A GOOD SPORT

from Metropol - 3 February 2022

BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN

WORDS BEN SELBY

A GOOD SPORT

When Honda pulls the covers o a new Civic, it is always a big deal. Honda’s 11th generation Civic has been on sale since December and it’s a ‘good un’. The new car has a lower stance than before and sports a more mature-looking front and rear. The 18-inch alloys also look the business.

Inside there have been some major changes. There is a distinctly European feel to all the switchgear and details like the metal honeycomb mesh hiding the air vents and piano black accent make for some handsome surroundings.

There is more kit too, features like wireless charging, a new 7-inch LCD screen with digital analogue style gauges, Honda’s next generation 9-inch Display Audio System with built in Sat-Nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and for the first time in a Civic, a rather decent BOSE stereo system. Honda’s Sensing Suite safety system also makes a comeback, but this time, the lane departure assist works at any speed.

Open the taps on that 1.5L turbo four pot and it responds well. The power band is kept linear and when you flick up to Sport mode, you can have some fun too. If this new Civic Sport is anything to go by, then the upcoming Type R should be a real hoot.

IN BRIEF IN BRIEF

2022 Honda Civic Sport 2022 Honda Civic Sport

Price: $47,000 plus ORC Engine: 1.5L i-VTEC Turbocharged Four Cylinder Transmission: 7-Speed CVT Power: 131kW Torque: 240Nm

Combined Fuel Consumption:

6.3L/100km Wheelbase: 2733mm Wheels: 18-inch Alloy Weight: 1369kg Boot Space: 404L

www.honda.co.nz

WORDS BEN SELBY Ford is making no bones about incorporating plug in electric and hybrid drive an integral part of its future. Last year the blue oval announced plans to do away with solely petrol-powered cars altogether by the end of 2022, with the exception of Ford’s Performance range and Everest SUV.

The next car to accelerate this plan is the upcoming Escape Hybrid which will join the proven and popular Escape PHEV. “Now with a full hybrid coming to join the plug-in hybrid, Escape customers will have an excellent range to choose from that that they can match to their particular needs – o ering smart capability alongside great fuel economy and low emissions,” said Simon Rutherford, Managing Director, Ford New Zealand.

A Mild Hybrid version of the Puma will also join the Hybrid Escape in the line-up. There will also be a fully electric variant of Ford’s Transit van. All three are part of the seven new models Ford will o er with electric drive by 2024. Ford New Zealand has also partnered with leading electric vehicle charging producer Singer Electric to provide all dealers nationwide with forecourt and service area charging stations.

Ford’s plan to be fully carbon neutral by 2050 is certainly well on the way to becoming a reality.