Honda's next generation Civic will take inspiration from this conceptHonda's Civic coupé concept, revealed at the New York motor show, will inform the next five-door Civic hatchback, due in 2017
The front half of the Honda Civic coupé, revealed at the recent New York motor show, is near identical to the next-generation five-door, according to Honda UK boss Philip Crossman.
Only the rear third of the five-door differs from the coupé. Both models share a new, global Civic platform that will also yield a Type R, a four-door saloon and, although it has yet to be confirmed, possibly a Tourer.
The new Civic is about 18 months away, said Crossman, and development of the model in Japan, the US and the UK is well under way.
There’s also likely to be a hybrid version. “We’ll come back with a class-leading hybrid powertrain in the next five years,” said Crossman, “and it’s likely to make as much impact as the VTEC valve system.”
Crossman admitted that Honda has fallen behind with hybrids, despite being the first manufacturer to launch one, with the Insight coupé.
Honda’s Swindon plant will build the five-door Civic for all markets around the world, including the US and Asia, where demand for the hatchback version is rising.
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