46 — Friday, March 13, 1992 — North Shore News Greg Wilson AUTOMOTION WITH VERY little fanfare, Honda recently introduced a new Civic model that is likely to heavily influence the future of automobile and engine design. The 1992 Honda Civic VX hat- chback looks the same as a stand- ard Civic hatchback, but it incor- Porates new technology that makes it the most fuel-efficient car in Canada. The VX hatchback gets an amazing 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres (72 mpg) on the high- way, and 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres (52 mpg) in urban use. The seal genius- of. this.design, however, is that horsepower has not been sacrificed to achieve fuel efficiency. The VX engine still offers 92 horsepower, an amazing figure for this kind of fuel efficiency. To put this into perspective, consider that the next-best fuel- efficient car in Canada, the smaller two-door Suzuki Swift GA, which weighs 201 kilograms (443 Ibs.) less than the Civic VX and has a 1.0-litre three cylinder engine that develops 55 horsepower. Its best highway fuel economy is 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres (66 mpg). Urban use is DICK: ARWIN-E AUTOMOTIVE Honda introduces new fuel economy champ 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres (St mpg). Though the Civic VN is bigger, heavier and has a larger engine than the Swift, it still gets better gas mileage. How did Honda achieve this feat of fuel efficien- cy? By borrowing their ‘‘variable- valve timing"? technology from the $75,000 Acura NSX sports car, and combining if with new “fean-burn’’ combustion techno- logy. These two technologies were refined, but not invented by Hon- da, Perhaps more importantly, Honda is the first company to successfully combine them in an affordable economy car. The Civic VX hatchback has Honda’s standard 1.5-litre four- cylinder cngine with a_ single overhead cam and four valves per cylinder (two intake, two exhaust). What makes the VX engine unique is that below 2,500 rpm, the engine operates on only one intake valve per cylinder, thereby using less fuel. This is achieved by using one camshaft lobe to control low-rpm timing and a second lobe to control high-rpm intake valve timing. At engine speeds above 2,500 rpm where more air and fuel is needed, the second intake valve is automatically actuated. The other half of the equation, “fean-burn,”’ is the process of burning fue! more efficiently in the combustion chamber. The in- take ports (where the air and fuel .Mmixture enters the cylinders) are shaped to induce a swirl offset for more rapid and efficient mixing of fuel and air. In addition, the top of the pistons and the pent roof combus- tion chamber are designed to fur- ther enhance this swirl effect. Ig- nition timing was improved and the spark plugs were moved two milimetres forward to improve heat propagation. Finally, to control an optimum air/fuel ratio in ail rev ranges, Honda introduced a lean-mixture sensor, similar to that used in Honda’s successful Formula One “What a ‘great, great Or Orgy yy Brand New. ‘FULL SIZE CHEVY TRUCKS BASIC 39 Irmo. + LUMINA + APY.» CAP Stk. #28-7953 CHEVROLET » TRUCK » BLAZER’ SUBURBAN. « CAVALIER + CORSICA «,BERETIA » CAMARO * : Bir ir Conditioning . 3 argo . 2 fie steering B » Speed Controi MMe Cassette « Cold Climate Pa e 28 0 1. (305) V8 * Sport Headrests CHOOSE FROM LARGE INVENTORY 48 Mos, net lease, $1000. Trade or Cash. TPR. $11,472 & $13,200 — taxes extra. YOUR PICK! ——. LUXURY $275 on « 4 Speed Auto Trans (0/D) Package ¢ Rear Step Bumper and much, much more! Photo submitted HONDA IS the first company to successfully combine ‘‘variable-vaive timing’ and ‘‘lean-burn” combustion technology in an affordable economy car. engines. The air/fuel ratio of the VTEC engine is a remarkable 24- to-one, much leaner than the standard 14-to-one ratio founc On most engines. The combination of variable valve timing and lean-burn com- bustion produced a 20% im- provement in fuel economy over the standard 1.5-titre engine in the CX and DX hatchback models. i had a brief test drive in the VX hatchback and can vouch for its good performance and reason- able handling. It is not a slug, like many high-mileage economy cars. §t accelerates and handles as well as most cars in this class, and bet- ter than many. Behind the wheel, there are very few clues to the fact that this is the most fuel-efficient car in the country. One thing I didn’t like is that power steering is not available. In order to reduce weight and minimize the number of power- draining features, Honda does not offer power steering, automatic transmission, rear wiper/washer or tilt steering wheel on the VX. Keeping the weight down is an important part of achieving better fuel economy. At 950 kilograms (2,094 Ibs.), the VX is 24 kilograms (53 Ibs.) lighter than the base Civic CX hatchback. The tires are smaller, too. Nar- See Expect page 49 Get Your Bush on a Roll this Spring Let the consumers of the North Shore see what: you, have to" offer them this Spring. The Spring Car Care Guide provides you with an effective means of reaching thousands of potential customers with your product and services. Boost your spring sale and get your share of the $307,397 that is spent every day on automotive products and services in North and West Vancouver. All editorial and pictorial will focus on Spring & Summer car care products and services. ‘i Garry Crossley 980-0511 Peter Kvarnstrom Tete ES