Honda Civic Frankfurt• Next-generation Honda Civic due early 2012
• Evolutionary design focuses on aerodynamics
• Economical 2.2-litre diesel emits 110g/km of CO2

Honda Civic gallery:

 

Honda Civic Frankfurt

The 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is underway and the Honda Civic is one of the most significant car launches taking place. Deputy Web Editor Stuart Mile is on hand to give us a closer look.

What is it?

The British-built rival (Swindon, in fact) to the Ford Focus has been restyled for wider appeal with a more grown up look. Some will bemoan the loss of space age styling from the current Honda Civic, but the Japanes carmaker reckons it’ll be more popular with more buyers. The SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra style black nose looks good on the dark green showcar, but it may not suit every body colour.

What’s it like?

Not as big a head-turner as the new Jaguar C-X16, but no less significant. Honda says the car has been styled to be aerodynamic and slip through the air, which reduces fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and noise. Designers have worked in a clever rear light which also acts as a spoiler to smooth airflow over the car. Class-leading space for passengers and luggage is being claimed, and Honda is making much of its reputation for reliability.

 

Does it have a sensible diesel engine this time?

Yes. It’s a vastly improved version of the 2.2-litre diesel unit, which sees its emissions drop from 139g/km to just 110g/km – the lowest emissions for an engine of this size. Just imagine how green a 1.6-litre diesel could be…

Will it be fun?

Torsion beam rear suspension is often seen as old-fashioned, but Honda reckons it’ll work well in the Civic. Engineers tell us it uses fluid-filled bushes to improve ride comfort, handing and high-speed stability, and the set-up has the added bonus of being more compact to improve the boot’s packaging. However, the Civic is up against very tough competition in the shape of the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf, so it will need to be good.

When can I buy it?

The latest Honda Civic goes on sale in early 2012 and is expected to cost just a few hundred pounds more than the equivalent current model, from between £14,00 to £23,000.

By Stuart Milne, deputy web editor