New Honda Civic Hybrid may come to China

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai May 20) - According to a story in the Beijing Times earlier this week, Honda's new Civic Hybrid appeared on the Ministry of Industry and Information's most recent application list, signifying that it may come to China soon. According to the report, the Civic Hybrid will first be available as an import model, and later be manufactured in the country by Dongfeng Honda. If the application goes through smoothly, the Civic may be available for purchase before long.

The Civic Hybrid (pictured) is based on the ninth generation Civic, and shares its body and suspension. Despite the cosmetic similarities, the hybrid is designed to be slightly more aerodynamic. It is also equipped with lightweight wheels, tires with low rolling resistance and other weight-saving parts.

The new Civic is equipped with a brand new IMA drive system. It is powered by a combination of a 1.5 L 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine, a 17 kW electric motor and lithium ion battery pack mated to a continuously variable transmission. According to official specifications, the Civic consumes only 4.5 L of fuel for ever 100 km driven, making it more efficient than the previous generation Civic hybrid.