IMPORT SPECIALISTS: HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK
The Honda Civic is arguably the definitive car to modify among the Japanese tuner community. The car is iconic, synonymous with the tuner sub-culture and the most common car among want-to-be car enthusiasts looking to get their feet wet. Reliable, light, easily to modify and practically indestructible, the Honda Civics have defined the industry and set the bar for most other manufacturers.
The forth generation Civic hatchback really made the Civic what it is today: North America's best selling vehicle, finally beating out Ford's F150. The '88 Civic was the most popular economy car of its time, touted as being roomier, more aerodynamic and more powerful than its predecessor. Despite being an economy car, Honda equipped the Civics with a double wishbone suspension and a fuel injected, four valve all aluminum engine (at the time, usually reserved for higher end, performance vehicles). The car appealed to a wide variety of consumers offering both fuel economy and relatively sporty performance.
Ultimately, the reason for the Civic's staying power is due in large part to how easy they are to modify. The North American models came with a 1.4 litre to 1.6 litre engine depending on the model and year. With minor modification to the engine bay, the cars could easily accommodate much larger engines including the H22A: a 2.2 litre high performance engine found in the Honda Prelude. The Civics are also extremely common cars and both aftermarket and OEM parts are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. The car is also popular for many first-time drivers because it is cheap yet dependable and easy to maintain.
Whether stock or modified, the Honda Civic remains a staple for car enthusiasts and helped pave the way for many modern day developments in compact sport cars. With the continuing success of Honda's latest Civic models, the mark is sure to live a long a prosperous life.
|
| Car Specifications |
| Make: |
Honda |
| Model: |
Civic Hatchback |
| Production: |
88 - 91 |
| Generation: |
Fourth |
| Stock Engine: |
B16A (SiR) |
| Stock Horse Power: |
158 hp @ 7600 rpm |
| Wheel Base: |
2500 mm (98 in) |
| Length: |
3960 mm (156 in) |
| Width: |
1670 mm (65 in) |
| Height: |
1330 mm (52 in) |
| Curb Weight: |
0 kg (0 lb) |
|
|
|
RELATED: KNOWLEDGE BASE / ARTICLES
|
|
Copyright Import Specialists 2008
|
|
