Latest Honda Civic gets the e:HEV powertrain

KUALA LUMPUR: Honda Malaysia has been actively promoting their e:HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrain technology and it all started with a bold advertising campaign sometime in early October 2019.

Then Honda Malaysia took a bold step to introduce their first vehicle with the e:HEV powertrain in August 2020. It was an even bolder move by Honda Malaysia to make the ‘world premier’ in Malaysia in August 2020. The Honda vehicle picked for this groundbreaking honor was the all-new Honda City sedan.

Then as Malaysians started reading about this interesting powertrain and understanding its technology, it made plug-in hybrid technology seem dated and even more interesting, it was in a car costing just RM105,950. Malaysians were smitten and sales surged and the competition stood and watched with worry.

Now comes news from the global market that Honda has just unveiled the all-new 2022 Civic with e:HEV powertrain. This Civic is selling well in Malaysia and is priced from a sensible RM126k to 144k for the top specification version.

This latest Civic with an e:HEV powertrain will have a 72-cell lithium-ion battery and two compact, yet powerful electric motors paired with a newly developed 2.0-litre direct-injection, Atkinson-cycle petrol-powered engine.

With both powertrains working, yes, there is the petrol engine and the electric motor working together to deliver a maximum power of 181bhp and a massive 315Nm of torque.

The latest version of the internal combustion engine has several new elements within its architecture to help achieve a thermal efficiency of 41 percent, one of the highest figures within the automotive industry for a production road car.

The two powerful electric motors work together to provide the primary drive force for the all-new Honda Civic. The engine is controlled by a new, compact Power Control unit which now sits under the bonnet with the rest of the powertrain. Sitting under the rear seats is the latest version of our Intelligent Power Unit and whilst smaller and lighter, it benefits from an increased energy density. This system delivers a feeling of instant torque and powerful acceleration whilst still offering outstanding efficiency.

There are quick acting drive modes shifting seamlessly between EV, Hybrid and Engine without any necessary input from the driver.

So, with Honda Malaysian management already confirming the arrival of the all-new 2022 HR-V Crossover with this e:HEV powertrain, we are quite sure, soon after there will be a 2022 Honda Civic with an e:HEV powertrain to give Malaysians a full variety of fuel-saving, yet powerful Honda vehicles. Our guess on the selling price. Well, we think a possible RM168,888 might be the launch price and it will be worth every newton meter of torque that is delivered.

Also Read: 2022 Subaru BRZ coming soon to Malaysia, here’s what to expect