Topic: 2012 9th Gen Honda Civic

[Ontariodriver]

This is rumor to be the next Civic. Should be interesting to see how it comes to fruition. Also this might be Japanese and Euro Version not NA. Who knows.

http://green.autoblog.com/2009/05/21/rumormill-2012-honda-civic-details-circulate/

According to an article in Mag-X magazine (via Temple of VTEC), Honda is hard at work wrapping up the design for the next-gen Civic that's expected to debut in 2011 as a 2012 model. As is customary from Honda, the Japanese, European and North American markets are all expected to get their own unique versions of the popular Civic, with Americans getting their preferred sedan and coupe bodystyles and the other countries each receiving differing takes on the hatchback theme.

[Erik]

Doesn't look too bad. Hoping they bring some of the old Honda spirit back into it.

[Ontariodriver]

Doesn't look too bad. Hoping they bring some of the old Honda spirit back into it.

Less radical more conservative this time round. I wonder if they keep the controversial  dash style with improvements of course or will they going back to more traditional style.

[rrocket]

Looks like it's rolling on 20s....

[Ontariodriver]

Looks like it's rolling on 20s....

On 20's?.....Tires...Right...Never mind....

[Erik]

Looks like it's rolling on 20s....

Yeah, it does. I can't seem them being stupid enough to put it into production that way. Unless it was a high end option for it. Would scare the crap out of the average econo car buyer to replace 20 inch rubber!

[initial_D]

Looks better than the Acura's. 

[The Mighty Duck]

Looks good... a natural evolution of the existing design, and a little more "grown up".

Those wheels are hideous, though. Blurgh.

[Juke1]

Looks like it's rolling on 20s....

Right, 20 in front and 14 in the back, look again!  Terrible sketch but a nice car design, hope they do something about the awful interior.

[Mitlov]

Can't tell much from a drawing, except that it bears a familial resemblance to the Clarity and Insight.

[G0dspd]

Looks better than the Acura's. 

Even better, bring back the old TSX, stick a Honda badge on it and call it an Accord Civic!   

[whistler]

I wouldn't expect too much of a revolutionary change in this car.

Looking at Honda's typical Civic evolution, it seems to go big change-minor upgrade-big change-minor upgrade.

The 8th gen (2006+) was a pretty radical change, and it actually still holds up pretty well (after 4 years you are just NOW starting to see competitors that are as good or better than the Civic).

I'd expect this new one to be some improvements on the already good car, but nothing huge. From that pic it actually looks like they are scaling back on the radicalness of the current car.

I just bought a 2010 because I've always liked the design, and I was kind of worried that the new one might be a letdown (based on a few more recent Honda designs). We'll see what happens.

It always amazes me how Honda and Toyota can keep a design under wraps until it is pretty much in showrooms, but everyone else has pretty much the entire car leaked up to 2 years before production.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I wouldn't expect too much of a revolutionary change in this car.

Looking at Honda's typical Civic evolution, it seems to go big change-minor upgrade-big change-minor upgrade.

The 8th gen (2006+) was a pretty radical change, and it actually still holds up pretty well (after 4 years you are just NOW starting to see competitors that are as good or better than the Civic).

I'd expect this new one to be some improvements on the already good car, but nothing huge. From that pic it actually looks like they are scaling back on the radicalness of the current car.

I just bought a 2010 because I've always liked the design, and I was kind of worried that the new one might be a letdown (based on a few more recent Honda designs). We'll see what happens.

It always amazes me how Honda and Toyota can keep a design under wraps until it is pretty much in showrooms, but everyone else has pretty much the entire car leaked up to 2 years before production.

Wut? Mazda3 has been out since 2004, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007.

[Mitlov]

The 8th gen (2006+) was a pretty radical change, and it actually still holds up pretty well (after 4 years you are just NOW starting to see competitors that are as good or better than the Civic).

Wut? Mazda3 has been out since 2004, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007.

Sir Osis speaks the truth.  The Mazda3 (both first-gen and second-gen) has been as good or better than the 8th-gen Civic since before the 8th-gen Civic even arrived.  Yes, I have driven both the first-gen Mazda3 and the 8th-gen Civic.

[whistler]

I wouldn't expect too much of a revolutionary change in this car.

Looking at Honda's typical Civic evolution, it seems to go big change-minor upgrade-big change-minor upgrade.

The 8th gen (2006+) was a pretty radical change, and it actually still holds up pretty well (after 4 years you are just NOW starting to see competitors that are as good or better than the Civic).

I'd expect this new one to be some improvements on the already good car, but nothing huge. From that pic it actually looks like they are scaling back on the radicalness of the current car.

I just bought a 2010 because I've always liked the design, and I was kind of worried that the new one might be a letdown (based on a few more recent Honda designs). We'll see what happens.

It always amazes me how Honda and Toyota can keep a design under wraps until it is pretty much in showrooms, but everyone else has pretty much the entire car leaked up to 2 years before production.

Wut? Mazda3 has been out since 2004, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007.

Nice car but just make sure you don't live near an ocean or anywhere that salt is used on the roads (most of Canada). The Proteges were HORRIBLE for rust issues on a modern car, and I've already seen 2005, 06, and even 07 Mazda 3s that are starting to have rust issues (rear wheel wells, trunk lids, all around the badges, etc). If you don't believe me, take a close look at them next time you are at a used car lot that has a few first gen 3s. Or even just find one at any local parking lot and take a close look.

Great car dynamically and great interior, but until I see ones that are over 5 years old without abnormal rust I'd stay away. I really do like the 2nd gen 3 but Ottawa gets smothered with road salt so I wouldn't take a chance on their bodies until I know the problem was corrected.

Also, that is one car in a field of many. The Civic, going on 5 years on this design, would still beat most its competitors in any comparo IMO, and I was just shopping in this class. Lancer, Cobalt, Focus, Forte, Elantra, Caliber, Sentra are all noticeably a step behind Honda from what I saw evaluating and test driving the cars, and I'm no Honda fanboy at all (this is the first one I've ever bought).

That leaves the Corolla (great car but too boring), VW Golf (great car, one of my favourites, but I wanted a sedan and the Jetta was pricey), and Mazda 3 (great car, but like I said rusty cars built in this decade scare me) that IMO actually compete with the Civic.

But anyway, my point is that even in the last year of its model run the Honda is still easily in the top 4 of its class (along with Mazda, VW, Toyota). That is why I don't expect the 9th gen to be a revolutionary car, because they don't need a revolutionary car to stay at the top.

[Cudworthhab]

When we bought our 2008 Civic we cross shopped the 2009 Corolla & the 2008 Mazda 3 . I liked all 3 of the makes . The Mazda 3 was my favorite but my 16 yr old & 13 yr old at the time said there wasn't enough leg room in the back . The Civic was my wifes & childrens favorite so I was out voted.

[Wolverine]

Remembers me something like a Skoda. Won't cause the same impact the actual generation did, but it's not bad afteral.

[G35X]

The article is rather old, April or May 2009, and said the 9th generation Civic would be upgraded to strictly hybrid to fight against Prius.  No further news since then. Later, Honda learned the Insight is not attractive enough to play even with the latest generation Prius, which will have even a plug-in version later this year. Since the Prius is the number one seller in the passenger car category in Japan and the majority of car owners there intend to purchase a hybrid when replacing the the car they currently own, according to a recet survey, Honda desperately needs a Prius fighter. It is very possible for Honda to make the Civic hybrid only rather than souping up the Insight, which is smaller than the Prius.  As for ICE only model, the current Civic has grown too big. Honda needs a new model smaller than the Civic and larger than the Fit for NA market with new features such as idling stop, variable displacement and Otto/Atkinson variable mode.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I wouldn't expect too much of a revolutionary change in this car.

Looking at Honda's typical Civic evolution, it seems to go big change-minor upgrade-big change-minor upgrade.

The 8th gen (2006+) was a pretty radical change, and it actually still holds up pretty well (after 4 years you are just NOW starting to see competitors that are as good or better than the Civic).

I'd expect this new one to be some improvements on the already good car, but nothing huge. From that pic it actually looks like they are scaling back on the radicalness of the current car.

I just bought a 2010 because I've always liked the design, and I was kind of worried that the new one might be a letdown (based on a few more recent Honda designs). We'll see what happens.

It always amazes me how Honda and Toyota can keep a design under wraps until it is pretty much in showrooms, but everyone else has pretty much the entire car leaked up to 2 years before production.

Wut? Mazda3 has been out since 2004, the Mazdaspeed3 in 2007.

Nice car but just make sure you don't live near an ocean or anywhere that salt is used on the roads (most of Canada). The Proteges were HORRIBLE for rust issues on a modern car, and I've already seen 2005, 06, and even 07 Mazda 3s that are starting to have rust issues (rear wheel wells, trunk lids, all around the badges, etc). If you don't believe me, take a close look at them next time you are at a used car lot that has a few first gen 3s. Or even just find one at any local parking lot and take a close look.

Great car dynamically and great interior, but until I see ones that are over 5 years old without abnormal rust I'd stay away. I really do like the 2nd gen 3 but Ottawa gets smothered with road salt so I wouldn't take a chance on their bodies until I know the problem was corrected.

Also, that is one car in a field of many. The Civic, going on 5 years on this design, would still beat most its competitors in any comparo IMO, and I was just shopping in this class. Lancer, Cobalt, Focus, Forte, Elantra, Caliber, Sentra are all noticeably a step behind Honda from what I saw evaluating and test driving the cars, and I'm no Honda fanboy at all (this is the first one I've ever bought).

That leaves the Corolla (great car but too boring), VW Golf (great car, one of my favourites, but I wanted a sedan and the Jetta was pricey), and Mazda 3 (great car, but like I said rusty cars built in this decade scare me) that IMO actually compete with the Civic.

But anyway, my point is that even in the last year of its model run the Honda is still easily in the top 4 of its class (along with Mazda, VW, Toyota). That is why I don't expect the 9th gen to be a revolutionary car, because they don't need a revolutionary car to stay at the top.

Wut? I used to live in NB, and Mum and Dad still live in Moncton. They use a huge amount of salt on the roads there. Mazda didn't seem to have any greater propensity for rust than any other manufacturer. The low profile hood of the Civic on the other hand, makes for a lot of stone chips. Once the paint is breached, rust is almost inevitable.

[kevlar]

honda has become way too conservative.   i was a big honda fan for longest time but i am the first to say how disappointed i am with honda's conservative ways.  ford and hyundai are on a charge in every way, the mazda 3 is awesome and has slowly eroded the civics sales too.  just when honda brought the somewhat awkward looking insight toyota brings the vastly improved prius'.  i have owned 4 honda's and one audi in my lifetime but out of honda's present lineup, i would only consider the FIT.  (and having said that it would be 3rd behind the mazda 3 and/or 2 and ford fiesta)