COVKARTSPORT . . .

A MODERN DESIGN ICON!

We chose the new Honda Civic, as the official COVKARTSPORT “Race Support Vehicle”, because it is not often that a mass-production car is this radical! Honda completely abandoned their old Civic conservative market and targeted a new sector with a vehicle that has successfully married innovative aesthetic design, wonderfully functional ergonomics, good handling, low carbon emissions, low running costs and state-of-the-art technology!

TV’s Top Gear and 5th Gear raved about it and, at its launch in January 2006, Honda’s order book was full!

Honda took on 900 extra workers at Swindon to cope with demand but, because ours is one of the more unusual variants ( 5-door Honda Civic 1.8 i-VTEC EX-SA i-SHIFT ) it took six months to arrive.

I don’t work for Honda so if the car were rubbish I would say so! What I can say is that it has more than met all of my expectations – it is comfortable, capacious and is great fun to drive. The grip level/cornering is better than many of the GT and sports cars I have owned and I get on well with the “Drive-by-wire” system. This is also the most petrol efficient car I have owned returning over 33mpg in dense traffic and up to 50mpg on the motorway.

A very interesting technical issue is that this is just about the only car that returns better mpg in automatic mode! – in fact 5mpg better than manual! The software governing the automatic gear changes is certainly different so your right foot technique has to be learned specifically for this car if you want to drive quickly in automatic mode similarly, when driving in manual mode, you have to learn where to blip the revs in order to smooth out a really fast gear change.

The engine is responsive - variable valve timing, plenty of torque throughout the range, 7000 maximum revs and 140bhp combined with stiffened suspension, big tyres and such excellent grip levels all add up to a quick package! Wind it up and it can be serious fun! Alternatively just relax and stick it into “lazy-drive”!

For “Petrol-heads” only: The top-of-the-range “COVKARTSPORTMOBILE” (cost £22,000) incorporates all of the following factory-installed kit and features:
*   Drive-by-wire computer controlled steering
•   Integrated SATNAV and interactive TMS traffic management info’ system
•   Automatic reverse-gear-operated wide-angle CCTV
•   Honda HFT Integrated in-car hands-free telephone system: 07794-573331 (this car)
•   6-speed multi-mode semi-automatic gearbox
•   Computer controlled electronic clutch (no clutch pedal)
•   6 sequentially operated forward gears in manual mode
•   Central gear lever and Tiptronic touch-sensitive steering wheel paddles
•   Instant switch to/from full automatic/manual mode (at any speed)
•   Engine start button
•   High rev orange warning lights 1-6 progressive
•   Green eco-drive lights 1-6 progressive
•   Cruise control
•   Multi-function steering wheel/column (with 25 functions)
•   Independent left/right aircon/climate control
•   Double (F/R) panoramic glass sunroof with electronic blinds
•   Leather trim and heated leather seats

* Pierced aluminium foot pedals
•   Refrigerated glove compartment (variable temperature control)
•   9-CD multi changer audio entertainment system with RDS
•   VCS Voice Recognition control system
•   Over 500 voice control commands accepted
•   Interactive audio and full colour LCD display screen
•   Multi-functional mono colour computer display screen with alarms
•   Automatic rain-sensing wipers
•   Automatic light-sensing headlights
•   Automatic retracting dirt-sensing headlight washers
•   Automatic headlight height adjustment
•   Electric folding door mirrors (when parked)
•   New unique Honda rear maximum side-stowage system
•   Fog lights
•   18-inch Honda Storm 6-spoke smoked alloy wheels
•   Ultra low-profile Michelin Pilots 225/45 R17
•   CAT-1 security system
•   5-star Euro N-CAP safety accreditation
•   Twin front, curtain and side airbags + active head restraints
•   Side protection bars
•   ABS anti-lock braking system
•   EBD computer controlled brake force distribution
•   EBA emergency brake assist
•   VSA computer controlled forward/side-slip stability and traction control with on/off modes
•   Seat belt sensors on all 5 seats
•   On the downside – there are well over 700 pages of small-print instructions in the car and navigation system handbooks – but its fun to learn something new!

We knew that this Honda would create a lot of interest and, liveried in the bold yellow on blue COVKARTSPORT logos, it is a very noticeable advertisement for our Championship. Strangers stop and ask! It reflects well upon us all and has already proven itself by attracting more new members to COVKARTSPORT!…...It really works!

If you are interested you are always welcome to check this vehicle over at any COVKARTSPORT event! At many circuits we are allowed to take it onto the track, before the racing starts, to show our drivers (4 at a time) a good racing line! Just ask if you want a seat.

Latest:

After 2 years and 30,000 miles this car is giving me 39 mpg overall! I regard this as being very good particularly as this Honda engine is designed to run on the cheapest unleaded petrol.

I have also been very impressed with Honda's after-sales attitude! - As with most completely new models there can be some minor teething troubles but Honda have not waited to be pushed into action (like several other well known car manufacturers) by TV's Watchdog programme! Instead, if they thought that there might be a problem they have recalled the car, provided a courtesy car and replaced the items concerned - all done quickly and efficiently! Although none of the items on my car failed - Honda have still replaced them: 1 - Total handbrake assembly, 2 - driver's door lock and 3 - locking petrol filler cap mechanism. They have also installed several new software upgrades (free-of-charge) onto the on-board computer and handled a minor corrosion issue on my smoked alloy wheels - replacing 3 of the 4 wheels instantly as a warranty claim!

- Well done Honda!

This Honda Civic was purchased new from:

Avonvale Honda

540 London Road, Coventry CV3 4EN

Telephone: 02476 639666

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All photographs and report by: N. Staveley Stanley FMPA

The Established Low-Cost Steppingstone Into Motorsport Founded In 1996

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