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Honda is celebrating 50 years of the Civic model, and has curated new research to celebrate some of the most iconic cultural movements of the past five decades since the car first went on sale.
The list was commissioned by Honda and Dr Ruth Adams, Senior Lecturer in Cultural & Creative Industries at King’s College London, to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Civic, which launched on July 12th, 1972 and has gone on to sell over 27.5 million units worldwide, with order books for the 11th generation hybrid model opening today (July 12th).
London’s first Gay Pride march and the release of David Bowie’s iconic ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars’ – both in 1972 – were the first events to make the list.
The 1980s boasted the highest number of cultural highs – 14, including Torvill and Dean’s unforgettable ice skating performance at the Winter Olympics, the launch of satellite TV and the debut episode of EastEnders.
The 1990s proved to be a huge leap for intercontinental travel and culture, with the opening of the Channel Tunnel, connecting the UK to mainland Europe, in 1994. Other significant events included the Queen opening Buckingham Palace to the public (1993), the publication of the first Harry Potter book and the appearance of Banksy’s first mural (both 1997).
The new millennium brought huge advances in technology which have changed the way we live, as the first broadband internet service was installed in Basildon in 2000, and the advent of the video streaming service YouTube followed shortly in 2005.
Most recently and in a nod to the ever popular 1980s, this year’s re-emergence of Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ thanks to the latest Stranger Things season on Netflix completed the list.
A separate survey of 2,000 adults who drive regularly also found that for many individuals, cars are associated with our major milestones. Some 88 per cent of respondents said passing their driving test was a major turning point in their life, while 87 per cent of respondents agreed that a new car was also an important moment.
People were also asked which life events they associated with the car they had at the time, with first jobs (22 per cent), being on holiday (20 per cent) and having a child (19 per cent) emerging top.
In addition, almost half of us (41 per cent) go for a drive to process a big piece of news and nearly a third (30 per cent) say they were in the car listening to the radio when a major world event happened.
50 Iconic Cultural Movements – Compiled by Honda and Dr Ruth Adams
1972 - London's first Gay Pride march takes place 1972 - David Bowie releases ‘The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars 1973 - Slade's ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ takes the Christmas No.1 slot for the first time 1974 - ABBA wins Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Waterloo’ at the Brighton Dome 1975 - The Sex Pistols play their first ever live show 1977 - Saturday Night Fever brings disco to the cinema 1977 - Star Wars takes UK cinemas by storm 1979 - The UK elects the first ever female Prime Minister 1980 - The Rubiks Cube launches in the UK 1980 - PacMan computer game is released 1981 - MTV launches with the first video being ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ 1981 - The first London Marathon and Great North Run take place 1982 - Channel 4 launches on 2nd November 1983 - Breakfast TV launches on BBC1 at 06:30 on 17 January 1984 - London Fashion Week launches at Olympia 1984 - Torvill and Dean make history with their ice skating performance at the Winter Olympics 1984 - Satellite TV launches in the UK 1984 - Band Aid is formed and releases ‘Do they Know It’s Christmas’ 1985 - The first episode of Eastenders airs on BBC One 1985 - The original Live Aid event is held at Wembley Stadium 1987 - Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charlene (Kylie Minogue) marry in ‘Neighbours’ 1988 - Acid House scene erupts across the UK, leading to the birth of rave culture 1991 - Linda McCartney launches the first meat-free food range in UK supermarkets 1993 – The Queen announces the opening of Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time 1994 - The Channel Tunnel (or ‘Chunnel’ as it was known) opens, connecting the UK to mainland Europe by road 1994 - First television broadcast of Glastonbury Festival 1995 - Damien Hirst wins The Turner Prize 1996 - Girl Power movement begins with the arrival of The Spice Girls 1996 - England hosts and reaches semi-finals of Euro 96, with ‘Three Lions’ becoming the unofficial national anthem 1997 - The first Harry Potter book, ‘Harry Potter and the Philospher’s Stone’ is published, introducing a new generation to reading 1997 - New Labour comes to power, with D:Reem’s ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ as the theme tune 1997 - Banksy's first mural appears in Bristol 2000 - The first series of Big Brother launches in the UK 2000 - the first home broadband service is installed in Basildon 2000 - Tate Modern opens in London, attracting over 40 million visitors since launch 2002 - The first season of Pop Idol airs, with Will Young declared the winner 2003 - England wins the Rugby World Cup 2004 - The first season of Strictly Come Dancing airs, won by Natasha Kaplinsky and Brendan Cole 2005 - YouTube launches, changing the way videos are shared and watched 2010 - The first episode of The Great British Bake Off is aired on BBC Two 2011 - 50 Shades of Grey is released and becomes the best-selling British book of all time 2011 - Prince William marries Kate Middleton 2012 - London bathes in the glory of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee 2013 - Disney's 'Frozen' inspires kids worldwide… cue the singing of ‘Let it Go’ 2014 - Everyone (it seemed!) did the Ice Bucket Challenge 2014 - The first same-sex marriages take place in the UK 2017 - TikTok launches, bringing dance routines to social media 2020 - Sir Captain Tom Moore achieves a UK no.1 cover with ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ alongside Michael Ball 2021 - England hosts, and reaches the final of the Euros 2022 - ‘Stranger Things’ sends Kate Bush’s ‘Running Up That Hill’ to No.1 37 years since it launched Honda polled 2,000 UK adults aged 18+ who drive regularly via OnePoll
Dr Adams said: “Certain cultural events take on a significance not just for the individuals who were there, they become part of our collective memory and identity. These events represent our shared experience and sensibility. We see ourselves reflected in them – often at our best, sometimes at our worst.
“They shape what sociologist Benedict Anderson described as the ‘imagined community’ of a nation, the ‘social glue’ that binds us together. The mass media and, latterly, social media have brought these events into our homes and on to our screens giving us a sense of togetherness with others in this national audience.
“The UK has become a ‘smaller’ country over the past half century; we are ‘closer’ to one another than ever before. Car ownership becoming a reality for most has allowed people to travel more freely than previous generations, broadening outlooks and facilitating mass participation in leisure and culture.
“Opportunities have been seized to transform cultural moments into enduring movements, with a capacity to change attitudes and even legislation, making manifest a vision of a more mobile, diverse and tolerant culture.”
Rebecca Adamson, Head of Automobile at Honda, said: “Fifty years and eleven versions of Civic has given us the opportunity to reflect on what was happening at the time, and exponential progress in so many aspects of society.
“Cars have been part of our movement, and although the cars we drive have constantly evolved over the last five decades, the emotional attachment we feel with them, and the association of memories with them, is timeless.”
Originally launched as a car for the world, the Civic’s enduring popularity is testament to the pioneering work of Honda engineers over the past half a century. Across 11 generations, it has introduced its own progressive evolution of the original design, while showcasing advanced technologies and new levels of performance but retaining the winning formula of a spacious, fun to drive and economical compact car.
Building on 50 years of heritage, the latest Civic blends strong performance and efficiency with improved levels of interior comfort, visual appeal and overall usability. As part of the brand’s 2022 ‘Electric Vision’ commitment to electrify all mainstream models, the new Civic features the most advanced iteration of Honda’s award-winning e:HEV full-hybrid powertrain system as standard, offering engaging dynamics and performance with impressive economy and efficiency.
The new Honda Civic e:HEV is available to order from Honda dealers from today and is priced at £29,595, or from £349* per month through Honda Finance.
For more information about the Honda Civic, visit https://www.honda.co.uk/cars/new/civic-hybrid/overview.html
Civic Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary
This year Honda is celebrating 50 years of its iconic Civic. Developed as a ‘car for the world’, more than 27.5 million Civics have been sold in 170 countries since the model was first launched in 1972. As it enters its sixth decade with the launch of the 11th generation, the Civic continues to set new class benchmarks and exceed the expectations of customers around the world.
The Civic’s enduring popularity is testament to the pioneering work of Honda engineers over the past half a century. Each generation has introduced its own progressive evolution of the original Civic design, advanced technologies and new levels of performance, while maintaining the same purpose as the first Civic: a spacious, fun to drive and economical compact car.
1972 – 1979: A Civic for all citizens
The first Civic was developed as a global car for all markets, offering exceptional practicality in everyday driving. It was one of the first Honda cars to be sold in Europe, achieving instant acclaim for its compact design, impressive fuel economy and usability.
Equipped with a revolutionary Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) engine, the Civic became the first vehicle to comply with the world’s strictest emission regulations, the 1970 Clean Air Act, setting the standard for future emissions targets across the global automotive industry.
The first generation Civic was first produced in Suzuka Factory, Japan. Accumulated production volume reached 1 million units within the first four years.
Into the 80s: Civic comes of age
In 1979 the second generation Civic arrived along with an improved CVCC-II engine, building on the success of the original Civic with a 1.3 litre engine that offered a smoother delivery of power as well as being more economical. The range of models was also extended with a 1.5L sedan, hatchback and wagon also offered.
A five-speed manual transmission was also added to the line-up. The model introduced a new distinctive two-box trapezoidal design with the front grille and headlights getting a more angular look. However, this shape was short lived as the Civic grew in popularity and a new model was required to meet consumer demand for larger cars.
The third generation Civic arrived in 1983 with a wider wheelbase and a more angular design. It is notable for the introduction of Honda’s ‘Man Maximum-Machine Minimum’ principle, a human-centric approach to design that ensures the technology and layout served the needs of the driver and passengers. Today, this principle still helps define all Honda models, to help deliver the space and usability expected by modern drivers.
It was available in three body styles: a three-door that emphasised sporty driving, a more practical four-door sedan, and a five-door Civic Shuttle station wagon that offered exceptional space and utility. A sportier Civic Si variant was also introduced with a 1.6 litre DOHC series inline four-cylinder engine.
1987 – 2000: New standards of quality and performance
In 1987, the fourth generation Civic introduced a new range of engine options featuring Honda’s VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system. Its variable timing mechanism revolutionised engine technology, delivering greater performance at high revs and improved fuel consumption at low revs – landing the Civic several awards.
The fifth generation Civic quickly followed in 1991, debuting a sleeker and more aerodynamic form, for a sportier appeal – while maintaining the everyday functionality the car had become synonymous with. The sixth generation Civic was developed to create a higher value than its class. In 1990s, lower fuel consumption and other environmental actions became more significant.
As such, this model had a newly developed VTEC engine. It also featured ‘Hondamatic Transmission’ an automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the first time, which offered seamless gear changes and manual-like economy.
Building on the exceptional dynamic capabilities of the standard Civic, Honda debuted the performance-focused Type R variant in 1997. With a focus on delivering the most extreme performance yet seen from Civic, it became the catalyst for 25 years of success for Honda in the competitive hot hatch sector.
2001 – 2021: The millennial Civic
The seventh generation arrived in 2000 and became the first Civic to offer hybrid technology in 2001.
This Civic recorded the world’s most fuel-efficient 5-seater production gasoline vehicle with ultra-high fuel economy of 29.5km/L.
In 2005, the eighth generation hatchback arrived with futuristic styling for European markets, a Perspex grille and triangular accents – including the dual tailpipes – that made it one of the most distinctive vehicles on the road. It was also the first generation of Civic to feature Honda’s Magic Seats, where the rear seat cushions can be raised to create a tall loading area.
This was enabled by engineers situating the fuel tank beneath the front seats – a blueprint for achieving interior space and usability still followed today in various Honda models.
The ninth generation Civic added further refinement to create a well-rounded package for customers, including class-leading efficiency. Featuring a revised 1.6 DTEC engine, the vehicle achieved a Guinness World Records title for the ‘Lowest fuel consumption – all 24 contiguous EU countries (all cars)’, recording an average 2.82 litres per 100km (100.31mpg) over 13,498km (8,387 miles), in a 25 day drive across all 24 EU contiguous countries.
A completely remodelled 10th generation arrived in 2015 with a choice of two VTEC TURBO engines and incorporated advanced safety features and driver aids, Honda SENSING, for the first time. Engineered with a stiffer chassis and greater dynamic performance, it provided the perfect platform for the 2017 Civic Type R, which set new performance boundaries for high-performance hatchbacks.
The car was universally praised for its direct handling, instant throttle response, high top speed, stability and exceptional stopping power – all of which contributed to the Type R setting a new benchmark lap time for front-wheel drive cars at the Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany in April 2017.
2022: A new era of Civic
Building on 50 years of heritage, the 11th generation Civic blends strong performance and efficiency with improved levels of interior comfort, visual appeal and overall usability. The latest iteration marks a major milestone for Honda in Europe, as it’s the latest model in the range to be electrified, completing Honda Motor Europe’s 2022 ‘Electric Vision’ commitment to electrify all mainstream models It features the most advanced iteration of the brand’s multiple award winning e:HEV full-hybrid powertrain system as standard, offering engaging dynamics and performance with impressive economy and efficiency.
“Ever since the first generation, that launched to such great acclaim, the Honda Civic has been an iconic model for European customers,” said Tom Gardner Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe Ltd. “The 11th generation encapsulates the core characteristics of functionality, usability and comfort from the very first generation Civic. It has been engineered to ensure that its powertrain, steering and suspension deliver the engaging levels of performance, dynamic response and feedback that have always been central to the Civic’s appeal.”
2022: A new era of Civic
Building on 50 years of heritage, the 11th generation Civic blends strong performance and efficiency with improved levels of interior comfort, visual appeal and overall usability. The latest iteration marks a major milestone for Honda in Europe, as it’s the latest model in the range to be electrified, completing Honda Motor Europe’s 2022 ‘Electric Vision’ commitment to electrify all mainstream models It features the most advanced iteration of the brand’s multiple award winning e:HEV full-hybrid powertrain system as standard, offering engaging dynamics and performance with impressive economy and efficiency.
“Ever since the first generation, that launched to such great acclaim, the Honda Civic has been an iconic model for European customers,” said Tom Gardner Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe Ltd. “The 11th generation encapsulates the core characteristics of functionality, usability and comfort from the very first generation Civic. It has been engineered to ensure that its powertrain, steering and suspension deliver the engaging levels of performance, dynamic response and feedback that have always been central to the Civic’s appeal.”
This year Honda is celebrating 50 years of its iconic Civic. Developed as a ‘car for the world’, more than 27.5 millionCivics have been sold in 170 countries since the model was first launched in 1972. As it enters its sixth decade with the launch of the 11th generation, the Civic continues to set new class benchmarks and exceed the expectations of customers around the world.
The Civic’s enduring popularity is testament to the pioneering work of Honda engineers over the past half a century. Each generation has introduced its own progressive evolution of the original Civic design, advanced technologies and new levels of performance, while maintaining the same purpose as the first Civic: a spacious, fun to drive and economical compact car.
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