Honda brings virtual gearshift technology to the Civic
Honda has added the S+ Shift feature it introduced on the Prelude to the gearless Civic hybrid. The system uses software to mimic the gearshifts of an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Honda has carried over the S+ Shift virtual gearshift technology it introduced on the Prelude last year to the Civic. The aim is to make the hybrid family car more enjoyable to drive.
The feel of gears in a car without them
The Civic has no conventional gearbox; instead it uses an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT) with no fixed gear ratios. With S+ Shift, Honda uses software to recreate the sound, feel and driving excitement of the quick shifts of an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The system precisely controls engine speed and power delivery during acceleration and deceleration. Combined with Active Sound Control, which amplifies the engine sound, the result is a sensation of changing gears. According to Honda, when the driver downshifts, they feel genuine engine braking and perfectly timed throttle blips. With S+ Shift switched off, the paddles behind the steering wheel are used to adjust the strength of regenerative braking.
Hybrid system unchanged
The Civic's hybrid system is unchanged: a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor together produce 181 horsepower. The gasoline engine mostly runs to generate power for the electric motor. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds.
In the UK, S+ Shift comes as standard on the Sport trim, priced from £34,530, and the Advance trim, priced from £37,880.
This article was compiled with the help of AI from information published by Auto Express.
