Civic IMA
Published: 15th November 2002
In place of the 1.0 litre 3-cylinder engine of the Insight, the 2003 Civic IMA uses a 1.3 litre 4-cylinder i-DSI gasoline engine similar to that used in the new Honda Jazz; it also features a more powerful electric motor, while numerous electrical components have been combined, lightened and reduced in size.
With its low fuel consumption and high torque at low and medium speed ranges, i-DSI technology is ideal for an IMA application. Its compact dimensions mean that the 1.3 litre engine is shorter than the normal Civic petrol engine, which allows the 10 kW electric motor/generator to be positioned between the engine and transmission within the same amount of engine bay space. From front of engine bay to back, the Civic IMA powertrain measures 575 mm, slightly narrower than a conventional Civic. The IMA power unit will be teamed with a 5-speed manual transmission for the UK.
The Civic’s second generation IMA system delivers increased performance and provides enhanced packaging flexibility when compared to that of the Honda Insight. Additionally, the IMA batteries and related components utilise minimal cargo space in the trunk, leaving room for items such as two large pieces of luggage or a baby buggy.
The ultra-thin DC brushless motor delivers the world's highest output density for an electric motor, achieving 30 per cent more torque than that used in the Insight – without any increase in size. This peaks at a particularly useful 1000 rpm (62 Nm).
Other significant enhancements of the IMA system include:
- New winding methods for the motor resulting in greater wire density
- New Intelligent Power Unit (IPU) combines the Power Control Unit (PCU) and the battery pack, which results in a 42 per cent reduction in volume
- Within the IPU the combination of the inverter and pre-driver results in a 28 per cent weight saving and a 39 per cent volume saving
- New high-density silicone wafers in the inverter contributing to 25 per cent less heat loss
- A new cooling system which combines two fans into one while consuming 85 per cent less energy to cool both the battery and the PCU, resulting in a 32 per cent weight reduction and a 20 per cent volume reduction
- A battery module with reduced resistance and reduced energy losses, which improves output density by 23 per cent. More welding points between the pole plates and current collector plates contribute to this improvement
- A battery box reduced in volume by 30 per cent and in weight by 6 per cent
| 2003 Civic 4dr IMA | 2002 Civic 5dr 1.6i VTEC petrol | 2002 Civic 5dr 1.7 diesel | |
| Displacement | 1339 cc | 1590 cc | 1686 cc |
| Compression ratio | 10.8:1 | 10.4 | 18.4 |
| No. of cylinders | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Power PS @ rpm | 97 / 5700 | 110 / 5600 | 100 / 4400 |
| Torque Nm @ rpm | 157 / 1500 | 152 / 4300 | 220 / 1800 |
| Fuel economy EU Combined (mpg) | 57 (est) | 42.8 | 56.5 |
| CO2 emissions (g/km) | 120 (est) | 156 | 134 |
| Emissions standard | Euro IV | Euro III | Euro III |
| Acceleration, 0-62 mph | 13 sec (est) | 10.4 sec | 11.5 |
| Max speed | 100 mph (est) | 114 mph | 112 mph |
