Honda Civic GX Provides Gasoline Alternative with Natural Gas
Based on the Honda Civic LX Sedan, the Civic GX runs on inherently-clean natural gas and produces near zero emissions, earning it the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) "greenest vehicle" title for five consecutive years.
For 2009, the Civic GX has a new look with exterior styling that includes a new front bumper cover, grille design, rear chrome garnish and a new "Natural Gas Vehicle" decal on each rear door. Interior updates include new cloth materials and seat patterns, door linings and armrests, and a sporty 3-spoke steering wheel that replaces the 2-spoke design.
The Civic GX is the only vehicle certified by the EPA to meet both Federal Tier 2 Bin 2 and Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) zero evaporative emission certification standards. Consumers in California and New York, and fleet customers nationwide, can purchase the Civic GX through qualified Honda dealers. "The Civic GX sets a high standard for low emissions," said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Of additional importance, natural gas vehicles help diversify the country's transportation energy resources."
Natural gas-powered vehicles are part of Honda's energy strategy to offer the best available technology for the reduction of air pollution and petroleum dependence and serve as an enabling technology for hydrogen fuel cell cars in the future.
The Civic GX 1.8-liter, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine produces 113 horsepower @ 6300 rpm and 109 ft-lbs of torque @ 4300 rpm, and achieves an EPA-estimatedi city/highway fuel economy of 24/36 miles per Gasoline-Gallon Equivalent (GGE). Maximum fuel tank capacity is 8.0 GGE at 3600 pounds per square inch. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard.
Built on a high-rigidity unit-body platform, the Civic is designed to deliver precise, sharp and refined handling performance with its MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. A sweeping roofline and a sleek windshield angle convey an advanced, one-motion profile with a low and wide stance. The interior focuses on sophisticated styling with a two-tier instrument panel, comfortable seating and accommodating storage areas with room for mobile phones, MP3 players, compact discs and more. A wide array of standard safety technologies includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure; side curtain airbags; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and dual-stage, dual-threshold driver's and front passenger's front airbags (SRS). Active front seat head restraints are designed to help reduce the likelihood of neck injury in the event of a rear collision.
Standard safety features include an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with electronic brake distribution, front seatbelts with automatic-tensioners and load limiters, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design incorporated into the front exterior of the vehicle. Driver and front passenger seatbelt reminders and daytime running lights are also standard equipment.
Standard features include 15-inch steel wheels with covers, P195/65R15 tires, air conditioning, cruise control, power windows with auto up/down driver's window, power door locks, keyless entry, a 160-watt AM/FM Audio System with CD Player (MP3/ Windows® Media Audio (WMA) enabled), auxiliary audio input jack, multi-function center console with sliding armrest and progressive blue illumination instrument panel meters.
The Civic GX is the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger car available to retail customers in the United States and is assembledii in East Liberty, Ohio.
As an inherently clean-burning fuel, natural gas produces 75 percent fewer smog forming pollutants (oxides of nitrogen) compared to the output of a conventional gasoline engine. Natural gas is approximately 30 percent less expensive than gasoline when purchased at a refueling station, and can be more than 50 percent less expensive than gasoline when supplied by the home refueling appliance, "Phil," developed by FuelMaker Corporationiii.
"Phil" is a home-based refueling appliance that can be mounted to a garage wall either indoors or outdoors to allow natural gas powered vehicles to be refueled overnight directly from a homeowner's existing natural gas supply line. The purchase and installation of Phill may qualify customers for a federal tax credit of up to $1,000.
As in previous years, 2009 Civic GX owners may be eligible for a $4,000 federal tax creditiv designed to promote clean, alternative fuel vehicles and fueling infrastructure.
As a "clean air vehicle," the Civic GX qualifies for single occupant HOV lane access in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Utah and Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. The Civic GX qualifies for free metered parkingv in the following California cities: Los Angeles, San Jose and Santa Monica.
As of August 2008, available California statewide incentive programsvi for consumers and fleet operators, available on a first-come, first-served basis, include a $3,000 rebate available through the California Air Resource Board (CARB).
A wide range of incentive programs5 for consumers and fleet operators are available in California, all on a first-come, first-served basis. These include: San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) $2,000 rebate for Civic GX; South Coast Area Air Quality Management District (AQMD) $2,000 discount for Phill; cities of Vacaville, Dixon and Rio Vista $6,800 rebate for Civic GX and $2,000 rebate for Phill. Additionally, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (AQMD) provides a grant of $4,500 to Civic GX fleet operators.
About ACEEE The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ACEEE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
