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New Civic Answers Call Of The Wild

There's only one word to describe this car: showstopper. Honda hopes the model will change its image forever - and judging by the reception the all-new Civic received at its Geneva Motor Show unveiling, the company is well on the way to achieving its goal.

By Mat Watson

08th March 2005

The wild features won't be toned down when the production version is revealed at the Frankfurt exhibition in September. According to the hatchback's designer Toshiyuki Okumoto, it will be virtually identical. Of course, regular readers of Auto Express already know that, because we published exclusive spy shots in issue 834.

Okumoto was given the job of re-styling the firm's best-selling model after winning an internal competition between Honda's European and Jap-anese design teams. He's part of the latter outfit, and explained: "I wanted to create a car that would look unique and original. The current Civic is very conservative, and it's important for this version to be the opposite of that."

Listening to the gasps of the crowd during the unveiling at the Swiss expo, Okumoto has succeeded. Our spy shots of the newcomer revealed it would be lower and wider than the present model - but no one was expecting the face hidden beneath the black plastic cladding to be quite so radical.
What really grabs the attention is the single visor-style transparent lens cover spanning the width of the car's nose. Combined with sharp bonnet creases and a deep front bumper that has an integrated splitter, this gives the Honda a truly aggressive look. It's so far removed from the current-generation Civic that, apart from the badge on the back, it's impossible to tell they're related.

The daring new design is continued round the side, where the front wheel-arches feature a distinctive kick-up to meet the bonnet. Meanwhile, the high shoulder line, reverse-angle C-pillar and curved roof give the fresh five-door a coupĪƒ©-like profile. This effect is enhanced by the Alfa Romeo 156-style hidden rear door handles.

At the back, the daring wrap-around single light cover is repeated and exaggerated by the spoiler, which is shaped into the glass of the rear window. The sporty design is completed by the integrated twin rear exhaust pipes.

Okumoto told us he was keen to make sure the Civic would appeal to European buyers. "That's why I spent three weeks in Italy, to gain inspiration for the styling," he said. However, the trip wasn't to copy the look of other manufacturers' work. "I was keen to make sure our car had a presence like nothing before it," he added.

When the new Honda arrives here early next year, it will be available with the firm's acclaimed 2.2-litre i-CDTi diesel engine. A range of economical petrol units will also be offered, while the flagship Type R gets a new version of the high-revving i-VTEC unit. This is likely to produce around 220bhp, to compete with the latest hot hatches.

Regardless of the engine choice, bosses claim all models will deliver a sporty drive, set new standards for the small family car segment and move the Civic into the premium sector.

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