MotorTrend: 2012 Euro Honda Civic 5dr HB Spied

Whether or not the looks of the 2012 Honda Civic sedan and coupe do anything for you, if you’re a Honda fan, you’ve probably coveted the not-for-U.S.-consumption hatchback model at some point or another. While Europe got three- and five-door versions of the last-generation Civic, a hatchback hasn’t been offered in the U.S. since the seventh-generation Civic Si ended production. Even if that doesn’t change with the current generation, our spy photographer has snapped some shots of the 2012 Civic five-door hatch that, for some, might make the grass look a bit greener on the other side of the pond.

When we last saw it, the 2012 Civic hatch was covered from nose to tail with camo, making it difficult to pick out any clear details. Now, much of the camo has been removed, revealing body panels and more of the car’s overall shape. The headlights appear to have the same shape as those of the sedan and coupe, but as the last-generation European Civic hatch featured a unique front end, this test mule could be hiding a different grille design.

With the camo on, the rear end bears a slight resemblance to that of the BMW 3 Series GT we caught testing last month, with an almost sedan-like notch in the back. This suggests that the model might continue the styling theme of the previous generation, which had a step carved into the hatch simulating the appearance of a rear wing. Still, it could also be fake bodywork added to throw us off the scent. As we noticed previously, the taillights appear to have shifted further up the C-pillar and into the corners, possibly spreading out vertically rather than horizontally as on the last generation. One of the test mules also appears to sport a glass roof, possibly an option that will be available for European hatchback models.

While there’s no official word on whether or not a Type R badge will ever grace the backside of this model, it would be the more likely candidate for Honda’s performance compact, as the three-door model was chosen as the basis for the last-generation Civic Type R. As with the previous generation, you can expect drivetrain options to mirror what’s available here in the States – perhaps with the exception of a few Europe-only engines, likely to include one or two diesel offerings.

Although the hatchback version of the Civic has been enjoyed by almost every other market except the U.S. in recent years, Honda hasn’t specifically shot down the notion of it coming here this time around. Then again, Honda hasn’t had much to say about it at all. What do you think? Should Honda add the hatchback model to its U.S. lineup?

Source:
http://wot.motortrend.com/spied-five-door-honda-civic-hatch-takes-drive-europe-87651.html#ixzz1PSQyzJOg

2012 Honda Civic 5-door spied testing in Europe

Two 5-door hatch prototypes spied testing in the Alps
Here are the latest spy shots of the upcoming next-generation 5-door hatch Honda Civic caught testing in the European Alps.

These two euro-spec 5-door hatch prototypes (Honda sells the Civic as a sedan or coupe in North America) are wearing some serious camouflage and doing their best to hide the design lines of this new compact competitor.

But in looking at the overall shape we can see there are a lot of changes coming and this Civic's design will be much more in line with the current 5-door hatch paradigm in Europe.

Source;
http://www.worldcarfans.com/111060934026/2012-honda-civic-5-door-spied-testing-in-europe#ixzz1Omsy5E2C

TOV Reader Kai Lui Snaps 2012 Honda Civic at local dealers

Source with more pics!;
http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=963518

2012 Honda Civic spotted on a Transport Truck in Japan (w/pic's from a Brazil site)

Looking at the front end you really have to look to realize that this is a full redesign, rear end and side profile is definately all new, looking forward to seeing the interior....

Source;

http://www.noticiasautomotivas.com.br/exclusivo-novo-civic-2012-em-cegonha-no-japao/

TOV: 2012 Honda Civic Side Profile and a Speculative Shop

Source;
http://www.blogauto.com.br/tag/civic/

2012 Honda Civic Exposed Video

2012 Honda Civic exposed

CAR Middle East has done it again – we’re the first ones in the world to bring you the first pictures of the next generation of the Civic sedan, completely naked of all camouflage!

We snapped these twin silver prototypes during a spell of early morning hot weather testing. Apart from a few missing ‘H’ badges, this is the Civic you can expect to see in UAE showrooms next year. As our pictures show, it’s very similar in dimensions to the existing GCC model with a comparable midsection; the glasshouse, doors and wing mirrors look to be unchanged.

The front fascia is where the big news is – gone are the old model’s undulating curves over pronounced arches and drooping headlamps, replaced by a sharper, wedgier front end and what looks to be a wider lower air intake. Optional foglight cutouts are on either side, disguised by heavy lashings of pesky silver gaffer tape. That tape is also present at the base of the A-pillar and the C-pillar as well over the rear bumper, so we suspect there may be a few stylistic surprises yet to come.

Out front, the earlier striking chrome moustache framing the central Honda emblem is now a fairly generic three-bar grille, while the angular headlamps look to be the same as the ones found on US market models. Note the character line that starts from the end of the front lights, spears off and extends all the way to the arrow-shaped rear cluster. The latter has lost its former GT-R-ish four circular brake lamps in favour of a squishy hexagonal look that’s vaguely reminiscent of its baby City brother. A slim, almost vestigial spoiler caps the pert rear end.

The unique “folding-hands” wiper arrangement looks to have been retained atop the steeply raked – and vast, start saving up for tint folks! – windshield, but the old printed antenna seems to have been given the heave-ho in favour of a traditional (and probably cheaper) stubby aerial mounted BMW-style above the rear windshield. Suitably-chunky 16-inch five –spoke alloys round off the major exterior changes.

Inside, the two-tier dashboard has been retained, raked even more steeply toward the driver. The steering wheel is still a three-spoke affair but it now sports two four way controllers on each side instead of the earlier toggles. Gone are the knob-based temperature and fanspeed controls, with a slew of buttons taking their place. That’s below what looks like a double-DIN touch-based navigation system – tuners of the world rejoice, your favourite rolling music platform still lives.

On the far left of the dashboard, you’ll notice a single, very large green button that says “Econ”. On overseas models, pressing this switch sets the engine, transmission and cooling functions to maximum efficiency, although judging by our hot climes, it’s unlikely to get much use here. We didn’t get a chance to look under the hood, but our sources suggest that the engine being tested is a 1.5 litre unit, which if true is significantly smaller than the existing 1.8 140bhp one. Hello fuel efficiency, goodbye acceleration.

Overall, outside of the few details we couldn’t discern, it looks to be a blander, more generic version of a car that should be at the very heartland of Honda thinking. The earlier, space-age Civic landed like an atomic bomb in the compact car market, sending arch-rivals like Toyota and Nissan scurrying back to the drawing board to bring out more exciting-looking sedans.

Now Honda looks to be losing faith in its daring design direction, delivering a cheese-wedge sedan that could easily be mistaken for – whisper it – one of the equally wedgy Koreans that are flooding out of South East Asia. Or perhaps it’s merely a reflection of these austere times where sobriety is a virtue. Either way: we want our old Honda back.

Source (via autoblog);
http://www.carmiddleeast.com/article-1-2079-2012_honda_civic_exposed