New Honda Civic Natural Gas sedan qualifies for special privileges on California highways. 07/15/2011
Honda announced the impending release of the 2012 Civic Natural Gas back in April of this year, and the new car will not only allow consumers to save as much as 30 percent on fuel costs, it will also qualify to receive California's White Clean Air Vehicle decal.
The White decal is available for an unlimited number of drivers whose cars have either zero percent emissions or run on compressed natural gas (CNG). Vehicles that sport the decal will be qualified to use High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on the state's highways with only one driver until January 1, 2015, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency.
"Civic GX drivers in California have long enjoyed the benefits of driving a compressed natural gas vehicle, whether it was saving time commuting in the carpool lane, paying lower fuel prices, reducing dependence on oil or reducing their CO2 footprint," said Elmer Hardy, the senior manager of alternative fuel marketing at American Honda.
Sales of the current Civic GX in the first half of 2011 were more than triple what they were in the first half of 2010, and the new model will likely see similar, if not better, sales. The highway fuel economy of the Civic Natural Gas is 12.5 percent better than the GX, and the new car gets 5.5 percent better fuel efficiency in the city.
The new car will also be equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System - which has voice recognition - a USB audio interface and Bluetooth technology so you can hook all your electronics up with your car and focus on driving instead of fumbling for devices and getting distracted.