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Honda has announced that the styling direction of the next-generation Honda Civic will debut at the 2011 Detroit show in January via a concept car, and has released this official sketch as a teaser. The production version of the ninth-generation Civic based on the Detroit concept will go on sale in spring 2011.

The sketch shows a two-door hatch or coupe, but we can pick up some hints from the front fascia. It features a V-shape with elements pointing down towards the middle of the front. The headlights are slim and sharp, and the lower grille isn’t unlike the CR-Z’s snout, although unlike that coupe, there’s an upper grille here. This sketch also rules out the City’s Optimus Prime face.

Overall, the front reminds me a little of the Accord Euro R. Do you like what you see?

The Honda CR-Z, which is presently hybrid only, will get a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which could spawn a Type R variant, UK’s Autocar reports. Citing sources in Japan, the report says that the 1.6-litre turbo is currently undergoing development at Honda’s Tochigi R&D facility.

To also find its way into the Jazz, Civic and Accord, this i-VTEC turbo unit is part of Honda’s downsizing program, and will push out 2.0L performance from just 1.6 litres. There will be two versions – a 160 hp unit and a 200 hp version that’s set to carry the legacy of the Civic Type R’s K20A. The latter will motivate the “CR-Z Type R” that could debut late next year.

The idea isn’t new. The image above is of Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid R concept from this year’s SEMA show. It had a turbo alongside the 1.5-litre hybrid powerplant for 200 hp and 238 Nm of torque, plus red hot body styling.

After repeatedly being bombarded with sad news on Type R deaths recently, enthusiasts who feared the extinction of sporty Hondas finally have something to cheer about. Gallery of the Hybrid R concept is after the jump.
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The quirky Element, which looks like a “Honda Hummer”, will be discontinued. American Honda Motor Co has announced that the 2011 will be the final model year of production for the “crossover utility vehicle”. More than 325,000 Elements have been sold in the USA since December 2002.

First seen in concept form as the Model X at Detroit 2001, the Element “created its own functional class and became an immediate favorite for small businesses, outdoor enthusiasts and pet owners,” according to Honda. Major upgrades were made through the years, including more power and safety features for 2007 and the Dog Friendly Element accessory package in 2009. North American customers who want a car like that will be pointed to a CR-V from next year onwards.

“The Element proved that ultimate functionality can often come from thinking inside the box. It made boxy vehicle designs cool, and Element owners continue to enjoy its unique styling and unmatched versatility,” said John Mendel, Executive VP of American Honda.

Well, you can’t please them all. Despite having made lots of new friends and bagged awards, there’s at least one publication that doesn’t quite think the Honda CR-Z hybrid quite cuts the cloth – in the US, Consumer Reports‘ has carried out a test of four different fuel-efficient cars, and the car was part of that test group.

Despite achieving a 35 mpg overall figure and having a crisp manual transmission, it seems the two-seat hybrid hatch scored too low for the publication to recommend it, and the vehicle ended up as the lowest ranked of the four fuel-efficient cars on test for the January issue.

While CR said the car handled nimbly, it wasn’t very sporty otherwise – other points were that the ride is choppy, visibility is lacking, noise levels are high, and on-limit handling can be tricky, though the six-speed manual transmission and braking were plus points.

Meanwhile, two of the other cars in the group, the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2, fared very well, both achieving ‘Very Good’ ratings; the rag said they are both fun to drive and deliver impressive fuel economy. For the Fiesta, its agile handling, relatively quiet cabin and composed ride were high points.

This is the Honda BRIO prototype, which is the near production version of the company’s New Small Concept that was shown earlier this year in India. It is an A-segment vehicle that’s one class smaller than the Jazz and City. Rivals will include the Suzuki Alto, Hyundai i10 and Kia Picanto, among other small cars.

The BRIO measures 3,610 mm long, 1,680 mm wide and 1,475 mm tall. That’s 45 mm longer, 85 mm wider, but 65 mm lower than a Hyundai i10. Honda did not reveal what the wheelbase is, or what engine powers the BRIO, though we’re guessing a 1.2L SOHC engine from the same family as the one in the Jazz/City. Honda needs it to achieve an average fuel consumption of less than 5 litres per 100 km (or 20 km/l) on the ECE R101 mode measurement cycle to meet Thai eco car requirements.

Thai production will begin in March 2011. India will start making the Brio in 2011 as well, with 80% local content. Although the BRIO was designed primarily for the Thai and Indian market, Honda is considering export from Thailand to the region around it, so there’s a possibility that Honda Malaysia could take up this model as an entry level to the range, something like “my first Honda”.

In Thailand, Honda targets to sell the BRIO at a starting price of approximately 400,000 baht, which is the same price as a Proton Savvy thanks to the tax breaks it gets from the Thai eco car plan, while in India the car is supposed to go 500,000 rupees onwards. How much will you pay for a BRIO in Malaysia?

Look after the jump for more images and a video of the BRIO prototype.
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