming emissions, the Civic Natural Gas currently qualifies for a state-issued decal allowing single-occupant access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) "carpool" lanes in California and several other states. The Civic Natural Gas engine produces almost zero smog-forming emissions and is the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle certified by the EPA (Tier-II, Bin-2 and ILEV certification as of August 2010).
Featuring new styling, enhanced performance and increased fuel economy, the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas can now be equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System featuring an exclusive database of publically accessible Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refueling stations across the United States.
Standard equipment on the 2012 Civic Natural Gas includes the new "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID) that provides a convenient platform for integration of vehicle information and compatible personal electronics with a driver-oriented 5-inch color LCD display and intuitive steering wheel controls. All models also come equipped with Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® for wirelessly connecting compatible mobile phones and a USB audio interface for compatible music players.
A modified 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine found in the Civic Sedan and Coupe models powers the new Civic Natural Gas. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment. The Civic Natural Gas has an EPA-rated city/highway/combined fuel economy2 of 27/38/31 miles per gallon (gasoline-gallon equivalent). Compared to the previous model, city fuel economy is up by 12.5 percent and highway fuel economy is improved by 5.5 percent. Additionally, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas achieves a 10.7 percent improvement in combined fuel economy and range. The new model also incorporates the Honda ECO Assist™ system, an innovative technology that can enhance efficient vehicle operation at the touch of a button, while also providing visual feedback to the driver to promote and confirm a more efficient driving style.
The Civic Natural Gas engine incorporates unique features to operate exclusively on compressed natural gas. The compression ratio is increased to 12.7:1, compared to 10.6:1 in the Civic Sedan's gasoline-powered engine. Exclusive fuel injectors, intake and exhaust valves, and valve seats are designed to accommodate the unique properties of natural gas. Stronger connecting rods and crankshaft as well as special pistons are used to accommodate both the higher compression ratio of the engine and octane rating of the fuel.
The Civic Natural Gas has its 3600-psi fuel tank located between the rear wheels. The safety-engineered, aluminum-lined composite fuel tank can contain the gasoline-gallon equivalent (GGE) of 7.8 gallons of gasoline when filled with CNG to 3600 psi.
Designed with a sleek windshield rake, a sweeping roofline and a fresh interpretation of the previous model's "one-motion" profile, the lines of the 2012 Civic Natural Gas suggest a sophisticated and athletic appearance. A low and wide stance contributes to its distinctive visual presence, while thinner A-pillars stretch further toward the front of the vehicle than before to improve visibility and the perception of interior space. The C-pillars also stretch further toward the rear of the vehicle compared to the previous generation to better complete the flowing one-motion appearance. Aerodynamic features such as flat under-body construction and aerodynamic strakes in front of the tires help to increase fuel-efficiency.
The redesigned interior offers more style with new functionality and new features. An intuitive "two-tier" layout prioritizes frequently referenced instruments such as the speedometer by placing them high in the driver's line of sight. The i-MID can present audio information including album artwork, custom vehicle settings, and personal wallpaper backgrounds. A four-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system is standard, and it can stream music wirelessly via a Bluetooth connection with a compatible player, or via a wired USB connection. A Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system offers convenient device pairing and lets the driver make calls using pre-assigned voice tags and steering wheel controls.
Building on the successful packaging of the previous generation Civic , the passenger volume of 94.6 cubic feet increases by 3.7 cubic feet, and gains have also been made in front shoulder room (+2.9 inches) and rear legroom (+1.6 inches).
The 2012 Civic embraces Honda's tradition of making its vehicles fun to drive by continuing to use a fully independent suspension design, a premium and exceptional feature in the entry compact segment. The front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspensions are tuned for sporty driving fun, yet provide refined ride comfort.
For safety, a wide variety of standard equipment includes Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure for enhanced frontal collision energy management and vehicle-to-vehicle crash compatibility. ACE enhances frontal collision energy management through a network of load bearing structures in the front of the vehicle. Additional standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) that integrates with the new Motion-Adaptive electric power steering (EPS) system; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; front side airbags with occupant position detection system (OPDS); side curtain airbags; and a 4-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
The Civic Natural Gas is recognized by the state of California as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) by meeting SULEV emissions standards and warranting its emissions durability for at least 150,000 miles or 15 year (in California and those states that have adopted California's ZEV regulations). The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) named the 2011 natural gas-powered Civic "America's Greenest Vehicle" for the eighth time in its Green Book® ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles. Natural Gas as a low carbon fuel emits 25 percent less CO2 emissions than gasoline when used to power an internal combustion engine.
The Honda Civic Natural Gas remains the only OEM-built, CNG-powered passenger car produced3 in America. All Civic Natural Gas models are produced at Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN). The 2012 Honda Civic is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile New Car Limited Warranty; a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.
2012 Civic Natural Gas Pricing
Model Transmission MSRP1 City/Hwy/Combined2
Civic Natural Gas 5-Speed Automatic $26,155 27/38/31
Civic Natural Gas with Navigation 5-Speed Automatic $27,655 27/38/31
1 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $750.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.
2Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
3 Of domestic and globally sourced parts.
