I've seen enough info about failing CVTs in the first HCH to scare me. Some of the posts I've seen are on this site, and then there is a subforum dedicated to the problem at Edmunds.

Is the 2006 CVT a complete redisign, and evolution of the previous version, or the same?

ya it is, there are videos hondas gloating the new technology in the hchII.

however it is still a traditional belt and pulley system from the previous hch, but to say they are identical technology is false.

the 2006 is a good step up from the first gens imho, i'm sure they took note of the flaws of the first hch and hopefully they are squashed in the 2nd gens.

i got around 20 km a liter when i drove a civic 5 spd using advanced hypermiler techniques
and now I drive a salvage nwh20 prius that gets almost to 25 km/l with 192,000 km to date.