The first details about the upcoming 2012 Honda Civic have already started to circulate online. Honda’s most popular model will be offered in three different configurations, intended for three distinct automotive markets. The majority of European drivers are more concerned about finding a parking space than hauling a boat to the lake, so for them Honda is producing the hatchback. Americans aren’t so much worried about the size of their vehicle, but looking good in it is a must, so the Japanese automaker will give us the same coupe that we have been enjoying for years. Because the Japanese market is just as concerned about looking good as the Americans, and their streets are as cramped as in Europe, Honda is making something in between the traditional two box hatch and three box sedan for their domestic market.
Honda will also be bringing back the Civic Hybrid for 2012, this time powered by a 1.5 Liter engine combined to an electric motor. The next generation Civic Hybrid will come with all the features that made it a hit when it debuted, but over the next three years, Honda will come up with even more gas saving features. On the other hand, what we do know is that Honda’s CR-Z will also receive a 1.5 Liter four cylinder mated to either a CVT or a traditional six speed manual transmission. The CR-Z’s official debut will come this October at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and should be in showrooms as early as 2010.
Think car tuning parts are expensive? Turns out the pictures of tuner parts are too. Although this print is a large 23 by 33 inches, it commands an asking price of 39,900 Yen (about $405). Very un-Mugen-like, (Mugen means unlimited in Japanese) the company will only be offering this limited edition print until the end of this month.
The Civic Honda Factory Performance (HFP) Concept sedan revealed today at the SEMA Show represents a new approach on performance improvement. With more consumer concern about fuel prices, future customers may want to maximize the performance of their vehicles without compromising fuel economy. The best way to do that is to put the car on a diet
The concept features: HFP body kit, super-light alloy wheels with aerodynamic covers, a lighter HFP exhaust system and an upgraded HFP suspension kit.
It also offers the possibility of improving both fuel economy and performance. In fact, a very similar package has proven its worth on the race tracks of Japan on the Civic Type R race car, which campaigned in a spec series called the Super Taikyu Series.
Honda’s small car is getting a small reduction in price. Qualifed customers can get a 36-month Civic lease for $189 a month with $1,999 down. Previously lease terms were $199 a month with $2,799down. The Civic is one of the last Honda models to get special financing. "That’s a car they didn’t have to incentivize to sell," says Chad Jennings, finance director of Joe Marina Honda in Tulsa, Okla.
Honda will unveil the next generation (ninth) Civic in 2010. Here is an exclusive rendering of what reports suggest the future car may looks like. Based on the OSM Concept unveiled by Honda at the British Motor Show, the future little Honda will likely look more aggressive in its European form and hopefully this look will spill over into North America.
Although Honda has not announced plans to bring the hatchback version of the Civic back to the U.S., we chose this rendering to give us all something to drool over. For Euro Civic fans, sources indicate that the future Civic hatchback will carry over the current single strip light cluster at the rear, but the split rear screen has been dropped to improve visibility.
Honda currently makes two different versions of the Civic. Just like the Accord, the car offered in Europe is a different design and rides on a different platform. The last two generations of the Civic in the U.S. have taken the car away from the youth and turned it into mom and pop’s second car. Gone are the days of the performance-oriented double-wishbone front suspension (2001), instead we get more interior room. It may be reliable, but it lost most of its passion.
The true hope is that with the 2010 update, we will get back the hatchback or at least something similar to the sporty design from our rendering of Honda’s own OSM Concept. Honda make it dependable, but make sure it has a pulse.
