Last May, Honda announced a facelift for its Civic RS e:HEV in Japan. More than just cosmetic changes, the refresh also spec’d the hybrid Civic with S+ Shift, Honda’s advanced drive mode that simulates stepped gear changes through paddle shifters. The system was first introduced in the all-new Prelude.
This month, it looks like an S+ Shift-equipped Civic won’t be a Japan-exclusive after all. Honda Thailand announced a test-drive event for the new Honda Civic RS e:HEV from July 22 to 23 at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, and specifically highlights S+ Shift technology.
Originally, this feature was thought to only be available in the hatchback version of the hybrid Civic, but Thailand’s new Civic RS e:HEV retains its sedan form. Could Honda have officially spec’d the sedan with S+ Shift, and more important, will we also get it in the Philippines?
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It’s not a definite yes, but it’s looking more promising now than it did a few months ago. Traditionally, Thailand has always been the first in Southeast Asia to receive new versions of cars before they land in other parts of the region. If the S+ Shift-equipped Civic gets manufactured there—in the same Honda plant that builds our Civics—then there’s a good chance we’ll see this technology in a Civic hybrid here. Exciting. However...
While it is possible for Honda’s Prachinburi plant to make a left-hand-drive Civic RS e:HEV with S+ Shift for the Philippine market, there’s one barrier that doesn’t involve engineering but rather market strategy. Remember the Prelude from the first paragraph? Thailand never got an official launch for it...at least not yet. We, however, did—with a lot of criticism regarding the price, ours included.
Why does that matter? Well, the Prelude and the Civic RS e:HEV share the same powertrain and front-wheel-drive layout. But the Prelude is your Type R suspension-equipped coupe with a fun simulated eight-speed transmission—that, in Honda’s eyes, merits the P1.5 million gap between the Prelude and the Civic RS e:HEV. Now, if the hybrid Civic gets the same simulated eight-speed transmission, then one of the unique selling propositions of the Prelude vanishes. That becomes the issue.
One might argue that they’re completely different cars and that customers interested in the Prelude aren’t even looking in the Civic’s direction. Well, if that’s true, then Honda Cars Philippines, baka naman... The Civic has been growing more and more mature these past few generations; maybe it’s time to give it some spice!
