History of Honda Civic (Part 2, 5th - 8th generation)

5th generation (EG,EH,EJ1/EJ2) (1992-1995)
4-doors sedan

3-doors hatchback


Introduced in 1992, the redesigned Civic featured the usual increased dimensions as well as more aerodynamic styling. The wagon variant was now only available in the Japanese market where the previous generation wagon was carried over until 1995. The old HF model was brought back and renamed VX which was Honda's most fuel efficient model sold at the time. In North America the Si featured a SOHC VTEC valve train where as the VX featured VTEC-E and the Japanese Si featured a DOHC non-VTEC valve train D16A9. In New Zealand the powerful Civic GTi was revised, the new model featuring the less sporty but more economical D16A9 engine but still retaining full leather interior trim. In 1994 Honda returned the sporty image of the GTi by going back to the original D16A7 with increased power output that had been so successful with the previous model. Continuing in the sporty tradition of the original Civic SiR, Honda sold several similarly equipped variants of the fifth generation car, still referred to as the Civic SiR, in Japan, Asia and Europe. The range of models encapsulated by the SiR nameplate grew to include the hatchback, sedan and CR-X Del Sol, all of which used a slightly evolved form of the Honda's 1.6 liter B16A DOHC VTEC engine, now yielding 160 horsepower (120 kW).

6th generation (EK9,EK4,EK3,EJ6,EJ8,EJ9,EM1)(1996-2000)

3-doors hatchback

4-doors sedan



The sixth generation featured updated styling although less radical than previous redesigns. Suspension and engine options were similar to the previous generation but several new variants were introduced, including two distinct wagon models: the "Orthia" based on the standard Civic which was sold in the Japanese market and the Domani based wagon which was offered in the European market. It also saw the introduction of the Acura 1.6EL, an upscale version of the Civic introduced in the Canadian market. None of these models were offered in the US. Building on the success of the Japanese market-only Civic SiR a Type-R model was offered for the first time, available in Asia and Europe only. The Honda Civic Type R featured major reductions in weight as well as improved engine output and a number of other changes and additions designed to improve performance. The North American market saw the introduction of an upgraded Civic Si (SiR in Canada) with a more powerful Dual Overhead Cam 1.6L VTEC engine. In 1998, in the United States, Honda introduced their first Natural Gas Powered Civic, the GX. In 1996-2000 they made the EX, DX, LX, HX, CX, Si; all base models were made with 1.6L engines. The EX-CX are all SOHC (D16) and the popular Si is a DOHC (B16A2).....HONDA UK saw the launch of MA MB MC 5 Door Civic / Civic Aerodeck.These featured improved handling with dual wishbone suspension at the front and independent rear suspension, ABS,PAS etc. These instantly became a big hit as a family car with a big boot and spacious interior and also as a motorway cruiser with ultra strong B18C4 engine on its flagship model MB6 and MC2.

7th generation (EM2,ES1,EP3,EU1)(2001-2005)

5-doors hatchback

4-doors sedan


The seventh generation was released in 2001. While the redesign retained the previous generation's exterior dimensions, interior space was improved in part by using a flat rear floor thus bumping up Civic to a compact car size segment. The front suspension was changed from that of a double wishbone to a MacPherson strut, in order to lower costs, as well as allow more engine bay room for the newly introduced Honda K-series engine. Power was also increased on some trim levels.
In North America, coupe and sedan body styles were available, except for the Si (SiR in Canada) which was offered only as a three-door hatchback. The rest of the world received three and five-door hatchbacks. The Type-R was redesigned as well this time using a more powerful i-VTEC motor and using the three-door hatchback body style. This generation saw Honda introduce their first Civic Hybrid, powered by a 1.5 liter engine.

8th generation (FD2,FA1,FG1,FG2,FA5,FK,FN)(2006-now)
european market(3 & 5-doors hatchback)

american market (5-doors sedan)

asian market (5-doors sedan)


For the 2006 generation Honda split the model into two different platforms, one primarily for the home market and North America and the other designed for the European market using a simpler rear suspension from the Honda Fit and more aggressive styling. Although the North American and the home market model differ externally, they are mechanically identical. The European model is available as a three and five-door hatchback while the Japanese/North American model is available as either sedan or coupe. Both Si and Type-R trim levels continue although the Japanese and European Type-R while sharing the same size engine are mechanically different. In the US an improved version of the Si tuned by Honda tuner Mugen is offered featuring cosmetic alterations and changes to the suspension and exhaust system. The Acura version of the Civic not only received the design change, but also saw a new nameplate, changing from the Acura EL to the Acura CSX.
In Europe this Civic has a 3 or 5 door hatch featuring a 1.4 VTEC, 1.8 VTEC (5.5–9 km/litre in city, 11.2–13.7 km/litre on highway), or 2.0l (Type-R) engines (5.5–8.1 km/litre in city, 8–10 km/litre on highway), as well as a powerful and economical 2.2 N22A i-CTDi diesel (140BHP) which does 0–60 mph in 8.6 seconds and fuel economy is 38.3 MPG 10–12 km/litre in city and 11–14 km/litre on the highway. There is also a saloon version for the Hybrid, which has a 1.4 IMA engine giving 61MPG with 0–60 in 12.41 seconds. The Hybrid is the only Civic in the Europe that is a saloon.

2009 Facelift

2009 facelift asian market


For 2009, the Civic received a minor face lift, including a slight redesign to the front and rear. The exterior changes include a new honeycomb-designed grill in the front, as well as revised rims, with many more spokes than the original five-spoke rims, and a bar of chrome trim above the license plate area. The chrome strip where the Honda front logo is was also refined with sharper edges on both ends. The design for the area of the grill where the fog lights are placed was also slightly revised to include differing designs for Civic models with fog lights and those without. The interior changes included bluetooth compatibility and an optional leather wrapped steering wheel in the LX model. A sportier LX model was also added, called LX-S. This trim level adds a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tip, and black sports seats. The car retains many of its design cues and technical specifications from the pre-2009 model, including its 1.8 liter inline-4 engine and two-tier dashboard with a digital speedometer.

------------------------------------------to be continued

credits : wikipedia.org

blog writer additional notes :
- 3rd generation is also called "civic wonder" and funnier nickname "wonder setrikaan" for the hatchback model in Indonesia, because the shape is similar like iron (iron = setrikaan in Indonesian)
- 4th generation is also called "grand civic" for the sedan model, and "civic nouva" for the hatchback model
- 5th generation is also called "civic genio" for the sedan model, and "civic estilo" for the hatchback model
- 6th generation is also called "civic ferio" for the sedan model.
- since the 6th generation, Honda Prospect Motors (main agent of the Honda car brand), didn't sell the hatchback model anymore. but the hatchback model was imported by some local car importeers, and it's still happened until now. the 8th gen hatchback, which only sold in some countries, is also imported.
- the 8th generation has an acura version, named "Acura CSX"
- in some country, the 8th generation has 1.8litre R18A1 SOHC 140bhp version, and the chassis code is "FD1".
- the type-R model started from the 6th generation, and ended in 8th generation. Honda has stopped producing civic typeR again, for both the sedan and hatchback models.
- the type-R model in 6th and 7th generation only sold in hatchback model in some countries. the 8th generation has both sedan and hatchback version.
- in 8th generation type-R sedan, it has a hardcore model named "Mugen RR", it's tuned from the standard type-R model by Honda's inhouse-tuner, Mugen. powered by 2.2Litres K20A DOHC 240bhp @8000RPM, 216Nm @7000RPM. an the Mugen RR model has another hardcore version again, Mugen RR experimental spec.