August 2017
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CIVIC TYPE R A statement of intent
The 10th Generation Civic A game changer for Honda
Civic Hatch is back
New CR-V has landed
It’s sportier, sleeker and turbo charged
More CR-V‌ 7 seats or 5?
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WORD FROM THE TOP These are exciting times for Honda with 2017 set to be a big year in New Zealand with key releases of the new 10th Generation Honda Civic and the all new CR-V. Last year we launched the Civic Sedan, a car that has won a host of prestigious international and local awards. This year we've added even more choice with the Civic 5 door Hatch and Type R being added to the Civic line up, offering a car to suit every taste and driving style.
The new Civic 5 door Hatch offers distinctive sportier styling, dynamic performance and increased versatility suited to our modern NZ lifestyle. The 2017 Civic Type R will deliver 228Kw of power with 400Nm of Torque and is track-tuned to be our quickest and most agile Civic ever. In April, a new FWD record was set around the famous Nurburgring track by the new Type R, beating the old record by more than 3 seconds (a lifetime in racing terms). Honda made waves when we first introduced the CR-V in 1995. This helped to create the enormously popular SUV market in New Zealand. Sold in over 130 countries, the CR-V is one of the world’s top-selling passenger vehicles, with over 8.75 million sold globally since first launched. The new Honda CR-V raises the bar in every way, delivering more style, performance, economy, space, safety, connectivity and premium luxury interior than ever before, and for the first time the CR-V will be available in a 7 seater. We look forward to introducing our great new model line up to New Zealand. We are very proud of these exciting and innovative cars and know they will create a whole new generation of loyal Honda customers. Nobuya Sonoda Managing Director Honda New Zealand
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Honda is a major sponsor of the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation – a foundation which runs four major programmes to foster sporting talent throughout the country. We are proud to be part of this initiative started by one of New Zealand’s greatest sporting sons and think it’s only fitting that a life-size statue of Sir John Walker will soon be unveiled in his home town of Manurewa, South Auckland.
Honda is the largest manufacturer of engines in the world – that’s over 20 million internal combustion engines a year.
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The statue, designed by Joanne Sullivan (sculptor of the famous Phar Lap sculpture in Timaru), will depict Walker crossing the finish line at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where he won gold in the 1500 metres. We all know the famous picture, arms outstretched, off which the statue is modelled – and it is hoped that the statue will inspire sportsmen and women to go for gold. Walker said Sullivan’s work was “magnificent” and the statue would be “fabulous”. “This is a legacy for others. When they look at the statue kids can say to each other ‘if he can do it, so can I’.”
Honda vehicles are among the most durable and long lasting, with 75% of those sold in the last 25 years, still on the road.
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The company was started just after the second world war by Soichiro Honda and now employs more than 140 000 people around the world.
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Soichiro Honda reinvented the wheel. Designing a cast iron spoke wheel when most others used wood. A significant breakthrough which was shared with other automakers around the world.
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Honda invests more than $7 billion of its revenue in research and development annually (much higher than any other automotive company) and is at the cutting edge of robot technology and space flight systems.
He’s proud the statue will stand in the community in which he was raised.
Give a hoot for a great cause Honda is a big believer in giving back to the community that supports us and so one of the events we have become involved with is the Big Hoot 2018 – an innovative and community-based initiative to raise funds for the Child Cancer Foundation.
“I went to Manurewa High School and ran for the Manurewa Athletics Club, people I grew up with are still here.” The final bronze statue of the athletics legend should be finished by April 2018.
For ten weeks, from March to May 2018, Auckland’s streets, parks and open spaces will play host to over 40 individually designed and beautifully created 1.6m fibreglass owls – showcasing the wealth of artistic talent in Aotearoa and positively contributing to the economic, cultural and social life of the city. This project is presented by Child Cancer Foundation in partnership with the International creator of the event, Wild in Art, and will ultimately raise significant funds for the vital work Child Cancer Foundation does to support children with cancer and their families when they need it most. After the owls have adorned Auckland, they will be sold at a charity auction. With the help of the sponsors and the community, the foundation hopes to raise $300,000. So watch the press for details and join us in this very special initiative.
100 million cars built in 53 years Just before Christmas last year Honda proudly announced that the company had just built its 100 millionth car. Details of which car was the actual 100 millionth to come off which assembly line have not been announced yet. Finding this out is no easy task as there are 34 factories across five continents building about 18,000 cars a day. The Honda Motor Company started life electrifying bicycles. It then evolved into a motorcycle manufacturer, and branched out into four-wheeled production in 1963
with the T360 mini-truck and S500 sports car. A year later, it created its first car plant in Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, which manufactured the S600 roadster. Since that time, Honda has increased its annual production volume, enhancing its line up and exporting the brand to an ever wider range of countries. Takahiro Hachigo, President and CEO of Honda Motor, commented, “Thanks to the support from our customers around the world, Honda was able to deliver 100 million automobiles.”
SHORT STORIES
EDITORIAL
This 10th generation Civic has been redesigned and redeveloped from the ground up to create new benchmarks. We created a new global platform with a responsive turbocharged powertrain whilst building on Honda’s fundamental values of vehicle reliability, safety, fuel efficiency, and environmental performance.
Inspiration immortalised
5 FACTS ABOUT HONDA
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THE 10 GENERATION CIVIC th
n the late 1960s, Honda considered pulling out of automobile manufacturing altogether. However, the Civic’s release in 1972 changed everything, and created a new standard worldwide for compact cars. The first Civic was a 2 door model, followed two months later by a 3 door hatchback. People loved this car which not only delivered on its promises of fuel efficiency and reliability, but also provided good interior space despite overall small dimensions. Over the years Honda redefined and adapted the Honda Civic to become sportier and more performance oriented. And now, ten generations later we have a platform which has been called ‘the best Civic ever’ and ‘game-changing’ by some of the most influential motoring journalists in the world. This 10th generation Civic has been subject to the largest single model development programme in Honda’s history – it’s a completely new car from the ground up. In 2016 we launched the Civic Sedan in New Zealand – the first of the 10th generation Civics. It arrived with much international acclaim and won a number of prestigious awards, including: – North American Car of the Year 2016 – Car of the Year 2016, autoguide.com – 2016 Canadian Car of the Year, Auto Journalist Assoc. of Canada
“The 10th generation Civic… is now a formidable competitor to other cars in its class.” New York Times
“The Honda Civic is one of the best known nameplates on the planet, and this new one might just be one of the best small cars on the planet.” Practical Motoring, Australia
– 2016 Editor’s Choice Compact, caranddriver.com
A game changer for Honda
– 2016 Best of the Best, Canadian Automotive Jury – 2016 Most Popular Compact Car, edmunds.com – 2016 Best Overall Buy, Kelley Blue Book In New Zealand the Civic Sedan was also highly awarded and post launch sales continue to surpass all expectations. This first Civic off the block announced that the Civic was back and created a real sense of anticipation for the Civics still to come – the Hatch and Type R. CIVIC
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So what is different about this Hatch? What are the things which make it stand out? Well for starters, how it looks. The design is expressive and angular, and the car’s streamlined shape is particularly appealing with an overtly sporty design featuring gaping faux intakes and vents in both bumpers, a tight and fast roofline, and a neat spoiler integrated between the C-shaped tailights. It’s also quite a bit bigger than the previous iteration; 148mm longer, and 29mm wider, and 20mm lower, making it look long and lithe. But while this car has been redesigned from the ground up and shares as much with its predecessor as a beagle does with a greyhound, it’s not just about the looks. Or is it? This car’s sporty exterior promises much, so does it deliver? Well, as with the Civic Sedan, the Hatch offers a choice of two engines. Either the all new responsive 1.5L VTEC Turbo Engine that delivers the fuel efficiency of a Honda Jazz but with the performance of a Honda Accord, or the proven 1.8L i-VTEC Engine. With the Civic Hatch, Honda has achieved a blend of efficiency and sportiness that’s hard to match – and if you were wanting the best driving five-door hatch you could can buy, you would look here. The Honda Civic Hatch will boast both normally aspirated and turbocharged powertrains, wrapped in a more rigid and lightweight body and sophisticated chassis design, featuring a fully independent suspension system front and rear; sport tuned electronic power steering with variable gear ratios; and powerful four-channel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution and Hill Start Assist.
“And of course when you compare performance, the Civic Hatch blows away the competition, especially in the 0-60 times, where it’s superior to its competitors by about a full second on average. It’s also one of the lighter cars in it’s segment, which helps handling and fuel economy. The 180 HP, 1.5 turbo-charged four cyclinder is a great engine. Low revs produce torque in a way no Civic ever has, and when you’re low down this Civic hustles.” CNET Roadshow
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CIVIC HATCH IS BACK
At last the eagerly awaited 5 door Hatch has landed on our shores. Built on the same world class platform as the sedan, the Honda Civic Hatch offers an appealing combination of sporty styling, efficiency, interior utility and premium features.
The 10th generation Civic Hatch is a driver’s car once again, making driving a joy. But along with the excitement, sporty facade and high tech spec, it still offers plenty of space and excellent fuel economy. It’s a fantastic new addition to the Civic line up and is sure to become the Hatch that all others are judged by.
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Overall, the interiors are modern, sophisticated and have the same premium quality as the Civic sedan, with high-grade soft-touch materials and quality finishes applied liberally throughout. And as you’d expect there are a load of other features available in this range which include the Honda Advanced Display Audio with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, electric driver and front passenger seats, push-button engine start and many more.
HISTORY OF THE TYPE
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onda’s Type R brand has long been associated with performance vehicles but what many people don’t know, is what the R means. Quite simply, it stands for Racing.
This racing philosophy is a mantra that runs throughout Honda. It was Soichiro Honda, the founder who said, ’without racing, there is no Honda.’ This dedication to develop engines and technology that would be tested in a racing environment was first seen in 1964, long before the first Type R model was built. It was the year that Honda first joined Formula One, and it seems quite appropriate that the colours of the first car to take part in a Grand Prix – white and the Honda badge in red – have been passed on to all Honda Type R cars. The first Type R was the revolutionary NSX. Built in 1992, it was a track-ready racing car (the legendary Ayrton Senna was a consultant during development) that defined and marked the start of the Type R heritage. It is still considered one of the best supercars of all time.
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And Honda have made sure that the interior has also matched the evolution of the exterior. The Civic 5 door Hatch offers all the latest driver features and connectivity in a wide, comfortable cabin perfect for both the driver and passengers.
The total storage capacity has been increased in this new hatch range and there is a 60:40 split foldable back seat. The entire back seat can also be fully folded down to increase rear storage space even further. And instead of having a solid luggage screen cover in the boot, which is a real pain to store when you have folded the seats down, there’s a roller blind that brilliantly goes from side to side. Rolled up, it’s little more than the size of one of those telescoping umbrellas. Plus there is a nifty screen lower down which also slides in and out to hide from acquisitive eyes any items you may need to leave in the car.
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The Civic’s engaging drive and impressive handling benefits from Honda’s Agile Handling Assist which has been developed to increase vehicle responsiveness and stability, offering drivers handling that is both exhilarating and secure. In short, it is a joy to drive.
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In 1995, Honda introduced the Integra Type R to the world. Fine tuned and built using principles learnt from the NSX, this was the car that was more accessible to customers even though the piston speed was said to surpass that of Formula One cars at the time. The Civic Type R story started in 1997, even though VTEC Civics had been around since 1989. This new iteration boasted double wishbone suspension and a 1.6 litre engine with 8200rpm that made just over 180bhp. However it was the Civic Type R 2001 that really cemented the racing and performance reputation of this badge. It was a sensation, outperfoming competitors and creating a loyal following with fans eagerly waiting every new iteration. This Type R was much acclaimed by motoring journalists across the UK, winning ‘Hot Hatch of the Year’ awards more than once from Top Gear, Fifth Gear and What Car?. The Civic Type R became a popular alternative for mainstream drivers clocking huge sales numbers. New releases over the next decade and a half, created a stir with new engines, styling and technical updates (many of which were informed by engineering breakthroughs learnt on the Formula One track). But it’s the all new 2017 Civic Type R which is getting fans, motoring journalists and other manufacturers in a frenzy of anticipation. As Car and Driver said “This is the car we’ve been waiting two decades for. The all new Civic Type R is here, and it’s glorious”.
“This is the car we’ve been waiting two decades for. The all new Civic Type R is here, and it’s glorious.” Car and Driver
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CIVIC TYPE R A statement of intent
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o now that finally New Zealand has its first Type R officially launched here, one needs to ask whether it lives up to the hype. There were so many rumours flying around in the months before its release that it was with a sense of relief, enthusiasts discovered that the actual car is almost identical to the concept production-ready car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. What we do know is that this car was developed off the platform of the new 10th generation Civic Hatch, and has been totally re-engineered and re-designed from the ground up. But there is no doubt that the Type R would always have been the end game for the Civic engineers, designed to deliver the most rewarding drive both on road and race track. It builds on Honda’s heritage of developing high performance Hatchbacks and features a high performance 2.0L DOHC VTEC turbocharged powertrain, substantially upgraded body and chassis, and other track ready, Nürburgring tuned and tested performance components. It is acknowledged by Honda as the quickest, most agile Civic ever built, and rightly so. The 2017 Honda Civic Type R has claimed the title of world’s fastest front-wheel-drive (FWD) production car, setting a new benchmark lap time in April 2017 at Germany’s legendary Nürburgring by over 3 seconds (and by more than 7 seconds over the previous Type R). Here are a few facts: Power is provided by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine that’s both turbocharged and direct-injected to produce impressive power and torque. Throttle response and drivability have improved thanks to optimised engine control settings and enthusiasts will approve of the 6-speed Manual Transmission which is both smooth and precise. This is further enhanced by a rev match control system, ensuring no compromise in the Type R’s driver experience And just because it’s a car unashamedly aimed at the pursuit of driving pleasure, the driver can choose from three driving modes, called Comfort, Sport, and +R. Each selection tailors the adaptive dampers, steering force, gear shift feeling and throttle response of the car on demand. This way the driver can ensure the Type R is a smooth, cruisey ride when it needs to be, and exhiliratingly, screamingly crazy when it doesn’t.
2017 Type R pre-orders can be secured with Dealers right now. And at a price of $59,900 + ORC, well below that of the nearest competitor, it is anticipated that the take up in New Zealand will be huge, creating a whole new generation of fans.
“It’s official: the 2017 Honda Civic Type R is WhatCar?’s ‘Car of the Year’, as voted by the readers – and it isn’t even on sale yet!” The Engine Room
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And of course it wouldn’t be a Type R without the signature aerodynamics. If you drive it, be prepared to be looked at. But it’s not just a stripped back, bare bones racing machine, the interior offers red suede effect bucket seats, a leather upholstered steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™ compatibility as standard. The Type R also features the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver assistive technologies, targeting the highest available collison safety ratings.
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TODAY AUSTRALIA, TOMORROW THE WORLD
Having just taken part in the recent 2017 Oceania Team Championships at the three-day event in Melbourne. Honda’s young brand ambassador, Ginny Thompson has cemented her place in New Zealand Equestrian History. It’s the first time in more than 10 years that NZ has beaten the Australians in this Trans Tasman event. Ginny was a member of the senior Oceania squad team, competing alongside names such as Jock Paget and Samantha Felton. This event was the latest in a long line of successes that this young Kaukapakapabased rider has been enjoying and it certainly won’t be the last. But it’s not just in Australia that Ginny has been making her mark. In December 2016 she took out the coveted Honda New Zealand 3 star title at the Puhinui International Three Day Event for the second year in a row. It was the first time in 16 years that a rider had back to back titles. Growing up on a ten acre farm with horses, and a mum who rode, it was inevitable that Ginny would ride, but not even she could foresee how far she would come.
PROFILE
The success notwithstanding, Ginny says that the Australian trip has been a stepping stone in her career, preparing her for what is to come. “Equestrian is not just a sport but a lifestyle. Having an equestrian career requires land
But as with anyone competing at an international level, Ginny’s successes do not happen by accident. They are the result of hard work and sacrifice. “I want to get to the Olympics and World Equestrian Games and I am so fortunate to have the help of such a supportive family. I am currently based at my parents’ farm in Kaukapakapa and they have set it up so well – we have a great arena and 8 covered yards. I would love to own my own farm one day but with horses there is never really a down time and you can’t ever get away very easily – horses are not like a bike that you can just leave in the garage.” “It is the most rewarding sport. Coming back from a great competition is just the best feeling and nothing can bring you down. I am a bit of an adrenaline junkie and eventing is my total passion! I know I will never be rich and maybe not always lead the most glamorous life but at the end of the day I wouldn’t change a thing – I truly love what I do.”
MORE CR-V
If you have ever driven a CR-V and loved it, you are in for a treat. In fact, even if you are not a CR-V driver, the new 2018 model will blow you away. I bought the top spec CR-V in 2014 and have been happily driving it, not wishing for anything more. It had all the bells and whistles. I’m talking leather seats, sports kit, sat nav, reversing camera, advanced safety features etc. etc, and it was grunty enough to tow our boat. It made the bi-weekly trips from Auckland to the Coromandel a pleasure, and I couldn’t see any valid reason for changing it out for a new model. However I was fortunate enough to get into the all new 2018 CR-V production model and take it for a drive before the entire range arrived in New Zealand. It's here now, and I’m sorry to say, my current well-loved CR-V will be swapped out for this younger, more sophisticated version. Why? Well, it’s got more of everything really.
Eventing is an Olympic Sport, known as the equestrian equivalent of a triathlon. It combines different disciplines (dressage, cross country and show jumping) in one competition and there are four international levels recognised in the sport – one, two, three, and at the very top four star. Puhinui and the recent Melbourne event were both international three star events and with these titles notched on her belt, Ginny now has her sights set on a 4 star event in Australia in November.
Not only does the new CR-V range feature seven seats, this fifth generation SUV also offers Honda’s 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine for the first time, developing 140kW of power and 240Nm of torque. Which means it not only delivers more power than my current 2.4L CR-V, it also delivers better fuel efficiency. More power and more fuel efficiency – that’s a pretty attractive combination in an SUV. It’s also a bit bigger than the current model which means rear seat passengers will get even more room (and they already get more than most other SUVs) and now with a 7 seat option, there’s plenty of room for kids + friends, or 4 adults + 3 kids or 1 adult + 6 kids or whatever permutation works for you. But that’s not all – even though it looks gruntier and more aggressive, it’s a calm cocoon inside with more spec and luxury fittings than ever before, even on the base model. And it’s still got more stuff-carrying capacity than any other SUV in its class plus its low load floor makes lifting in heavy suitcases or getting the dog onboard that much easier. I am quite short, so the new electric tailgate which can open and close at the push of a button and lets you set the opening height, really appeals to me. And did I say it drives like a dream… quiet and smooth? More CR-V… for sure!
“Looking back I think mum got me naughty ponies to try and put me off riding but it just didn’t work!”
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“I was 5 years old when I got my first pony – and it was so naughty, I used to get bucked off on a regular basis. Looking back I think mum got me naughty ponies to try and put me off riding but it just didn’t work!"
and facilities – an arena, ideally stables, then a truck to get from show to show – and a ridiculous amount of gear! The most difficult part about my chosen career and life style, is financing it all.”