2016 Civic Coupe Spied Track Testing

[Shortbus]

Well the civic is already one of the lightest cars on the market for it's class... so i don't imagine that it'll lose a ton of a weight. maybe like 100 or so pounds over the previous model and im sure models like the new touring trim will be heavier no matter what. But really, as long as it doesn't gain weight that an accomplishment with the larger size.

100 pounds could easily be felt on the Civic considering its already pretty light car.

 

[RSXer]

Manufacturers are fighting for ounces not just pounds with each component. Like Mazda's "gram strategy" a fascinating read if you haven't seen it:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a7577/mazdas-lightweight-strategy/

Good thing is a change in platform allows them to rethink nearly every component and part.

 

[RobbJK88]

The best thing that happened to mazda was when they were finally able to drop all the ford components they were using up until the previous gen of cars (the smiley generation). After they were able to finally make a total break from Ford parts they were able to manufacture their own powertrains and platforms and create the Skyactive suite of weight saving and fuel saving tech for their cars which hands down is what makes the Mazdas some of the best driving cars in the mainstream market. They're quick, handle well and are super fuel efficient. Hopefully honda in all their supreme weight saving knowhow has worked magic with the new platform and created a basis for the CRV, Civic and Accord to all be light, nimble, quick and efficient cars.

 

[Viva la vida]

makes the Mazdas some of the best driving cars in the mainstream market. They're quick, handle well and are super fuel efficient

True and which always make me wonder why they aren't more successful with sales. They were only the 10th selling brand last year in the US.

Manufacturers are fighting for ounces not just pounds with each component. Like Mazda's "gram strategy" a fascinating read if you haven't seen it:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a7577/mazdas-lightweight-strategy/

Good thing is a change in platform allows them to rethink nearly every component and part.

Good read.

 

[RobbJK88]

True and which always make me wonder why they aren't more successful with sales. They were only the 10th selling brand last year in the US.



Good read.

I'm not sure about that either... Mazda makes great looking quality cars with pretty good reliability. Better or equal to top selling US brands. They drive well and get great MPG... i think they just never gained alot of popularity because for a long time they were fumbling with their models. Before the 6 and 3 came along they had so many different small and midsize cars, almost every generation had a different name, until they got with ford. And i think some people equated them too much with ford and drove some people away. They also don't do a ton of marketing. About as much as honda, which isn't alot (but honda doesn't NEED to advertise to get people on lots).

I also think that even though the cars are priced roughly around Honda and Toyota prices (a little higher here and there depending on trims and options) people might look at them as too pricey. They're kind of in that category of Saab and Volvo where they're almost borderline entry level luxury, but still technically mainstream. People looking for luxury think they're too low brow and people looking for affordable mainstream think they're too pricey. I'm not really sure... they haven't even had a ton of bad recalls like other bigger automakers (except the spiders that got into the exhaust). I often wonder why they don't sell better than they do. Probably because they're aiming at people who drive toyotas and hondas, but those demographics are too committed to their chosen brand to switch to mazda...

 

[randY49]

I'm not sure about that either... Mazda makes great looking quality cars with pretty good reliability. Better or equal to top selling US brands. They drive well and get great MPG... i think they just never gained alot of popularity because for a long time they were fumbling with their models. Before the 6 and 3 came along they had so many different small and midsize cars, almost every generation had a different name, until they got with ford. And i think some people equated them too much with ford and drove some people away. They also don't do a ton of marketing. About as much as honda, which isn't alot (but honda doesn't NEED to advertise to get people on lots).

I also think that even though the cars are priced roughly around Honda and Toyota prices (a little higher here and there depending on trims and options) people might look at them as too pricey. They're kind of in that category of Saab and Volvo where they're almost borderline entry level luxury, but still technically mainstream. People looking for luxury think they're too low brow and people looking for affordable mainstream think they're too pricey. I'm not really sure... they haven't even had a ton of bad recalls like other bigger automakers (except the spiders that got into the exhaust). I often wonder why they don't sell better than they do. Probably because they're aiming at people who drive toyotas and hondas, but those demographics are too committed to their chosen brand to switch to mazda...

I don't think there is a perception of reliability with Mazda. Their cars don't do particularly well with some of the Consumer Reports types and as I recall they did tend to have issues in the Ford days, though I can't think of specific examples.

A couple of other things is that they often put form before function, leaving cargo capacity and rear seat space compromised and they are billed as a 'drivers' car which typically means a firmer ride.

 

[Arjun]

Just hoping the coupe will be like the concept.. Will the SIR be a totally different design? The ones I've seen in YouTube are European and it looks like more of an awkward looking hatchback.

 

[BigBang09]

Just hoping the coupe will be like the concept.. Will the SIR be a totally different design? The ones I've seen in YouTube are European and it looks like more of an awkward looking hatchback.

The "new" Type R released in Europe is based on the 9th gen platform. When the Type R eventually arrives here, it'll be based on the new 10th gen platform. Whether it'll be hatch and/or coupe remains to be seen. Exact appearance of the upcoming Si also remains to be seen, but I too hope it resembles the concept.

 

[takemorepills]

I don't think there is a perception of reliability with Mazda. Their cars don't do particularly well with some of the Consumer Reports types and as I recall they did tend to have issues in the Ford days, though I can't think of specific examples.

A couple of other things is that they often put form before function, leaving cargo capacity and rear seat space compromised and they are billed as a 'drivers' car which typically means a firmer ride.

We had a 2003 Protege5. By far the worst car we ever owned. Ford bastardized Mazda for a while. Some of my pleasant memories:
Stalling out on I-5 during rush hour because the Ford designed two coil on plug system would fail from heat soak. Oh and then after you lose spark on 2 cylinders it dumps a bunch of raw fuel into the pre-cat immediately destroying that and costing a minimum of $400 for a pre-cat (I did the repair, $1000 at dealer)
Rusting out door skins and rear fender wheel wells. Common issue.
The AC controls worked just like a Ford, not like Japanese cars where you can select AC and recirc/fresh independently.

The car handled extremely well and the brakes were great. It looked Japanese but was actually Ford in all the wrong ways. Selling it was tough, I felt guilty selling it to someone, I wanted to just have it recycled for $400, but we sold it to some nice young lady for $5,000....yeah the money is nice but I'd of just recycled the car if it wasn't for my wife insisting we try to sell it....