When most people think of a custom Honda Civic, clear lenses on the tail lamps, a lowered suspension and a big 'ole coffee-can exhaust pipe probably come to mind. When Mike Turner set out to design his own custom Civic, though, the only thing that his vision shared with most others is an esthetically-challenged body kit. In the case of the Aerocivic, the homemade body kit in question extends the nose and tail of the vehicle in an airfoil shape of sorts and adds hinged wheel skirts around the previously exposed tires. As we mentioned the last time we showed you this car, the Aerocivic's owner claims pretty radical fuel economy figures due to his modifications. The video at this link explains that Turner is able to achieve seventy miles per gallon while cruising at highway speeds and using hypermiling techniques. If Turner's estimates are accurate, four-hundred dollars, some elbow grease and a few gawkers questioning your sanity are all that stand between you and a super-economical Aero-car of your very own.

[Source: WCNC, h/t to Darin at Metro MPG]

We've been over the Civic Hybrid which was decorated by Panic At The Disco before, along with the dates and locations where fans of the band (or the car) can pick up the associated tour. Therefore, this is just a friendly reminder that the tour itself started on Friday, April 10. We'd likely have forgotten all about it ourselves if it hadn't been for the press release (pasted after the break, naturally) issued by Honda on the matter. If you don't yet have tickets and want to pick them up, you still have time. Not all dates are sold out yet and the tour is running through June 14.

While we're on the subject, we may as well chime in that PATD's new record, Pretty. Odd. (Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen), is currently available as well.

All the way back in December of last year, ABG blogger Mike Magda was able to arrange a test drive of the Honda Civic GX, which is the version of the car which runs on natural gas. Mike shared a few thoughts with us about the car which you can find here. But, what would it be like to live with the car for an extended period of time? Hopefully, we'll all be able to figure some of that out with the assistance of Edmunds Inside Line, which has one of the GX's in their long-term fleet of cars. Additionally, they plan on getting a personal CNG filling station installed so that they can fill the car up at their convenience. This brings up one potential issue with the car: the lack of filling stations. The editors at Inside Line promise to keep us up-to-date on the issues they have with the car, so let's all follow along for the ride.

Related:

• LA Auto Show: Honda Civic GX quick test drive

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

John True, professional jazz piano player from California, has filed a class action lawsuit against American Honda Motor Co. for misleading mileage claims of the Honda Civic Hybrid. The question that this suit seems to revolve around is whether or not Honda misled consumers with inflated mileage claims. Did Honda imply that it is possible to get 49 miles per gallon in the city and 51 mpg on the highway? Is it impossible to meet those figures? Those are the questions that will be considered in the suit. Sage Marie, speaking on behalf of Honda, said that the "vast majority of Civic Hybrid customers are satisfied with the performance since it delivers consistently and substantially higher numbers than comparable non hybrid vehicles in the real world. It is possible to attain the EPA estimates, and customers do all the time."

John True was only able to average 32 miles per gallon, which is WAY below the EPA's old estimates. You may recall that the EPA has changed the way that they do their testing to better reflect what drivers are likely to achieve in real life. Another question that the suit will attempt to answer was whether Honda knew that their car would not average what the EPA tests showed. If they knew that the car was not going to get those numbers, should they base their advertising around them? Also, some have suggested that Honda and Toyota may have written the software of the vehicles to perform well in the old EPA tests. If that is true, does it seem unethical to anybody? Remember, though, that nothing of this sort has been proven.

This may very well be the first time a manufacturer has been sued over unrealistic mileage claims. If this one is successful, it would not be shocking to see more like it in the future.

UPDATE: Read AutoblogGreen's exclusive interview with John True here.

Related:

• EPA does something about unrealistic mileage figures for new autos
• Your mileage will vary. On the new MPG estimates coming in 2008

[Source: The Detroit News]

I have been having an ongoing email conversation with a man who lives in California about the state of the green automotive choices for someone who fits into the middle-class kind of vehicle, but who wants a sense of style in their car and some driving pleasure. Past vehicles owned by this potential buyer include a hand-me-down Volvo 850 and a Mazda Miata. He is in the market for a new car, and as a reader of AutoblogGreen, would like something environmentally friendly, and possibly a bit "up-market" in appearance. He would also prefer a hatchback for practicality. His claim is that there are no stylish, mid-priced vehicles that fit his needs on American roads today. Is he right? The only logical thing to do is to look at each option, weigh the pros and cons of each and make the best decision possible. Maybe our readership can help pick out a non-economy car that offers style, driving pleasure and is reasonably green.

Please, continue after the break, and help out a fellow reader make a wise decision.

Saying that "safety, the environment and energy conservation in China" are the issues it wants to address, Honda Motor Co. rolled into the Shanghai Auto Show with the news that Dongfeng Honda would begin importing and selling the Civic Hybrid through dedicated Dongfeng Honda dealers.

Honda's slogan for the show is "Dreams, Technologies, Joys" and aside from the Civic Hybrid, Honda is also exhibiting the FCX Concept, the flexible-fuel Fit (E100 ready), the Green Boat 2 (which went 331.623 km on a liter of gasoline to win the first Honda Econopower Race in 2006, the 2007-painted scheme F1 machine, among other vehicles.

[Source: Honda]

An earlier blog noticed that the waiting list for hybrids is getting shorter in some regions. But with the growing popularity of subcompact vehicles in times of high gas prices, those vehicles are now scarce on dealer lots, at least in Columbus, Ohio.

Dealers there report demand is very high for the Honda Fit, which is not built in any of Honda's five North American assembly plants. Honda had targeted sales of up to 60,000 units but recently lowered expectations to 40,000 simply because they can't import enough vehicles. A new plant being built in Indiana could start producing vehicles in 2008.

The Fit gets lower gas mileage than a Civic but is priced more economically and appeals to budget-minded shoppers.

[Source: Columbus Dispatch]

Honda Motor Co. has scored another coup for its hybrid program. The Metropolitan Police of London is leasing over a hundred of the automaker's Civic hybrids as part of its "Safer Neighbor" program. States director of Transport Services Stuart Middleton of the Metropolitan Police, the hybrids, "meet police requirements and at the same time fulfil social responsibility to try and make our fleet of vehicles as green as possible. The police, like many other like-minded people, want to do their bit."

Related:

• Honda's July Civic hybrid sales up, Accord hybrid sales drop
• Honda's "While-U-Wait" carbon offset program
• Honda to build plant to support hybrid efforts

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Seven vehicles produced by Honda Motor Company have achieved certification from the U.S. government that they're fit for tax credits, the Internal Revenue Service reported on Thursday. In a roundabout way that would be tedious to explain here, the perk generally cuts off after Honda has sold its 60,000th hybrid vehicle. Vehicles in question include the 2005 and 2006 Civic, Accord and Insight models. Tax breaks range from $650 to $3,400, according to the release, which you'll find after the jump.

[Source: Internal Revenue Service]

It seems you can now get a car made by a major automobile manufacturer that will run on just about fuel you can think of (perhaps with slight modifications). We’ve recently had posts on compressed air vehicles, plug-in cars and now here comes information on Honda’s new natural gas-powered Civic GX. This car, which will be assembled in Ohio and will be available in New York State this fall, according to Gizmag. This vehicle is exciting not just because it’s rated as near-zero emissions vehicle, but because if you’re willing to buy a “Phill” natural gas home refueling system, you never have to go to a gas station ever again. The Phill, which connects to a house’s home natural gas supply, will also supply fuel to the car at about half the cost of standard gas at the local sprawlborhood Texaco. Of course, the gas delivery truck is going to have to stop by much more often. Other than what’s in the engine, the Civic GX is similar to the 2006 Civic LX. [Source: Gizmag. Image: Gizmag. Tip: Joel A]