The Honda Civic Concept sedan made its Canadian debut at the Montreal International Auto Show today, providing the first glimpse at the styling direction of the all-new, ninth-generation 2012 model set to go on sale this spring.
"The Civic is renowned for its core attributes, including fun-to-drive character, outstanding fuel economy, class-leading safety and high value," said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, HondaCanada Inc. "The redesigned 2012 Civic builds on this great legacy and promises to be the best Civic yet."
The 2012 Civic embraces the company's vision as a "Civic for all people," a phrase originally expressed in defining the goal of the first-generation Civic. The 2012 Civic lineup is designed to meet the needs of compact-vehicle buyers, including first-time buyers, with a renewed vision of a "Civic for all people."
The diverse vehicle range includes a sedan and a coupe with conventional gasoline models, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with a third-generation hybrid. The depth of the Civic model line is designed to offer a balance between fuel economy, low emissions and fun-to-drive performance unlike any other vehicle in the industry.
As a new interpretation of the current Civic's iconic "one-motion" mono-form shape, the new ninth-generation Civic conveys a more substantial, high-energy appearance.
The exterior styling of the Civic concept highlights its clean yet powerful lines with a steeply raked windshield, wide stance and character lines along the side profile. The lower character line broadens toward the rear fenders to enhance the dynamic feeling of forward energy. The front fender surface treatments form a complex, three-dimensional look to further enhance the image of sophistication and structural depth against the deeply set headlights.
The Civic Concept takes on a sophisticated presence with a front grille defined by crisp lines, a solid bar that integrates a chrome Honda emblem and 19-inch alloy wheels.
The Civic's engines with "intelligent" Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (i-VTEC®) technology become even more fuel efficient for 2012. The upcoming Civic Hybrid offers the latest generation of the compact and lightweight Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) gasoline-electric hybrid system and features the first application of a lithium-ion battery in a Honda hybrid vehicle.
Building on its emphasis on fuel economy, most upcoming Civic models receive Honda Eco Assist™ technology, already available in the CR-Z and Insight hybrids. The 2012 Civic is the first North American Honda model to employ Eco Assist technology in a gasoline-only powered vehicle. Eco Assist is just one example of how the new Civic can be customized and configured by the drivers to suit individual preferences.
The 2012 Civic continues to emphasize safety and is expected to score well in both the U.S. government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) vehicle evaluations.
All 2012 Civics will be equipped with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) as standard equipment as well as a full complement of standard safety features. Additionally, the ninth-generation Civic continues to provide Honda's exclusive and innovative Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure for frontal collision energy management.
As the best-selling car in Canada for the past 13 years, the current, eighth-generation Civic has sold more than 350,000 units since the 2006 model went on sale in late 2005, and nearly 1.6 million in total since it was first introduced in Canada in 1973. The 2006-model Civic earned the Automobile Journalists of Association of Canada (AJAC) Car of the Year, Motor Trend Car of the Year and the North American Car of the Year awards, among others.
With the exception of the Civic hybrid, all Civics sold in Canada last year were made at the Honda of Canada Mfg. assembly facilities in Alliston, Ontario.