Frankfurt Motor Show 2011: Honda Civic

So here’s the new, ninth-generation Honda Civic, freshly revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. And I think it’s fair to say that it’s a gentle evolution of the very forward-looking, current eighth-incarnation of the car that’s sold 20 million units around the world since 1972, and 650,000 in the UK alone.

Petrolheads are always interested in a new Civic because at some point down that model line there’ll be a new Civic Type-R to enjoy; around 200bhp of sharp-handling, rev-tastic fun.

But, times have changed and naturally aspirated high performance engines are a little too juicy to fit Honda’s green-leaning bill. So will there be a ninth-generation Civic Type-R? Probably, but it’ll more likely be eco-turbo powered, with at least 250bhp to match the hot hatch competition.

Onto the car we see here, and there is much of the familiar about it.

The designers of the new Civic wanted to keep the sporty and advanced elements of the car’s character but tailor them to express the new model’s more dynamic feel. “We have lowered the height by 20mm and increased the width by 10mm compared with the current car,” comments Mitsuru Kariya, Civic Development Leader. 

“Defining the correct proportions was the most important challenge for the design of the new Civic,” says Kariya. We enhanced the sporty aspect of the design while creating a clean, dynamic shape.”

It’s definitely Civic and it’s definitely Honda, but I’m not totally sold on the “smeared” wheel arches. And this quote could be a nod towards the future of any hot Civic models:

This concept was a clear break in a new direction, rather than relying on sheer strength and engine power to convey a sporty image, a “blended body”’ with reduced resistance would demonstrate a smarter image for the new Civic. An example of this new image is the new rear combination light that works as an aerodynamic spoiler, managing air flow over the top and sides of the car.

Hmm, all the blending in the world won’t a Type-R make without a bit of good ol’ grunt.

Honda reined in absolutely everything when the world recession stuck in 2007 / 2008, but information dripping out of big-boss Frankfurt speeches seem to give impressions that the famously motorsport-driven manufacturer are getting done with the tough times and are up for some sporty fun again. Perhaps even back to F1? But, every Honda road car or race project for the future must have a strong eco-focus.

And while this new Civic is funky-ultra-modern-styled, the brand will never forget their practical roots. They’ve given it a large boot, wide interior space and upped their game in terms of quality look and feel of inner materials and touch-surfaces.

No doubt the new Civic will be a refined and well-made family car with as much frugality as the engineers can squeeze out of their next generation of petrol and diesel engines - the new 1.8-litre petrol engine delivers a 10 per cent CO2 reduction; the 2.2-litre diesel engine reduces CO2 emissions by nearly 20 per cent. But, whenever I hear the name Civic I always immediately think Type-R; with revs, aggression and grip aplenty. But is there a future for R-cars at Honda? Let's hope so.  
















www.honda.co.uk/cars/civic5door/

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By Daniel Anslow

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