Honda does its Civic duty

The eighth-generation vehicle sports a new look and plenty of new technology, including an improved hybrid powertrain for those who want to fill up a little less often.

The first-generation Civic, introduced in Japan in 1972, launched Honda, already the world's biggest motorcycle producer but a fledging automobile manufacturer, as an automaker of global significance.

Since its launch 33 years ago, an aggregate of 16.1 million Civics have been produced (as of March 2005). Civics are now manufactured in 11 countries in Honda's six operational regions around the world: Japan, North America, South America, Asia/Oceanic, Europe, and China. They are sold in 160 countries, accounting for 30% of Honda's total automobile sales. Of the 2004 sales of 567,534 units, the North American market took the lion's share, 308,742, which represents 54%.