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The 2023 Honda Civic Hybrid Hatchback Makes Its European Debut
Honda confirmed last summer that the current-generation Civic will be available in Europe with one caveat: it would only be offered as a hybrid.
The 2022 Honda Civic Hybrid, formally known as the e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), will make its debut in the fall and will only be available in hatchback form. While the e:HEV is based on the same platform as Civic models in the United States, it will not be available in Australia.
A new 72-cell lithium-ion battery and two tiny electric motors are mated to a revised 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine in the Honda Civic Hybrid. The combined output is 181 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The two electric motors are the major driving power behind the hybridized Civic, which can only guarantee a smoother and quieter ride.
Honda claims that its internal combustion engine has enhanced architecture that allows it to reach a thermal efficiency of 41%, which is among the industry’s best for a production model. A new power control unit and an updated intelligent power unit have also been upgraded; the latter is smaller and lighter and has a higher energy density. Without sacrificing efficiency, this system provides quick torque and forceful acceleration.
A fixed-gear transmission, controlled by the power control unit, lies at the heart of the e:HEV system, designed to minimise friction. It optimizes the vehicle to adapt to the driving situation based on the situation. The powertrain can easily convert between EV, Hybrid, and Engine driving without any input from the driver. Finally, there are four different drive modes to choose from: Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, the latter of which is a novel mode that allows you to tweak the engine, transmission, and instrument cluster settings.
The new Civic e:HEV hatchback completes Honda’s electrified offering in Europe as the company plots its path to an all-electric future. Although Honda has stated that this Civic hybrid would not be available in the United States, it has not stated whether a hybrid powertrain based on this will be available in Civic models in the United States, where the Civic e:HEV might replace the Insight compact sedan. Given that Honda only sold 18,685 Insights in 2021, a hybrid Civic would do better with a more popular model name.
