Ireland will be the first European market to have the new 1.6 i-DTEC on sale, with the first vehicles arriving in Honda dealerships by mid-December, in time for the 2013 registration plate.
The entry level price for the new Civic 1.6 i-DTEC will be €23,695 ex-works for the relatively high-spec SE grade which features class-leading equipment levels including alloy wheels, climate control air conditioning, CD with remote audio controls, six airbags, electric front and rear windows, alarm and idle stop as standard. ES and EX grades equipped with higher levels of specification make up the range.
The 1.6 i-DTEC is the first in Honda’s ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ series which is a next-generation set of technological advancements that greatly enhances both driving performance and class-leading environmental performance in terms of CO2 emissions and fuel efficiency.
The new 1.6 i-DTEC, Tax Band A , diesel engine is the lightest engine of its type in the world and in the Civic produces just 94g of CO2 per km. (well inside the current Band A for VRT and road tax ). And in terms of fuel consumption, it uses just 3.6 litres of fuel for every 100km driven, which equates to over 78 mpg.
The 1.6 i-DTEC produces a class-leading 120 bhp and 300Nm of torque for effortless power, while Idle Stop and Eco Assist technology feature as standard.
Commenting to the Advertiser on the introduction of the new 1.6 i-DTEC, Adrian Cole, managing director of Universal Honda Ltd, said: “The introduction of a new Civic equipped with a 1.6 diesel engine, the first engine in Honda’s new ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ series, is a game changer for Honda and positions Civic in the volume mainstream of the family hatchback segment which accounts for three out of every 10 cars sold in the Irish market. We look forward to locking horns with the market leaders such as the Ford Focus and VW Golf and ultimately winning over new customers to Honda for the first time.”
He added, “We are entering an exciting period of growth for Honda in the Irish market, albeit in a very challenging trading environment. We are confident that through the introduction of the new ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ 1.6 litre diesel engine in the Civic range and its addition to the CR-V range in the autumn of 2013 that Honda is well positioned to achieve significant growth in 2013 and beyond.”
