Daily Archives: October 3, 2016
Six-speed Manual Transmission Joins The 2017 Honda Civic Lineup
Starting October 4, the Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe can compete as America’s best-selling compact car nameplate once more because of the expanded application of manual transmission for the 2017 model year.
Honda is now offering its customers more options with the 6-speed manual transmission as standard equipment on the turbocharged Civic Sedan and Coupe in EX-T trims. The decision was built upon the “fun-to-drive character of the 10th generation Civic lineup,” a Honda press release said.
The 2017 Honda Civic has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $18,740 for the Sedan and $19,150 for the Coupe.
For the 2017 model year, the Civic Sedan and Coupe EX-T will have the following features: the sporty six-speed manual transmission, a 1.5-liter direct-injected and turbocharged DOHC engine, CVT optional on turbocharged EX-T trims and standard on EX-L and Touring, HD Radio and XM Satellite Radio on Civic EX Sedans.
The Sedan and Coupe EX-T can produce 174 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque, 5 lb-ft up from models equipped with the CVT.
For the exterior design, the 2017 Civic will be 2 inches wider and 1 inch lower with a 1.2-inch longer wheelbase. This allows the Civic to feature a more compact and sporty front overhang, a longer and sculpted hood, and a fastback-style tail. Thanks to a new LED exterior lighting, the 10th generation Civic looks considerably more premium than current model.
Inside, the Civic carries through an exciting and more sophisticated look with its premium, soft-touch cab materials that exceeded current class standard. It also packs a dual-zone automatic climate control for the EX-T and above trims while coming standard are the Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
For safety and driver assistance features, the 2017 Civic takes pride in its Honda Sensing technologies, the next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, and its achievement of the highest available NHTSA safety ratings.
BMW i5 Sketches Surface Online
For a long time now, there have been rumors that BMW is working on a new model, which will be called the i5. Now, we might be seeing alleged patent drawings of that said model. These drawings were discovered by Autoguide, and have reportedly been filed by the German automaker with a patent office in Japan in April this year.
Since 2012, many have speculated that the German company would eventually plug the gap between the i3 and the i8 to finally complete its eco-focused i sub-brand. The rumors have covered everything from a supposedly stretched i3 to an SUV to an electronic vehicle that would rival the Tesla Model S luxury sedan.
BMW has remained mum about what it plans for the i5, only telling that its main focus is to make the new model as family-oriented as possible, further fueling rumors that it wasn’t going to be a luxury sedan, but an SUV or station wagon-type of vehicle.
If these patent drawings are accurate, it must mean that BMW’s design team has been taking cues from the Prius. The patent drawings showed what was originally a questionable looks of the i sub-brand coupled with the form factor of an elongated hatch. Experts are so-so on the looks, with some verging on judging the “i5” as not pretty. In terms of space, the i5 doesn’t look practical at all, no thanks to the sloping roof at the rear of the car.
Expectations that the next i car would be an electric vehicle are going down the drain. It’s not going to be full-electric, and there’s no reason to believe there is going to be an extended-range electric model. It will, however, likely be a plug-in hybrid like the i8.
BMW has earlier said its next standalone electric car won’t be arriving until 2021. But before that, the German automaker is set to launch electric versions of regular models such as the X3 and some Minis.
