DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 13, 2005 - The world of Sedans will never be the same following the Middle East release of the all-new Honda Civic 2006 YM at the Park Hyatt Dubai. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. hosted a media event to launch the 1.8-liter i-VTEC Civic, which it claims will be “one of this year’s biggest revelations.”

Speaking on this occasion, Hajime Yamada, General Manager, The Middle East and Africa Sales Division at Honda Motor Co., Ltd. said: “Since the 1st generation Civic, we have pursued to create new values as pioneers for next generations. With this 8th generation Civic, we are reinventing new sedan rules that surpass the sedan’s value.”

Yamada then went on to highlight the changes of the all new 2006 Honda Civic, focusing on three of its major attractive values; an innovative new i-VTEC engine, a Multiplex cockpit, and its sleek one-motion form. The modifications don’t stop there, as the sporty combination of an instrument panel, seats and steering wheel gives the Civic a very sharp rejuvenated look.

The 1.8L i-VTEC Civic engine aims at producing bigger power output in acceleration as well as low fuel consumption in cruise driving. It is as powerful as a 2.0L engine and brings along with it an impressive 140 HP drive, yet at the same time it is just as fuel economic as a 1.5L engine due to the i-VTEC technology being used (intelligent Variable valve Timing and lift Electronic Control). This will surely come as a relief to buyers because of the recent rising gasoline prices in the region.

Driving pleasure is supported by a second innovative value; a Multiplex cockpit that hosts better ergonomics in driving. Honda’s original two layers of meters allow drivers to catch driving information immediately requiring minimum eye movement, which aims at supplying good visibility with the sporty driving.

The final key value is the Civic’s sleek motion form that vastly reduces wind noise and higher rigidity of chassis shuts the vibration from engine or road so you can enjoy in-car entertainment, audio music, and conversation in an extremely quiet cabin space.

Mr. Shigeru Takagi, Managing Director of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., stated: “When we started the development of this brand new Civic, we challenged ourselves to reinvent the creative value of the original Civic concept while also becoming a pioneer for the next generation of customers. This 8th-generation Civic features improvements in every measure of automotive value, including efficient packaging, fuel economy, environmental friendliness and driving performance.”

He further added: “On top of these fundamental requirements for a modern vehicle, we aimed to create a car that delivers excitement in style, riding comfort and driving pleasure. We want to ensure that the all-new Civic is appealing to a wider range of car buyers and with this new look, I am confident that we will succeed. The 33rd birthday of the Civic will be one to remember for a long time to come.”

The Honda Civic’s 33rd birthday this summer marked another other milestone in a history of innovation and surprises that began with the launch of the first Civic in July 1972 at a time when Honda was still best known for its motorcycles. The Civic evolved through seven generations over the past three decades, serving as the platform for some of Honda’s most exciting innovations along the way.

Also speaking at the event was Mr. Shinichi Takahashi, Development Large Project Leader of Honda Civic, Honda R&D, who commented: “Standing at the point of development of this 8th generation Civic, we have looked ahead and imagined the future of the 21st century which we ourselves and our descendants will live in. Nowadays, pollution against environment has become a serious issue across the globe, and in our industry the outstanding improvements of vehicle safety performance are highly required. Under these circumstances, we have come to understand that this 8th generation Civic has to take big responsibilities as a “global sedan” which is chosen by customers among 160 countries around the world.”

This latest-generation Civic is also the beneficiary of broad and thorough research in safety design. Sophisticated active and passive safety features combine to ensure maximum safety, something that Honda Civics are renowned for. The G-Force Control Technology (G-CON) body structure enhances the vehicle's ability to deal with crash energy in impacts with vehicles of differing size.

The all-new Honda Civic is available in three grades; the entry level LXi, followed by the EXi, and the top of the range VTi. All three grades are available in manual and automatic transmission, with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), which is optional for the LXi. The Civic also features standard Dual SRS airbags for optimum driver and front passenger safety. Front side SRS airbag system and side curtain airbag system are also optional on the EXi grade and the standard VTi. As a luxurious touch, the VTi grade comes equipped with standard leather interior and an optional electric-smoked glass sunroof.

The revitalized Civic will also bring along an all new range of colors, offering new shades such as the striking Neutron Blue Metallic, the luxurious Premium White Pearl, the sporty Alabaster Silver Metallic, the classy Galaxy Grey Metallic, and the elegant Royal Blue to name a few.

Meanwhile, 2004 was a record breaking year for Honda in the region with the company enjoying an increase of 9 percent in the sales of its entire range of passenger cars and SUVs. 2005 has similarly been an excellent year for Honda as projections look very positive as the end of the year approaches. With more than 16 million cumulative buyers globally so far, the brand new Civic will help assert Honda’s pole position in terms of sales.