Motor Trend names Honda Civic top car for 2006 in U.S.

The Honda Civic, which in its latest incarnation offers drivers a more sleek and upscale take on the popular compact car, has claimed the honor of 2006 Car of the Year from Motor Trend magazine.

All four new Civic models _ a sedan, a coupe, a high-performance model called the Si and a gasoline-electric hybrid _ were given the award.

"Honda deserves a standing ovation for not playing it safe again," Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend editor in chief, said in a statement Tuesday. "The engineering passion that &to=http://english.pravda.ru/comp/2002/07/25/33210.html' target=_blank>Honda ... was founded on radiates from these new Civics."