Honda unveiled this pair of Civic Concepts at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, which will preview the Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe for the 2012 model year in the US.
Although these cars have the word Concept tagged onto their names, I feel they’re pretty much close to production. Honda hasn’t given it all away though – no interior photos have been unveiled except for one small sketch they showed for a brief moment during the press conference.
The formula actually looks very much the same with this new Civic as compared to the outgoing 8th generation model. I wouldn’t be surprised if much of the underpinnings of this new 9th generation Civic is similar to the 8th gen.
The sedan’s side profile looks more similar to the outgoing model, but the coupe takes on a more aggressive side profile that takes after its older Accord Coupe sibling.
The Civic Sedan’s front end looks similar to the 8th gen but the rear end gets a lot of work done to it – it’s the part of the car that has changed the most and looks the best. The interior hasn’t been revealed yet but will feature the same dual-stacked displays in the current Civic.
In the US, the Civic will be available in various forms – the sporty high revving Si models, the natural gas powered GX, the regular Civics as well as a Civic Hybrid.
The Hybrid model will continue to use Honda’s IMA system but will feature lithium ion batteries along with the latest revision of the system. Eco Assist will not only be limited to the Hybrid but will also be a feature on the regular gasoline-only model. Eco Assist is basically an on-board fuel efficiency display and feedback system designed to educate the driver on how to drive more efficiently.
It looks like Honda hasn’t messed around with the formula of the current Civic much but I hope the updates to the looks come together with improvements under the skin as well – you can never go wrong with more reliability, fuel efficiency, features and safety.
Unfortunately we can’t really tell from these concepts as they only show the exterior aesthetics of the new car.
Look after the jump for a full hi-res gallery of the new Civic.
[zenphotopress number=999 album=1860]
umph.. just.. nice.. yup.. just nice..
agree.. normal only lo, maybe the 8th gen civic design so great and hard to surpass it..
besides, the sketch drawing car look great, but the actual concept car look plain.. =(
I thought it is Tuah at first glance.
your head ah its tuah!!!!
you think the bloody proton designers have the brains as good as japan?
why cant proton design someting like this?
design like gen 2 crap and the latest saga FL shows that proton is 30 years backwards.
they copying persona new rear tail light
actually the persona new rear tail lights are copied from mercedes like C200K..
gen2 came out out first then merc
Wow, cant wait for it to arrive here…more nicer than eigth gen!
Btw, FIRST comment!!!
more nicer?? r u sure?? it just looks nice.. no WOW for me..
yeah its damn nice ! : )
Errr… no offense but it isn’t that nice seriously, the one before this really looks better, this one looks… ordinary.
i must agree, current FD civic is still beathtaking.
but one aspect worth thinking considering that civic FD is almost as big as Camry, how much bigger can this new model gets or will it remain the same dimension??
I heard the dimensions will be similar.
R U kidding?
Camry is almost a foot longer!
I think Camry is bigger? Ya it’s not in the same class.
I said the dimensions will be similar for the comparison of 9th and 8th generation of Honda civic. New and previous version.
Honda run out of idea seriously~
When you’re at the top with the 8th gen design, the only way is to go down.
Ok… can see the pics now. Don’t quite like the back though. Still need a clearer pic of the front
The back looks like Altis! Why Honda?
i think 8th gen lagi cantik ler!
ya lor, probably have to think of switching to Korean cars now … this new civic design remind me of my first gen Vios ….
looks like gen2, not really an improvement , 8th gen civis is better, waiting for more pics please
Another Proton Honda comparison. Just because it is orange in colour and havea low roof line, you said it looks like Gen2? Come on dude please give some sensible design critic rather than generalisation. 8th gen looks good but this one is much more slicker.
Because every time Proton’s news come out, people compare them with Honda and Toyota…So, it is fair that works both ways…i think…. :P
thanks Tan for staying up so late to get the pictures…. =) the front view of sedan looks similar to the old model ( from far)
did u take those picture from tv? snapshot?
the sedan concept is not that different from the current Civic. And i think they can do better with the tail light design. i wish they can put the front part of the coupe and put it on the sedan.
anw, i guess the sedan is design in that way to attract the adults. but its too plain.. haiz…
boring
from front look like “change lane, this car gonna cucuk me”…from back look like “im sure can overtake this car”…hmm imho
Lol, even my butt looks nicer than this.
I personally think it looks more like a facelift from the current civic, the side profile is almost identical to the current model….. Is Honda following Toyota’s footstep ?
Manufacturers like Chevrolet, Mazda, Ford, Hyundai, KIA are giving better designs these days…….
Yup. The new sedan is what Mercedes would call a facelift. :-)
its not a facelift lah. but i think honda designers already went too far ahead with Civic FD to the point of no return.
come think to it – Civic FD was like something from the year 2035 and Honda cannot afford to come back to 2012 with a model looking less futuristic than the 8th gen. It s big issue for Honda i must say.
haha now those Honda hardcore fanboiz can’t say ‘kia copy who-and-who’ and ‘hyundai copy who-and-who’… cos this is a DIRECT rip-off from the Merc backside! shuddup oni, those fanboiz now….
My mind keeps thinking of Jap’s but my heart keeps telling me Korean’s…
should i follow my heart? Anybody?
Another great update from Paul Tan! You must be a car fanatic, watch video streaming until so late.
This civic sedan concepet is a bit plain boring, while the coupe suits the ricer boys in US. Haiz, not a shocker!
The Coupe version reminds me of DC2 styling..the headlights looks like the one in Altis..
hahaha apa ini, macam kia forte. hct-r lagi cun la. oh and cr-z is way better than this. whats happening with honda? lack of ideas already i assume. argh the pain. the pain…cant believe this is the first time i saw a honda and didnt like it at all.
in some ways, it looks like kia Forte
or Kia Forte looks like current Civic Euro. Chicken and egg, which one comes first dude? Sigh…
looks like old korean car..! Pug 308T still my choice! yeahh..
Maybe it looks better in the flesh?
Think this is as closed as you can get. Is it nicer or otherwise :-P.
http://www.carmiddleeast.com/index.php/main/gallery/2079/Articles/0
Daymmm!
Side profile looks like a DC5~
OMG ITS HERE!!! OMG OMG OMG!!!!! OH! Oh! oh….oH? OH???!!!!!! DISAPPOINTED!!!!!!!!!!
your life or death tooo much depend on a car.
nah was expecting something…u know…jaw-dropping…coz the last gen; i.e. 8th gen civic & the euro civic were…well basically my jaw-dropped…so, naturally u would expect something more than this… =S
The design looks like honda has been pushing it much. Its like eating too much of chocolate, the curent FD looks way better than this.
Mediocre + boring.
really looks like facelifted only…But it looks good especially the rear light..Hope to see fully changed interior plus enhancement.
I think it’s the case of cutting cost and using the previous platform for this new civic. It’s almost the same story with Corolla Atlis. The previous Altis when launched was much2 more better looking than the current one. I can understand if they need to use previous platform, but please, at least make it as attractive if not better looking, and dont ruin the already beautiful design.
looks nice ?/? but i think i like the 8 generation more
boring…!
Heavily influenced by City’s arrow design language.
Well it looks better than those spy shots.
return of the Integra/ Prelude?
Well.. It looks like City, CR-Z & Civic mesh up…
Sad… There’s no WOW factor in it :( The front is okay but the rear end really need a little more work on it.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the design; it’s clean, simple, pretty much a major facelift from the current well-loved 8th gen……plus, you never know what lies underneath until the actual car comes out……..looks pretty good to me…..
yup..i think its a breath of fresh air since the 8th gen is already bersepah on the road(boring already)..but i do agree that its more to a major “facelift”..got to see it in flesh first..
looks promising…
P/S: Waiting for someone to comment on the black roof like the one given on Gen2 not too long ago. Some even go to the extend that it makes the car hot (in temperature). Wonder if this one should get the same comment……..(sarcasm intended)
Disappointed with the design, this design “outdated”… Honda, please learn from Korean! They are improving very fast.
I agree with most comments above. There’s no pleasant surprise factor, unlike when they launch the current gen City.
The back seems like a cross between the dugong City and the previous generation Accord. Maybe from the same design team?
The rims look awfully familiar. Can’t remember, but I’m positive I’ve seen it somewhere.
Seems like it was conceived during the lean times, and the result is a mashing up between the older and current lineups of Honda cars.
Hopefully the goodies is on the inside and underneath the hood.
Honda was between a rock and a hard place with the outgoing Civic.
It was selling well – really well – in the US when Accord sales were in decline and the CRV tanked, both because of the new design direction Honda’s taken that the public in North America, Australia and Japan have rejected.
Civic sales have dropped to nearly nothing in Japan which is why the car has disappeared from the market there. Basically the major markets for the Civic we know are North and South America, Southeast Asia, Australia and China. The European model has proven to be an expensive to build model, with little appeal outside of the EU, not that it has much mainstream appeal there in the first place.
Scuttlebutt from Japan was that the initial proposal for the new Civic was in the same theme direction as the Accord and CRV, something that caused panic in the marketing groups on both sides of the Pacific after it took a nosedive in customer clinics.
Honda decided to stay with the theme that was working with the public (in fact the only one working at the time the decision was made) and move it in an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary direction which is why the car has a lot of the flavour of the outgoing model.
Current 8th gen owners can breathe easy.. as the car still looks good even after the 9th gen is out.. the resale value could probably hold strong..
9th gen design is ok.. nothing outrageous.. probably the facelift version may look better than this..
the new civic.. hmmm.. i wonder what the price is when its arrive here.. hopefully it will be more competitive with the current civic right.. i don’t about the design, i just want to know whether is affordable or not..
Really Disappointed. The rear lights looks like Honda City year 2003……
Can’t believe my eyes!!! So shocked that after all the hype, Honda has came up with this boring design. Waited for 2 years since 2009 and woke up so early this morning for this piece of s###. Who would get this when there are so many other cars that look better and more canggih. Ohh No!!!
This model will sure pull down Honda sales especially when there are so many better designed competitors coming up.
Hmm overall it looks alright by far better than Altis and Forte !! But Hyundai Avante is much better looker !!. Hopefully there are some mechanical changes which include dual-cluth transmission , a turbo technology, 6-speed automatic, improved engine performance and efficiency as well .
i agree with most readers here. Front looks a minimum OK, back is screwed up. Come to think of it, looks like a facelift, not entirely a new model.
So big different from the concept sketch………
I am a honda fan having driven the 6th & 3rd gen civic (Mom’s car) and owned CRV 2nd Gen & 3rd Gen. To me this 9th Gen Civic is the evolution to the 8th Gen Civic. I dont hear any complain about Toyota or Mitsu when they replace their car like the evo 10 to Evo 11 the design is much the same. Just like Mercedes W210 & 211…….the W211 design is an evolution of the W210…..people never complain well, its a Mercedes. its normal where manufacturer make small changes to their sucessfull design. Like a saying goes ‘why reinvent the wheel when it is doing great’. Honda 8th Gen is a success story for honda for the designer to take the same design cue it not wrong. To me the front end is certainly looks more agressive in the coupe but then again the sedan design is not too shaby either. The back end looks more like H. City & Merc C class. Well, one can never satisfy everybody….
Peace
lots of people will defend Honda & Toyota, they would come up with excuses and ‘rationales’ for whatever H & T is doing. But let Proton do the same thing, and you’ll see that Proton won’t receive similar treatments.
why reinvent the wheel when it is doing great… is just an excuse. Try look into history and you’ll see huge different between wheels in 1900s and 2000s. if based on your argument, the cars in 1900s already work great, so there’s no point designing a new car. Just continue using your steam engine, tires like those on bicycles, and tech like ABS, EBD, ESP, VVT or whatsoever will never exist. The keyword here is “IMPROVEMENT”. I agree with most people here, this looks like facelift rather than all new model.
Peace!
You so ‘pro’, i like you!
proton jual inspira pun kena bashed… bising2 pasal design.. bila jual pun orang masih beli… for example vios dugong… haha
Looks like honda is running out of ideas. looking forward to the real civic 9th Gen.
if things dont look to good. the 8th gen civic will fetch a good resale later.
just an assumption
nope, don’t like it at all. Love the EG and current 8th gen!
Seems to me that Honda has lost their creativity…
IMHO, not exactly the WOW a lot of ppl were expecting, but it ain’t ugly either…
Honda playing it safe I guess :)
ah!….cun jugak…but my mine keep saying…no more civic..no more civic…..no more civic…
YEzzaaaa
Bring it ON Honda!!!!
Honda Malaysia, do not never ever downgrade the specs!!!!
We do deserve to get same spec and quality as the rest of the world!!!
I am sure it will expensive than gee8 but will not tolerate with quality issue!!!
To be honest, I never liked the current Civic design much (and the blue interior was a total turn-off) – we all have different taste right.
But this concept looks like a City from the front and a stunted C-class from the rear – sorry, totally not my cup of tea.
And the wheels don’t really match either
bila nak start production? cantek wei…FD1 ngn FD2 dah leh stat bagi diskaun la kot hehehe
I think it is nice, keep the success formula for gen 8 civic. Looks like Forte? Are you serious? More like scirocco i think. Bare in mind, this could be US only version.
yeah, honda won’t produce civic in japan anymore, right? so, we could be getting the US version only. i hope they do produce civic for the non-US, non-Japan market.
They just took the Honda City headlight and put it into the Honda Civic. even the rims looks similar
Honda designer make the 8th generation look stunning, and now for 9th generation civic, it’s very hard for the designer to show more improvement area since the 8th generation can be said almost well done in term of design with aero dynamic style.
If the designer taking example of the audi concept for the rear lamp, i think this 9th generation civic will be again the top sales in malaysia. Best to come with front DLR LED, which I can see at the picture, but can’t confirm 100% it’s DLR.
Times are bad, and instead of spending so much on an revolutionary design, they might as well do an evolutionary one… slightly cheaper.
Anyway, the rear lamps mimick that of the current C-Class while the C pillar is so Mazda 6….
Still the Civic is destined to be a best seller here… unless Malaysian take a switch to the Koreans all of a sudden…
I hope the new design will have better usable space. The current one looks big from the outside but has very limited space from the inside.
The A-pillar is quite obstructive, the B-pillar is too big making it hard for your feet to move out without having to bend your feet upwards…
Video of the civic – http://hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/honda-debuts-sleek-and-sophisticated-concepts-for-all-new-2012-civic-si-coupe-and-civic-sedan-models/videos/honda-civic-sedan-broll
Looks decent. But, will it be a class leader? It’s been in development for a loooooong time.
Personally, it looks rather disappointing considering marques like Citroen can come up with something like the DS4.
The main structure of the car looks like the 8th Generation. Do not like the front and back of the Sedan. Nothing new and refreshing. However the Coupe front has a “fierce”
look with the lancer-like semi open mouthed is the only fresh look. Have a lot of expectations but disappointed. The other impressive item is the 40mpg fuel consumption promised for the gasoline engine.
After reading all comments above, i must say Honda need to employ Chris Bangle or Walter de Silva and get a new design philosophy.
Frankly, better than 11 year old Corolla/Altis. At least 8th gen merely started since late 2005 unlike 2000-2011 and still counting Altis/Corolla.
Automobile business now make it harder to have revolution design. Better maintain for two generation with good design (a design that made Corolla look so ‘yesterday’).
Civic a decent car though nowhere on par with Mazda3, Golf or Subaru. In Malaysia, this is the best bet for price conscious buyers. Price-wise should be cheaper or worst case, equal to predecessor.
hopefully it will stay in US/ EURO market only. hoping malaysia will get the JDM version which is more ‘garang’ design huhu (if they make it 2 version lah).. if not im really disappointed..
EK9 & FD2 still d best design in civic family.
cheers! :D
Look nice but not much different much from its 8th gen. The design of new Hyundai Avante is better. However, Honda Malaysia still the top seller.
WTF, lucky i got current 8th Gen Civic. No worth to wait this car!!
Civic sedan-front look like New Honda Stream
Watch the video !!!! it a stunner …
So so only…..Honda Civic 6th gen – nice, then 7th gen – ugly, then 8th gen – nice, finally….9th gen – ugly.
like the word of ”honda design” at the bottom rear door . . .
anyway, based on the current 8th gen, this one look more conservative, the 8th gen itself is too much leaps in design, so the current one won’t have too much surprises, but it will inherit much of the success design in it.
one thing is obvious, the “arrowshot” design found in current honda city, now in new civic as well, look much more sportier from the side compare to the 8th gen.
i find it still look good, but honda wont make much trouble of not putting extra credit in it, might be a lot have done in the interior. just like the bmw f10, the new 5-series, a lot people like the eagle-eyed headlamp of e60, the previous gen of 5-series, although the f-10 look more conservative, a lot have done in improving the interior and new technology implemented as well
8th gen civic has been around for 5-6 years, consider quite the longest run compare to other models of honda which takes 4-5 years normally to roll out a new generation . . .
Feel disappointed at all.. this model gonna bypass 2011 like 7th gen civic! not welcoming by public, no resale value..
photo really cant tell how good is it.
i think we should wait until the car arrive here and rate it on spot.
people still buy it.. it’s honda meyhh…
i actually like overall design but rear look is overdone, too many curves but in a bad way.
this not concept….this is the new(same old) civic….and i hate it…
definitely looks nicer than the 8th gen….can’t wait for this to arrive here
Very disappointed! Red card for the designer! I better buy new Avante.
evolutionary upgrades indeed…
For a start the size of the 8th gen civic is spot-on, perfect for a boy racer-turns-familyman, the styling is fresh, subtly muscular, sporty, “garang-face” and futuristic, specs list on offer is impressive (ABS, EBD, VSA, 6 airbags, 5 speed auto-gear with paddle shift- 2.0) with a reasonable price tag. Handling is decent (if it is “nothing special”). The engine (i-vtec is peaky at all rev range) and gearbox combination is acceptably modern (gear box a bit clunky)- poor built quality also didn’t really affect the sales figure!
no wonder why they keep it as long as they can, with minor upgrades off course :D
There is nothing wrong with this new version if Hyundai-KIA didn’t comes up few models that recently launched….Avante, Forte….etc. I guess it needs time to get start being admire instead of like 8th gen Civic got the WOW effect during the launch. Let’s see how HM will compete in Malaysia market by bring in this one especially on price and features offer.
they should make the bonnet longer.. otherwise, it’ll just look like a big honda city.. not nice. the back is also not that impressive. in this segment, design wise, i think nothing can beat the hyundai avante.
i always hope the new civic wont be the 1 spyshot in middleeast cause its really really ugly!!! damn disappointed cause the current civic is very pretty and this new 1 is damn old design! the rear lamp makes the whole car looks even smaller like city…..big disappointed! current civic is my all time favourite…i really hate the new grille design! aizz
would be nice if this come with diesel engine and manual transmission..
nice car, i like tis design better than current model
How much i wish i could have brains and eyes of most *if not all* ‘automobile-professionals’ here, already start criticizing by just looking at the photos, some even go as far as predicting the 8th gen’s resell value. WHOAH~!!
Looks like Honda is playing it safe. Evolutionary rather then revolutionary. Boring actually…
The Coupe looks like it has a better overall shape than the 8th gen. The Sedan however looks like its gonna have a smaller boot opening than the 8th gen… which is not very big to start with… oh mai…
This one looks too normal to me. Current one still looks good.
Looks very “penget”. And I think the current gen’s rearlights, with it’s “jet engine thruster” four lights looked quite iconic for Civics. This one is somehow….hmm. Maybe the interior will look better.
I don’t like Honda!
First of all this “civic” is unveiled for the american market, where they love their cars looking aggressive with lots of sharp edges. On the other hand, us asians, prefer much more sleek and curved cars. Well I’m pretty sure they will rationalize the design for asian markets soon. My opinion on this car is rather mutual, not much of a step forward, doesn’t absorb too much of honda’s previous design language.
With this design, I’d rather buy a city. If i already own a City, I’d be very happy.
yeah,.agree..
u think Altis owners will rejoice due 2 this kind of design coming out from HONDA?
i quite agree with most of the comments above. Seriously i think Honda had being doing the ‘evolution-revolution’ design years now. think of CIVIC EF – EG, to EK/J – EP (ES?), now FD – F?, not to mention ACCORD CB,CD,CF…..
the sedan’s second picture where u can see the front, if you close the front and just see that picture of it’s side profile, it seems like the current honda city.
the front of the sedan seems quite nice to me. a bit like accord
i am a FOOL if i say this car is beautiful…
hit me… please…
I a fool too .. i guess … This car is beautiful .. better than gen 8, toyota altis or any korean design !!!!!!
The current Civic looks better , this model looks like bigger version of honda city with similar design
the car as a whole looks alright..nice but not “neo in the matrix WH0A” type of reaction
but dam wat were the designers thinkin when they decided to come up with the rear light design?
car to car (excluding interiors since there are no spyshots yet) i would say the current 8th gen civic looks way nicer
better buy civic 8th while in production before the 9th gen launch!!!
teh white Civic front lamp looked like it was copied from Proton Tuah/Espire…
Thumbs down for Honda, looks like they ran out of ideas
Thanks a lot Paul :]. It’s NICE & FUTURISTIC, I’m loving it already. Can’t wait for the all new Honda Civic Hybrid :)………………………………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually I find it funny and don’t understand why people start criticizing the design on concept images/videos alone and give thumbs down to others who like the design, but end up rushing to buy one later LOL…
for some reason i feel like this gonna be one of the cases where the new model looks older and less ‘edgy’ or ‘with the times’ then the model it replaces…(nissan march/micra, toyota wish to name a few imo) its a weak effort all around..i expected more fireworks from such an important model…the coupe looks good but coupe’s sell on looks and like i said..it merely looks good…better options out there….the saving grace would be if it debuts which some solid drivetrain options ..(turbo, double clutch perhaps??) but i doubt it
I agree with you on this one. 110% The Japanese manufacturers seemed to have hit a wall when it comes to exterior design ideas compared to the Koreans. Nissan seems to be recycling its own designs with almost all of their main selling models (Murano, X-Trail, 370Z). So too with Toyota. Witness the Altis.
Dissapointed old fashion design … Honda should engaged a fancy designer like what Kia did to get the “wow” factor back in … I was originally plan to switch from Toyota to Honda in 2012 but now seems like I have to re-considered again!!
both thumbs down on this model.
haha…the 8th gen a.k.a civic fd,fd2 & fd2r are much much much better than this one!!!!
it’s like between e60 and f10
i choose e60 anytime over f10
It going to be bread without butter line up to Honda. New Persona replacement model will not feel inferior.
The Japs hv lost too much juice wanking at JAV.
look so so ….. hope engine better , better V-tec inside!!!! wer is d new Type R?
don’t buy civic laa guys… its good on look, but to maintain it, is worse.. to whom owned 8th generation civic will know what i mean. Alway rosak rosak & rosak. Better get other continental cars like ford or VW or korean like hyundai… or go for new mazda cars.
thats reason i go to forte.
The main reason why I recommend the hybrid version is not only it’s the cheapest version, but it’s truly made in Japan itself so you’ll definitely get QUALITY unlike their CKD models.
They said it’s using a slightly larger engine of 1.5L i-VTEC like the CRZ, which means better performance figures and a new Lithium Ion battery instead of the previous Nickel Metal Hydride battery, providing an even better fuel economy :)…!!!!!!
tt’s exactly the same car testing in dubai leaked by middle east car! it looks like a city facelift to malaysian lah, those hardcore fan can continue to buy honda n be ridiculed by ppl who buy a hyundai, HAHAHA!
Hope interior and accessories are better. Add push start button and keyless entry would be good..
Looks like a big Honda City. Tuah and Forte looks better.
Anything uglier than this?
Surprise that Honda is going reverse
BMW also doing reverse things…
quite impressive at 1st sight, but looked like honda city the longer i gazed upon and the lucky part is it’s still not officially lunched from the esthetic’s view point.
hopefully this model would give us more surprise when the day it launch here.
this design is suxx compare to 8th gen, honda have lost now in design compare to kia nd hyundai, i love kia forte design.
do you want sacrifice for i-vtec
love Type R model than this…….
Im gonna buy a new car…
And my mind keeps thinking of Jap’s but my heart keeps telling me for Korean’s…
Should i follow my heart? Anybody?