Which Honda model was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door fastback sedan?

The Honda Civic was introduced in July 1972 as a two-door fastback sedan.

The first-generation Civic gave Honda a compact car with front-wheel drive, a transverse-mounted engine, and unusually good interior space for its small exterior dimensions. Its initial engine displaced 1,169 cc, and the model quickly became associated with economical, practical motoring. A three-door hatchback joined the range in September 1972, while other body styles followed during the first generation.

The timing was especially important. The Civic arrived just before the 1973 oil crisis, when buyers increasingly valued fuel economy. Honda later added its CVCC engine technology in December 1973; that design helped the car meet stringent U.S. emissions standards without requiring a catalytic converter or unleaded fuel for key pollutants.

The fastback sedan description can cause confusion because the Civic was also sold as a hatchback. The Honda Accord, launched in 1976, began as a larger three-door hatchback derived from the Civic’s platform rather than being the original 1972 fastback.