The Civic team led by Mitsuru Kariya, the 'Large Project Leader', were given the task to create and develop the new Honda Civic. The current Civic became the benchmark focus for their research to create a car that was even better.
The development period for the new Honda Civic spanned over four years. As research commenced, the development team for the new Civic team considered these key milestones achieved with the current Honda Civic and opted to maintain and even look to enhance the current Civic model qualities. The current Honda Civic had already achieved superior interior space with matching trunk capacity among its competitors.
The Civic development team turned to drivers, dealers and the media to evaluate the existing Honda Civic and define the essential 'must keep' features and qualities, as well as the priorities for the new model. Drivers were impressed with the driving experience, but noted that suspension noise could be reduced and ride comfort increased.
Research revealed that the typical Honda Civic driver is attracted to unique, fresh design with sporty performance and advanced technologies. The environment was defined as a high priority, with customers demanding high fuel economy and low emissions.
Initial ideas for the new Civic explored the realm of the car having a 'Lean Energetic' design. This design direction translated into a 'Clean-Dynamic' design concept.
The new Civic's cab forward design is highlighted by a reduced amount of side glass relative to the surface of the side body in particular reducing the rear window glass area. Contributing to the low and planted look is the way in which the body lines have been designed for the new Honda Civic.
(Noriyuki Ishii, Exterior Design Project Leader) The face resembles the Honda 'DNA' and features new high and low beam HID projector-type lights. As in the current Civic, the rear design identity features strong horizontal elements which enhance the car's wide stance and strong road presence. On the new car the rear lights are placed on a higher level to ensure good visibility from following cars.
The current Honda Civic is known for its unique futuristic interior design and sporty exterior styling yet also with spacious and versatile interior. The feeling is of a car designed around the driver - the ultimate expression of Honda's 'man maximum, machine minimum' principle.
The Civic's wider and lower exterior form contains the roomiest interior of any C-segment car. It has 1431mm of shoulder room between driver and front seat passenger and 795mm of tandem distance (between driver and rear seat passenger).
A quiet car also helps make the occupants feel safer at high speeds, as well as reducing fatigue.
A new testing program was developed whilst evaluating the overall quietness of the new Honda Civic. The new Honda Civic also features a completely smooth leather steering wheel. A major challenge for the Honda Civic engineers was to improve the handling of the car.
Customer feedback suggested that the car's rear design could be more sophisticated and that rear visibility could be improved. With the new Honda Civic the designers managed to integrate the tail light clusters in to the rear spoiler making it a dominant feature of the car and at the same time providing improved rear visibility.
The chief goal in the engine and transmission development was to maintain the high performance driving experience whilst improving the overall efficiency of the engine resulting in lower running costs.
Featured on the Civic for the first time, ECO Assist optimises fuel efficiency by minimising the differences in fuel consumption caused by varying driving styles. ECO Assist also improves the efficiency of the air conditioning system. The Honda Civic's ECO Assist system has been extensively tested on city, extra-urban and motorway test routes to optimise its performance for European driving conditions.
The new 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine created for the Honda Civic tops the C-segment in its balance of performance and emissions management. Most importantly, the engine has been refined to reduce engine friction as much as possible. Reduced balancer bearing clearance
Reduced friction: Piston ring tension has been reduced The high pressure fuel pump flow rate has been reduced A new diesel engine oil has been introduced for improved fuel saving performance.
Fuel economy was further improved by implementing a low pressure fuel pump system to reduce power consumption and the ACG multi-stage control system using a battery monitor. The Honda Civic's 1.4 litre SOHC engine also benefits from Honda's advanced VTEC technology for efficient fuel management. The engine also has the new Idle Stop system and receives the same upgrades as the 1.8 litre engine, including new, low-viscosity engine oil, improved catalyser material, ACG multi-stage control and an improved knock control system. A new piston coating has been applied to reduce friction, boosting performance and reducing fuel consumption.
The system has been specifically set and fine-tuned to contribute to the smooth, comfortable driving experience offered by the new Honda Civic.
In line with improvements throughout the powertrain, the Civic's compact and lightweight 6-speed manual transmission has been updated contributing to increased performance and fuel efficiency. Manual transmission models feature a Shift Indicator Light (SIL) function in the driver display area.
This system was developed exclusively for Civic 5-door customers and offers smooth, easy operation in line with the vehicle's overall development principles. The Honda Civic's front suspension and steering system have been completely revised to improve handling and stability.
Following Honda's launch of the exciting and dynamic new Honda Civic, Honda Access Europe announces a comprehensive range of Genuine Accessories to personalize and enhance the car. Perfect for the customer who wants to enhance Honda Civic's sporty looks! Next to the existing Civic alloy wheels, four new designs have been created to give the Civic that superior look.
Designed and tested to match the Honda Civic's bodywork, performance and towing capacity, a full-automatic detachable trailer hitch is available.
These are the pictures of elegant car, 2011 Ford Mondeo Wagon. These are the pictures of 2011 Ford Mondeo wagen seen from various angle views.
Ford of Europe is launching the most stylish and technologically advanced Ford Mondeo model ever. Following significant updates to the Ford S-MAX and Galaxy, the new Ford Mondeo is the latest Ford car to benefit from the continuing evolution of Ford kinetic design, with subtle visual differences incorporated into key areas such as the front and rear end.
The Ford Mondeo interior has also benefitted from a comprehensive rework with changes to the centre console and door panels, plus a range of new, high quality materials. New Mondeo will see the first application of a higher performance 240 PS derivative of the efficient new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine, joining the existing 203 PS version of this engine, introduced in Ford Mondeo, new S-MAX and new Galaxy early in 2010.
The latest Ford Mondeo also introduces a comprehensively revised version of the 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, which boasts a 12 per cent power increase to 200 PS, making it the most powerful Ford Duratorq diesel engine so far.
Ford ECOnetic Technologies are also applied to the new Mondeo range to enhance efficiency and economy, and include new features like Smart Regenerative Charging, the Ford Eco Mode driver information system and - a Ford first - an Active Grille Shutter system.
Driver assistance, comfort and convenience features abound in the new Ford Mondeo and many of these are appearing for the first time in a Ford model, including systems for Lane Departure Warning, Driver Alert and Auto High Beam.
The new Ford Mondeo offers a wide range of Ford's latest high-efficiency powertrain technologies, delivering a key combination of fuel efficiency and low emissions, yet still maintaining Ford's renowned driving enjoyment. The range includes Ford EcoBoost petrol, Duratorq diesel and E85 Bio ethanol Flexifuel options.
New Mondeo is the first Ford of Europe model to feature a more powerful 240 PS version of the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost power unit. This joins the existing 203 PS engine already available in Ford Mondeo and the new S-MAX and Galaxy, Lightweight all-aluminum construction is the key to the new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine, which features latest-generation high-pressure direct injection, low-inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing.
It has an advanced combustion system which contributes significantly to achieving new levels of performance and fuel efficiency for petrol engines in this power range.
Average CO2 emissions of just 179 g/km are achieved for the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine, regardless of the power rating or body style. Ford EcoBoost technology offers fuel consumption and emission reductions of up to 20 per cent compared with conventional petrol engines of a similar performance.
New Ford Mondeo also introduces a significantly re-engineered version of the 2.2-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, which now boasts a 12 per cent peak power increase to 200 PS, making it the most powerful Ford Duratorq diesel to date.
New Ford ECOnetic Technologies are also available on new Ford Mondeo to help ensure efficient and economical motoring. Innovations include Smart Regenerative Charging, the Ford Eco Mode driver information system and, for the first time in a Ford model, an Active Grille Shutter system.
Powertrain advances seen in the new Ford Mondeo also extend to the transmission, with the latest Ford PowerShift double wet-clutch transmission system fitted as standard equipment with Ford EcoBoost petrol engines and available as an option with 140 PS and 163 PS versions of the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi.
The new Mondeo range is packed with available technologies to provide customers with even higher levels of comfort and confidence.
Also extending to Ford Mondeo are many features already introduced on the latest S-MAX and Galaxy models, including Ford's Blind Spot Information System, Speed Limiter, Rear Door Power Child Locks and Rear View Camera. "Like all driver assistance technologies offered by Ford, these have not been developed to take away overall responsibility from the driver.
The new Ford Mondeo Titanium and Titanium S models are fitted with distinctive LED daytime running lights as standard. A total of 10 high performance speakers are integrated into the Ford Mondeo interior and, as a result of careful component matching and basic setup, the performance of the Ford Premium Sound System is ideal for the discerning audiophile - even at low volumes.
Rear seat passengers of the new Ford Mondeo are not forgotten either, with an optional Multi-media DVD system available for them.
Mondeo's new 240 PS version of the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine shares the same basic technologies and design of the popular 203 PS version, which was launched in the S-MAX, Galaxy and Mondeo earlier in 2010 and which will continue to be available in the new Ford Mondeo range. Both of the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engines are available exclusively with the smooth and effortless six-speed Ford PowerShift double wet-clutch automatic transmission, providing drivers with a powertrain which combines outstanding performance and efficiency with supreme refinement.
Despite the responsive performance figures, both versions of the new 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine allow the new Mondeo to deliver impressive fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. Ford engineers have engineered the new Mondeo's 240 PS Ford EcoBoost engine to ensure its extra performance is heard as well as experienced.
Lightweight all-aluminium construction, the latest generation high-pressure direct-injection system, low-inertia turbocharging and twin independent variable cam timing, all contribute to the 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost achieving new levels of performance and fuel efficiency for petrol engines in this power range.
To maximise driver enjoyment, Ford EcoBoost engines deliver the same strong low-end torque which has made the latest diesel engines so popular, combined with refined and responsive performance across the full engine speed range. The 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engine features independently variable timing on both intake and exhaust camshafts, optimising gas flow through the combustion chamber at all engine speeds.
In addition to the new 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol and 2.0- and 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, the new Ford Mondeo range offers other petrol options for value-seeking customers in the large car market.
More exciting powertrains - including additional 1.6-litre displacement engines from the Ford EcoBoost and Duratorq TDCi families - will also be made available for the new Ford Mondeo shortly.
The new Ford Mondeo range includes two innovative Ford ECOnetic Technologies that have already been launched in the latest Focus ECOnetic. Smart Regenerative Charging and Ford Eco Mode will be included as standard equipment across the new Ford Mondeo range.
Ford's extensive experience with aerodynamic details has also resulted in another Ford ECOnetic Technologies feature making its debut in the European Ford range on the new Mondeo - Active Grille Shutter technology.
Drivers of the new Ford Mondeo will not only be able to benefit from new technology hardware in achieving lower fuel consumption, but also from the introduction of the Ford Eco Mode smart, driver-focused software, which is standard equipment on all models.
Ford PowerShift is standard equipment on new Ford Mondeo with either the 203 or 240 PS 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine - creating an advanced combination that delivers new levels of fuel efficiency and low CO2, yet still demonstrates that driving pleasure does not need to result in high CO2 emission levels.
Ford PowerShift is also optional with 140 and 163 PS versions of the 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi common rail turbo-diesel engine.
Homologated fuel economy data for the 203 and 240 PS 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost engines paired with Ford PowerShift, clearly demonstrates how efficient a modern powertrain combination with automatic transmission can be.
In line with Ford's strong emphasis on safety, every Ford Mondeo features seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, plus Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
The Toyota Verso-S offers front seat headroom, rear seat roominess and luggage capacity to rival that of C-segment cars. Also unique to the B-MPV segment and a Toyota first, a new, 6.1 inch, full colour, touch screen system, Toyota Touch, provides customers with a comprehensive multimedia interface.
As from May 2011, Toyota Touch & Go, a navigation system representing the best value for money on the market, will equip the Toyota Verso-S. Using a compatible mobile phone, via Bluetooth, the system offers on-board connectivity to Google Local Search. Designed by Toyota, Touch & Go is flexible and affordable.
The lightest and most fuel-efficient vehicle in the B-MPV segment, the new Toyota Verso-S offers customers a choice of a 1.33 litre dual VVT-i petrol engine or a 1.4 litre D-4D turbodiesel. Both engines offer class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions.
The aerodynamic efficiency inherent in the Toyota Verso-S's streamlined, monoform styling has been further improved through careful airflow management to reduce cabin noise, enhance fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
The Toyota Verso-S has a long, 2,550mm wheelbase. Its wide opening front and rear doors give access to a spacious, practical and flexible interior.
Slim, WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) equipped front seats with a newly designed inner frame provide top-class knee room for rear seat passengers. The 60:40 split rear seats feature a centre armrest and a one-touch, fold-flat mechanism. The 760mm long loadspace floor incorporates a flexible, lightweight, dual-level deck board.
Unique to the B-MPV segment and a Toyota first, a new, 6.1 inch, full colour, touch screen multimedia system, Toyota Touch, provides customers with a comprehensive multimedia interface.
Toyota Touch also features a trip information screen incorporating comprehensive time, distance and fuel economy information, including instantaneous consumption, a fuel efficiency display and journey-by-journey fuel consumption comparison records.
A choice of manual or fully automatic air-conditioning systems is available. A fuel burning auxiliary heater is available for diesel engine models, once again boosting cabin warming performance when the engine is cold.2
Even entry grade models feature seven airbags, electric front windows, power steering, a 4 speaker radio/CD/MP3 player with USB port, VSC, ABS, EBD and BA active safety systems and the remote rear seat fold flat system, fitted as standard.
Mid grade models add the flexible loadspace floor, air-conditioning, a leather steering wheel and gear knob, and the new Toyota Touch multimedia interface. High Grade models further add automatic air-conditioning, the Smart Entry & Start System, an EC mirror, dusk & rain sensors, alloy wheels and electric rear windows.
Both engines are mated, as standard, to 6-speed manual transmissions. The 1.33 litre petrol engine may be equipped with an optional Multidrive, continuously variable transmission which features a 7-step, sequential paddle shift mode. Comprehensive weight saving measures make the Toyota Verso-S the lightest car in its class.
In addition to improving torque at low and medium engine speeds, the system also reduces emissions, and improves fuel efficiency by 2.7% in comparison to VVT-i.
The 1.33 litre petrol engine's optional Multidrive S transmission showcases Toyota's latest Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) technology. This compact, lightweight CVT system is one of the most fuel efficient automatic transmissions on the market. Multidrive S addresses this issue by incorporating Toyota's first CVT Flex Lock-up Control. It allows the engine to maximise fuel efficiency, whilst minimising vibration at even low vehicle speeds.
Multidrive S' advanced control systems incorporate several other new features to improve fuel efficiency and enhance the driving experience: This minimizes torque waste, producing optimum acceleration from lower engine revs for improved fuel economy. The CVT's Speed Ratio Control incorporates a number of systems to not only improve fuel efficiency but also enhance the driving experience.
Verso-S models fitted with the 1.33 litre Dual VVT-i petrol engine may be equipped with a Stop & Start system. This high power, maintenance-free system reduces engine start noise levels within the cabin, and seat vibration levels.
In E mode, the car makes automatic gear shifts that will maximise fuel economy. An Eco Driving Indicator is included in the instrument binnacle of Toyota Verso-S models equipped with Multidrive S transmission, helping drivers to realise an eco-friendly, low emission-style of motoring. Monitoring driving conditions, vehicle speed and throttle inputs, the system can help reduce fuel consumption by 0.5-3.0%, depending on driving styles.
The Toyota Verso-S benefits from a highly effective and super-compact torsion beam rear suspension.
The Verso-S's Electric Power Steering (EPS) offers variable assistance for maximum urban manoeuvrability combined with optimum weight and feel during high speed driving.
As a result it is quieter and achieves higher fuel efficiency than conventional hydraulic power steering systems.
Incorporating Electronic Brakeforce distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), the Verso-S is equipped with the latest ADVICS ADS-A2 and ADS-VP2 braking and stability systems. Offering shorter stopping distances and reduced rolling resistance, the tyres also contribute to lower fuel consumption, whilst their reduced vertical stiffness further improves ride comfort.
A front wing protector has been fitted between the wing and the front pillar to further reduce noise transmission to the cabin. Sound dampening and sound insulating materials have been extensively used throughout the cabin to lower noise and vibration, including within the front door pillar, front, rear and back door trim, deck side trim, headliner, roof side inner trim and floor carpet.
The body has been designed to efficiently disperse front, side and rear collision energy, helping to reduce cabin deformation. To the rear, a bumper reinforcement and crash box absorb the collision energy of a rear impact.
The Verso-S incorporates numerous features to maximise its pedestrian protection performance. All Toyota Verso-S versions are equipped, as standard, with seven SRS airbags; driver and front passenger airbags, a driver's knee airbag, front side airbags and full-length side curtain shield airbags. All front and rear seats feature three-point, ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts.
The Verso-S is fitted with Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) front seats to reduce whiplash injuries during rear end collisions.
The Toyota Verso-S is fitted, as standard, with an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC+).
