Honda appears to be the next automaker to join the downsized, turbocharged engine craze. Automotive News reports that the next-generation Civic - possibly arriving as early as this year - will feature a turbocharged four-cylinder as its base engine.

"Downsized turbocharging will be the base, even for the Civic," said Yoshiharu Yamamoto, global r&d head of Honda.

The turbocharged engine will be a 1.5L four-cylinder that will deliver the power of a normally-aspirated 2.0 to 2.4L four-cylinder engine with excellent torque and better fuel efficiency according to Yamamoto.

The new engine is expect to go into production later this year at Honda's Anna, Ohio plant.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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Be interesting to see just how reliable and if they truly get real world MPG as everyone keeps touting they do. So Far Fords Turbo V6 truck motor does not seem to get the MPG they advertise.

so should we expect a 160-190hp number?

Pretty much everyone these days can get 100 hp - 120 hp per liter from a turbo-4 with their eyes closed. As the 1.5 would probably be the base engine with a mind for fuel economy, I would think they'd stick more towards the lower end of the scale... 150hp sounds about right. 

I'm actually surprised they aren't going with a 3-cylinder

I also read that the UK produced 5 door Civic will be sold in the US , as the UK factory is underused.  The car will compete against the Golf and other 5 door hatchbacks.

Yay for turbos!

I can't wait to see these on the showroom floor. I bet these will be fun little cars to drive. I might go and test drive one when they come out.

Oh, and also, yay for turbos!