Honda Civic redesign delayed until 2011

By Chris Anderson-Peters | May 18th, 2010

Changing market conditions and tougher fuel economy regulations are to blame for pushing back the arrival of Honda’s redesigned Civic until 2011.

The delay means the new Civic, Honda’s first redesigned Civic since the current Civic’s debut in 2005, is past the general five-year product replacement cycle.

John Mendel, Honda America’s executive vice president did not specify an exact time period, except that the new Civic will be out in 2011.

“We change vehicles as need be. The ability to do something based on more current information is better than waiting a full model cycle. Some of that is being able to have the opportunity to change what you see happening in the marketplace,” he told Automotive News.

Japanese carmaker Toyota experienced a similar life cycle extension on its Corolla in 2007 due to a lack of engineering resources, but the delayed arrival had no impact on sales.

The Honda Civic, which finds 1 million new buyers each year worldwide, will undergo major changes for the next generation. Sources say it will be larger than the current model but still feel about the same size.

In other Honda news, there are no delays to the Civic-based CR-V crossover with the redesign to arrive globally in 2011.

Read: Honda Civic Review.

Source: Automotive News

Ricky

Huh? The Civic came out in early 2006. According to the 5 year cycle, the new model would be due out in 2011 anyway.

Leon

The current generation Civic appeared first in its homeland Japan on August, 2005.
LessQQ

“The delay means the new Civic, Honda’s first redesigned Civic since the current Civic’s debut in 2005, is past the general five-year product replacement cycle.”

ABMPSV

Must be the tougher European fuel economy regulations. It is about time the Civic improve the fuel economy. City fuel economy is 10.4L/100km and Hwy 5.3L/100km. City fuel econmy should not be more than 8L for this car. When it will be 8 I will buy it.

http://CARADVICE IAN

HAVE NEW MANUAL CIVIC DOES 7.5L/100KM TOWN AND 6L/100KM
HIGHWAY

Leon

I cant understand why you brought i30 to compare here.

Hyundai Lover

because we can see from Honda’s decision to delay their new Civic models is due to greater competition in the class, they need to update their models to make it MORE competitive, ie. more fuel efficient, less expensive.

Leon

Don’t you realise that the i30 also needs the redesign when the new gen Elantra 2011 just came out? Though i30 aint got any facelift yet.

Ricky

i30 does indeed need a redesign. It’s essentially the hatchback version of the Elantra, and the current Elantra’s been out since 2006 and a new one is out next year. So i30 will be a generation behind.
o

i30 is due for a redesign next year

vti07

When the Chinese cars come, there will be even more competition in the crowded market. For a market as small as Australia (relatively speaking), we are spoilt for choice when it comes to cars.

vti07

By the way, the new Civic and others will need to be quite fuel efficient. The SKY engine Mazda 3′s are coming….

Zoom Zoom.

ABMPSV

Honda use to be in the top 5 best selling cars. In April it was 9th just 217 units ahead of Volkswagen!!
milobob

The Civic however is one of the most fuel efficient in its class & price range when it came out in 06 (I’m not comparing with diesels however) – 7.2 combined for the auto and 6.9 combined for the manual.

I agree, the current model is getting old and needs a replacement. Here’s hoping the new model comes with at least direct injection, maybe a twin clutch or I think more likely a CVT.

I do like how the civic has a flat floor and is actually quite roomy inside, but performance/fun wise it will never be as good as the previous generation civics.

F1MotoGP

Corolla is more fuel efficient in my view. In the city use 9.7 to Civic 10.4 but Hwy Corolla 6.1 to 5.3. Around 80% of my driving is in the city on the Hwy and many people drive more in the city.
Ricky

Oh yeah, because the previous gen’s non-VTEC 1.7L four was just a rocket.

milobob

I actually meant the EK series. Not the European 1.7L hatch version. They were light, low and back then very fun to drive for their price. Then again lots of cars back then were better to drive?

Valet Dabess

i hope they don’t make it look so ugly. i don’t really like the rice burner civics but i do like them better then this civic
vti07

Honda could save some money next time by staying with the same Civic design for all markets. Currently, the Civic in the US and some Asian countries has a different front and rear design.

Myke

Not to mention the Euro hatch, which is completely bespoke from the sedan.
Prius Pensioner

Just to clarify, there was originally going to be two Civics: one for Europe and one for Asia/the Americas.

However, in Canada, Honda’s luxury brand Acura utilised the Civic as the basis for the Acura CSX model. Honda in Japan obviously preferred the Acura’s revised front- and rear-end styling and adopted it for use in Japan and Asia. Australia also adopted the Acura’s styling.

Jabba the Hut

As far as styling goes this is honda’s weak link. It’s over due for a facelift.

K20A

Hi Jabba

This car has already received a facelift two years ago in Japan (last year in Australia). You can tell by slightly different front spoiler, and hexagonal shape tail lights.

What his car need urgently is a complete overhaul, or a clean sheet redesign. This car is a good car in many respect, but a generation behind in terms of economy, emission, features / convenience and most of all, desirability.

Golf, i30, and Mazda3 are the current benchmark in the small segment. Honda no doubt has the capability and engineering to beat the above, question is.. Honda has been very slow lately in terms of development and does not have the same cache in its products like they did back in the mid 90s / early 00s.

Honda is a great company / engine maker with racing pedigree and bulletproof brand reputation (reliability, resale value, image, etc.). But they have to learn now that brand is not everything. Consumers are getting smarter and they’d rather drive another ‘H’ badge from Korea.. because it represents better value for money.

lazybones

The question is, do we get the yank design or the euro design? If its anything like the bordem on wheels pictured above, it can wait til 2021!

vti07

Corolla sedan looks more boring than Civic (my opionion). Corolla hatch is fine though.

Some ok looking cars in segment are:

Kia cerato
Mazda 3
lancer

haonda

Here haonda, i will help you

1.Bring back the hatch
2.Bring back the VEI eco engine “the worst i could do was 5l/100km and that was thrashing it!”
3.Kick it off @ $19,990*
4.Bring in a hero car like a new NSX
5.Sell the new Insight for $29,990*
= *DRIVEAWAY prices inc. all fees.

Cheers

Mark

I’m also trying to figure out why Honda are not going down the Direct Injection path like all other manufacturers. Considering Honda are the world’s biggest engine maker, not sure what they have in mind instead..

Doc

Even humble Commodores have direct injection nowadays, yet the Thai-built Hondas we have here are expensive and offer no direct-injection. Who are Honda kidding?

user5558

Direct injection engines have carbon build up on intake valve. It happens to vw, bmw, even porsche engine. Google carbon build up direct injection for some nasty pictures.

vti07

Good luck getting a UK built 3 door Civic hatch for $19990 drive away.

WHY>?

Why, a german built Fiesta can be had for $16k

vti07

Current Fiesta is built in Germany but in 2010 to be sourced from the Thailand plant – built alongside the new Mazda 2 hatch and sedan. Does that mean the price will be even cheaper?