We bring you exclusive spy shots of the next-generation Civic that will hit the market next year. It features a styling akin to the current City
The new-generation Civic, due for launch in 2012, made its first public appearance in the form of a concept recently at the North American International Motor Show.
What we have here, along with the concept picture, are the images of the production version that was spotted by our colleagues at CAR Middle East in Dubai.
Very much like the concept, the production version sports the same styling that originated with the Civic Type R and then percolated to the current generation City. Curves are gone and sharp edges are in. The three-bar grille and angular headlamps are the main elements that remind us of the City. At the rear, the Civic has taken a much bland stance and done away with the round tail-lamps. What you will see on the new-generation Civic is a set of hexagonal (sort of) lamps at the rear that will, no doubt remind you of the old Camry.
Only Honda can explain why they are taking cues from other brands for the rear styling – something that we first saw on the City that resembled the 3-Series. Inside, the dash looks subtler than before. It continues to be two-tier, albeit re-designed to suit modern styling theories. The word is that Honda are testing a 1.5-litre engine in the new Civic, which means that we are about to go down on cubic capacity and up on fuel efficiency. If it’s the same motor that does duty in the City, then what is the point of this car in a segment above the City? In any case, there is over a year to go before the new Civic appears in the Indian market. Before that, though, Honda have given us a new variant of the current Civic that now includes a sunroof.
