Exhaustive tests for new Civic

The development team has worked hard to sharpen every detail of the design, build and aerodynamics, to optimise the interior refinement in the new Civic, the company said.

The engineers spent time testing the car in Europe to tune the new Civic to suit varying road conditions. They also made good use of Honda's anechoic (echo-free) chamber at its research and development facility in Britain to fine-tune the cabin insulation. One of the results of the work in the anechoic chamber was modification of the roof lining, and how it interacts with the bodywork.

The new Civic's aerodynamic efficiency also played a key role in maximising its refinement. Several members of the development team called upon their Formula One experience to help deliver a car that combines a low coefficient of drag with excellent high-speed stability. Hours of work in Honda's wind tunnel has improved performance, reduced fuel consumption and resulted in an exceptionally quiet interior.

"We did not use just one technique to improve the noise and refinement of the new Civic," said the development leader for the car's chassis Kazuo Sunaoshi. "It was an accumulation of lots of little details. My big challenge was to match the noise and vibration levels of our European competitors. I am proud to say that we have achieved that."

The new Honda Civic will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month.