*Updated with hi res images*
These are the first spy shots of the 2012 Honda Civic. This vehicle, with its five-door hatch shape and funky rear door handles, is the European version that has never made its way to US soil. The 2012 Honda Civic is rumored to be the first Civic in generations to shrink in size. For the Japanese market, Edmunds Green Car Advisor has reported that the 2012 Civic will be sold only as a hybrid.
Expect the 2012 to arrive late in 2011.
More hi res photos after the jump
There's a provocative story about Honda over on Auto Observer today written by our own Bill Visnic. He points to Honda's announcement last week that it will delay the Civic redesign as indicative of larger problems at Honda, long regarded as Japan's most forward-thinking automaker.
The next-gen Civic, he notes, had to be pulled back because it was too large and, likely, not fuel-efficient enough to go head-to-head against increasingly frugal competition (the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Fiesta/Focus, the 2012 Elantra, etc.). It was, perhaps, destined to be big for big's sake like the current-generation Honda Accord.
Visnic argues, too, that despite Honda's reputation for knowing exactly what is on the mind of the car-buying public, the automaker hasn't had a hit in a while. He points to the slow-selling Insight and Pilot, the oddly proportioned Crosstour, and the upcoming CR-Z, which is apparently a better drive than its Insight sibling but still unlikely to be the smash hit Honda needs.
Beyond that, recent decisions suggest Honda isn't a leader in automotive engineering anymore. It's easy to point to the use of struts instead of double wishbones in the last two Civics, but Honda's engine lineup might be the bigger problem. Honda has been making its gas engines bigger over the last several years, but not more fuel-efficient, and none of them are direct-injected yet. The plan to offer diesels in the Acura line was scrapped. And companies like Fiat and BMW have moved ahead in valvetrain technology.
So there's a lot riding on the 2012 Honda Civic when it launches next year. If you were a Honda engineer, what would be on your checklist for this very important car?
Filed under: Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Honda
Next-generation Honda Civic may be delayed originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 May 2010 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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