The design sketch below is in indication of where Honda’s design team are heading with the next Civic, and it looks like they’re off to a great start.
OK, so the striking looks are probably little more than the enthusiastic scribblings of a design team let loose for the afternoon, but if the final production version can come close to this then we’re in for a great looking hatch. The final design is more likely to be an evolution of the current Civic with a sprinkling of design features from the CR-Z coupe.
The biggest concern is whether or not we’ll see a Type R model, and if we do what will be used to power it. Earlier this year Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said that the company “must provide good products to our customers with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions”.
I’m all in favour of affordability and at least Takanobu-san mentioned speed, but low C02 emissions don’t sit well with the high-revving naturally aspirated engines that are associated with Type R models. Don’t forget that EU emissions regs killed off the current Civic Type R’s 2.0-litre VTEC.
Current speculation suggests that the Civic will get the latest range of petrol engines, offering more power and using less fuel, while they’ll also get a new smaller capacity diesel. There’ll also be a hybrid version, using the latest generation of Honda’s petrol/electric powertrain.
Expect the new model to be shown late next year before it’s anticipated arrival in 2012.