Honda reveals next-gen Civic, hatch only for Aus

HONDA has revealed its plans for the next-generation Civic following the – almost – reveal of the eleventh-generation model which is set to be offered in the familiar hatch and sedan body types while also welcoming back the Type R nameplate.

We say the almost-reveal because Honda has not actually revealed the finished product yet, instead following Nissan’s lead (Z Proto) and debuting a nearly-finished prototype.

Nevertheless, the prototype is so far along its development process that we can still draw a heap of conclusions as to its styling and proportions while Honda has started to detail some of the key features and specifications.

Due to hit the North American market for the 2022 model year, local timing still remains up in the air for the time being with Honda Australia telling GoAuto it was too early to confirm any details, however it would only be the hatchback heading Down Under.

“The sedan body style will be finish up locally when the current model reaches the end of its lifecycle towards the middle of 2021,” a spokesperson said.

“The eleventh-generation Civic will be offered in the hatchback body style preferred by the majority of small car buyers in Australia, including the performance Type R variant.”

Compared to the current-gen car, the new Civic’s styling has been pared back in terms of complexity with the overwhelming feature being the abundance of straight lines, especially so at the front.

Gone are the busy headlights, layered grille and convoluted front bumper, replaced instead by a clean and simple arrangement centred around a new rectangular grille trapezoid lower intake.

Flanking the new grille is a slightly raised set of headlights capped by L-shaped LED daytime running lights.

Below the lights and flanking the big new intake is a pair of contrasting black flicks, within which reside a set of smaller intakes.

Of the two body types that will be offered Stateside, it was the sedan that was featured for the reveal.

In terms of the overall silhouette, the Civic Sedan flaunts more than a few similarities to the bigger Accord like its sloping roof and boot lines, the defining parabolic line that serves as the main styling feature on the flanks and the same subtle notch at the end of the window line.

At the back is an integrated lip spoiler, L-shaped tail-light arrangement and dual exhaust tips.

According to Honda, a few of the tenth-gen Civic’s key design features were carried over, including its “low overall height and low hip point”.

No concrete details have been revealed about the new model’s engines or underpinnings at this stage however Honda has said the new model will ride on “an even sportier, fun-to-drive new chassis” and sport “more powerful and fuel-efficient powertrains”.

Things inside the cabin are not quite so mysterious however with the brand having released a single design sketch revealing a clean and clutter-free interior with the vast majority of features and controls presumably accessed via the new 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.

Standard equipment details are also yet to be revealed however we do know there will be an all-digital instrument cluster – a first for the Civic.

As with almost every new model these days, standard safety technology will be stepped up in the new Civic with the latest version of Honda Sensing, more driver assist tech and new airbag designs.

When production starts in early to mid-2021, it will be the sedan which hits the North American market first, followed by the hatch, which in turn will be followed by the sportier Si and the inevitable Type R.

Honda Australia has sold 5923 examples of the current Civic so far this year ending October, accounting for 6.7 per cent of the sub-$40,000 small car segment.