Honda Civic Tourer reminds us why we love wagons

Tue, 10 Sep 2013

It was the early 1990s when the last Honda Civic Wagon graced our shores, looking more like a squat five-door hatchback with an extra dose of charm. Well, Honda debuted the newest Civic ~~Wagon~~ Tourer at the Frankfurt Motor Show today, but, as we reported last month, it's a European model that will go on sale there early next year. There's still no word of it coming to the US.

The Civic Tourer was designed by Honda's European studio, and its overall look comes across as more muscular, sporty and stylish than both the sedan and two-door coupe, with bulging fenders and revised windows. Adrian Killham, large project leader for the Civic Tourer, has commented on the styling, saying, "Recently launched cars have tended to follow a similar style. The Civic Tourer has a different balance and appeal." We appreciate the sentiment, and the Tourer's shape is a big reason why we like it.

But we also like the 22 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, which grows to a gargantuan 59 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The big Civic will be powered by either a 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with i-VTEC or a 1.6-liter Earth Dreams i-DTEC diesel engine. Manual and automatic transmissions will be offered.

Take a look at the press release below for more information on the Civic Tourer, and check out the live gallery straight from Frankfurt.

First Glimpse of the new Honda Civic Tourer

11.08.2013 -- Honda has provided more information about the new Civic Tourer ahead of its official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013.

The new Civic Tourer was developed and designed in Europe, allowing Honda's European R&D team to lead the creative and technical design process. The sleek and sophisticated profile of the Civic Tourer does not compromise the car's practicality. The Civic Tourer delivers exceptional versatility and functionality with class leading interior space of 624L (trunk volume with the rear seats up, measured up to the tonneau cover).

The Civic Tourer will feature either the1.6 i-DTEC engine from the Earth Dreams Technology series or the 1.8 i-VTEC engine in manual or automatic transmission. A brand new Adaptive Damper System (ADS) will help to enhance stability and comfort under varying load and driving conditions.

The Civic Tourer will be built at Honda's UK manufacturing facility and will be launched in Europe from early 2014.

Functionality & Form: No compromise on design or space
"I am very proud of the Civic Tourer's sporty, sleek and dynamic proportions, which somewhat hide the car's true functionality and versatility. To achieve true utility on a compact car, you have to consider how to make the most of the space in the cabin, which generally also affects the design. Due to the clever platform of the Civic, we had freedom to optimise the package. The end result is a car that has almost a sports-car silhouette. For me, the strength of the car is the synergy of functionality, versatility, and dynamic expression." Adrian Killham, Large Project Leader, Civic Tourer.

The exterior design of the Civic Tourer is sophisticated and sporty, its unique style is defined by a bold line that runs continuously from the front A-pillar to the D-pillar creating the impression of a floating roof line.

The development team for the Civic Tourer spent much time working on new ways to interpret this section of the car to deliver a feeling of premium value and character. The glass of the rear quarter window has been extended to cover the body work of the D-pillar and the rear door sash has been raised by 17mm compared to the Civic 5-door to enable this bold styling line and creating an elegant look.

"At first glance it is clear that the Civic Tourer does not look like other Wagons. Recently-launched cars have tended to follow a similar style. The Civic Tourer has a different balance and appeal." Adrian Killham, Large Project Leader, Civic Tourer.

Behind this sophisticated and sporty design is a hidden versatility that leads to clever functionality and unrivalled practicality.

The Civic Tourer benefits from the same unique centre fuel tank layout used in the Civic 5-door. The fuel tank is located under the front seats allowing the Civic Tourer to offer unparalleled interior space and Honda's magic seat configuration.

The Civic Tourer offers class leading interior space across both the C and D segments. The cargo area will accommodate 2 full-size mountain bikes or 3 large-sized Samsonite cases with the tonneau cover pulled over to conceal the cases.

· 624L* trunk volume (Rear seats up, up to window)
· 1668L* trunk volume (Rear seats down, up to roof lining)

There is a small compartment suitable for storing the tonneau cover so that it can be detached and stored out the way when it is not needed.

Furthermore, there is additional under floor storage in the boot which makes carrying tall objects in the boot easy and the height of the loading lip has been reduced by 137mm* compared to the Civic 5-door to facilitate effortless loading.

Honda's unique Magic Seats deliver further practicality and space within the Civic Tourer, enabling a range of seating configurations for maximum versatility.The rear seats assembly folds down in one easy movement, and the interior trunk floor of the Civic Tourer has been raised compared to the 5-door to create a completely flat area when the seats are folded down.

The rear seat cushions can also be flipped up to reveal ample floor space for carrying tall objects. A 60:40 split in the seat base offers even more options for carrying both people and cargo and provides an alternative load area if access via the tailgate is limited.

Driving Performance: Advanced and Efficient Technology
The Civic Tourer will feature either the1.6 i-DTEC engine from the Earth Dreams Technology series or the 1.8 i-VTEC engine in manual or automatic transmission.

1.6 i-DTEC
The 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engine was first applied to the Civic 5-door and subsequently to the new CR-V. The engine is the first of Honda's Earth Dreams Technology series to be introduced in Europe.

The philosophy behind Earth Dreams Technology is to deliver an impressive balance between fuel economy and driving performance and this is certainly the case in the Civic Tourer.

The 1.6 i-DTEC engine is comprised of an aluminium cylinder head joined to an open deck aluminium block and is the lightest diesel engine in its class. The mechanical friction has been reduced to the level equivalent of a petrol engine. All the rotating parts have been carefully optimised to reduce their friction, helping to provide excellent fuel economy whilst making sure the new Civic Tourer is fun to drive.

The 1.6 i-DTEC engine was designed specifically for the European Market and is built at Honda's UK Manufacturing plant (where the Civic Tourer will also be built).

Adaptive Damper System (ADS)
The Civic Tourer also features an innovative Adaptive Damper System. This is the first time that a rear adaptive damper system has been introduced on a production car and it features three settings - comfort, normal and dynamic - all of which have been developed to enhance stability and comfort under varying load and driving conditions. This allows the Civic Tourer to remain comfortable during highway cruising, yet firm and agile when high-performance handling is required.

"By introducing the technology in this format, we expect many customers will be able to experience the benefits of this advanced system." Adrian Killham, Large Project Leader.

Safety
As with all Honda cars, safety was at the forefront of the development team's mind when designing the Civic Tourer, particularly the integration of advanced active safety systems. The Civic Tourer will deliver a high standard of safety for the driver, passengers, pedestrians and other road users in line with Honda's philosophy of 'Safety for Everyone'.

Comparison table (Civic 5-door/ Civic Tourer)

CIVIC 5-DOOR / CIVIC TOURER

Dimensions (LxWxH)
4285/1770/1440 / 4520/1770/1440*

Volume
Luggage space (Seats up, up to window)
Litres
477 / 624*

Luggage Space - (Seats down, up to roof lining)
Litres
1378 / 1668*

Load height (mm)
702 / 565*

(*Honda internal figures)

By Damon Lowney