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The Civic Hybrid is the second-heaviest in the line, coming right after the Si. Even the ATs are lighter.
10 years ago you would have been content to push a Civic EX sedan around with 109 hp. The Civic Hybrid has 93hp from the engine, which is useable but the average consumer would think is underpowered. The electric engine provides low end torque, which is where it is most useful for propulsion. But IMA does so much more; Things that can only be achieved with the advantage of energy caching: All four cylinders can be idled while driving with negligible resistance, which means halted fuel injection; The A/C can be run on the high-voltage battery pack and/or the engine; Auto idle stop of the engine with all utilities still active; And, starter-less starts. Yes, any other Civic could do these things, if only they had IMA. Hybrid technology has to move out of being a niche application and become the de facto engine system. It is years ahead of the efficiencies that can be dreamed up for just the engine alone.
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