Honda was already well-known for making bikes however wished to turn out to be aggressive as a carmaker. The Civic was not solely fuel-efficient for the time but in addition certified for a stricter emissions ranking that different automakers hadn’t but achieved. The higher emission ranking was partly attributable to Honda’s expertise with smaller engines, permitting them to squeeze extra horsepower out of the automobile. The 1.2-liter 4-cylinder within the first Civic may generate as much as 60 horsepower, which was unprecedented on the time from such a small displacement engine.

Just as a decrease heart of gravity will help supply stability to a bike, Honda engineers believed it might additionally profit the Civic. So, they got here up with an total form that the automobile physique would conform to — a trapezoid. This trapezoid design widened the area between the wheels and lowered the roof peak, making a decrease heart of gravity for enhanced stability. Fortunately for followers of the automaker’s bike division, they continued to provide high-performance two-wheeled machines, together with the fastest Honda motorcycles ever built.