Rendered Speculation: Next Euro Civic will look like Scirocco?
Keeping track of who's cribbing whose automotive designs is about to get even more difficult once Honda brings its new Euro Civic to market. If this rendering from Auto Express is to be believed, the new hatch is a certifiable stunner. That is due in large part to the fact it looks almost exactly like another stunner: the new Volkswagen Scirocco. Swap out the grille and the rear lights, and that Honda is... practically a VW.The OSM concept at the British Auto Show was the appetizer for the next Euro Civic's looks -- there was simply more distance between it and That Other Hatch since the OSM had no top. Under the hood, though, Honda has vastly different plans: rumors include a 1.5-liter hybrid with 150 hp and a 2.0-liter for the Type R that could be assisted by an electric motor
The 2-door hatch will be a different proposition than the 4-door and aimed at a different buyer just like the current models in Europe. Not that it will make a difference to American buyers, because just like the car it (kind of) plays doppelganger to, the Civic hatch isn't coming to the U.S. Thanks for the tip, Colin!
[Source: Auto Express]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2007RC46SP2 12:04PM (8/21/2008)
rendered speculation...
come on honda. pretty please.
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Robert112 5:16PM (8/21/2008)
type r that bad boy and ship it to the states
ytiradp 12:09PM (8/21/2008)
This would be a great replacement for the current Civic, sportier and definitely sexier than what it is now. Knowing Honda though this model won't make it to the U.S. and well end up with crap like they've been handing us with their last few models from both Honda/Acura.
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Jimbo 12:12PM (8/21/2008)
That's too bad. The Scirocco is not a good looking car, so I'd hate to see Honda go down that path.
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OLight 12:16PM (8/21/2008)
Another small car with a radical turn in styling...that won't come to the U.S. I can't help but to wonder if we wouldn't buy more small cars if they were decontented, cheaply-made, generic-styled econoboxes.
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2004m3driver 12:20PM (8/21/2008)
Looks more like the CRZ to me.
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Torrent 12:27PM (8/21/2008)
It looks like that Sports Car Concept from last month. Or the CR-Z.
Honda. Please make all 3 of them. Because I'll take anything except for the Canadian Civic- you know. The one with the 1 horizontal headlight......
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cheezwiz 12:35PM (8/21/2008)
Looks like Auto Express decided to mate the front end of an s2000 to a euro civic.
This brings up a great idea for the next civic type-r. Just make a 4-seater s2000 coupe and call it a civic. I'd buy it.
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Andybee 12:42PM (8/21/2008)
Most Auto-Express stuff is pie in the sky.
The industry doesnt call it Auto-Excrement for nothing....
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Red 12:47PM (8/21/2008)
I find it hilarious that the title speculates the next Civic could look like a Scirocco when the Scirocco seems to have been a direct, but updated copy of the 92-95 EG hatch. I suppose there's nothing particularly original these days...
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BilliBill 12:53PM (8/21/2008)
I have to say that the euro-Civic is one great looking, high quality car. I assume that the much-higher costs of production and "edgier" looks keep Honda from bringing this model to our shores.
Why doesn't Honda reconfigure the euro-Civic with the current hybrid US Civic's drive train and sell it domestically (for a significant premium) as a Prius killer?
I have always suspected that a big reason for the Prius' success has been the unconventional and unique look, as opposed to the Civic's Hybrid's rather conventional character.
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Sean Flanagan 2:01PM (8/21/2008)
Actually, Honda has done to Europe essentially what Ford has done to America with the Focus. The Euro Civic may look nice, but it's based on the previous-generation Fit/Jazz platform, and utilizes torsion beam rear suspension. That's right. It doesn't have independent rear suspension. By all accounts, it's nice to look at, but far worse than the previous generation to drive. We should count ourselves lucky that our Civic is the "real" one.
Red 2:27PM (8/21/2008)
@ Sean Flanagan,
You've apparently never actually driven the car. I dunno where the misconception that torsion beam suspensions always equate to inferior performance, but you guys need to get out and drive some of these cars. The 08 Cobalt SS puts most cars with an independent rear to shame. The biggest complaint with the Euro Civic has been a harsh ride. A simple spring would alleviate that.
bill 1:00PM (8/21/2008)
I am seeing more than a little Honda S2000 in the front end design. Besides VW is calling their hatchback a coupe, so Honda is not cribbing anything from VW because they are calling their car a hatchback and not a coupe.
Who cares! Both are cool looking cars, and I would be happy to have either of them.
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Travis 1:05PM (8/21/2008)
wait, why wouldn't we get the hatch? we do now...
unless you mean Type-R civics...
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mike 1:26PM (8/21/2008)
Here's something interesting, Both Chevy Cruze and Civic will comeout at about the same time. GM has been dropping a little here and a little there for some time. We all just saw full image of the car...........GM will be touting this thing for 2 years now.
And look at Honda, Look at Toyota. What will Prius and Civic look like? How many HP?, What is the MPG? NOTHING all a secret.
How long will it take GM to realize that by showing the car off 2 years in advance (in case of Camaro 4 years....yes i say the first pics loooooong time ago) kills the buzz when it comes out. That buzz at the very least can persuade a potential costumer to go to a dealership.
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ken_aisin 1:59PM (8/21/2008)
Not bad. It's unfortunate that Honda decides to use uglier designs for the U.S. market.
The new U.S. versions of Honda Accord, Honda Pilot, Acura TL, and the face-lifted RL are very hideous.
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NightmareMX6 4:14PM (8/21/2008)
Yet another cool car that the north american market will only see through pictures (if it does get made). I would put it high on the list of cars that I would buy. This kind of stuff annoys me, auto makers keep telling everyone that the US market doesn't like or want small hatches. But with higher gas prices these cars are in more demand. Also I see more 92-95 and 96-99 civic hatches then the coupe or sedan version.
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Milos 4:31PM (8/21/2008)
I think this is the CRZ or however the CRX successor will be named. Current generation of Euro Civic has been on the market here for about two years and it's too soon to have a replacement, especially since it's look is really futuristic and it's not going to look dated in year or two
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Jruhi4 5:30PM (8/21/2008)
I'd say that a more accurate description of that rendering is as the offspring of a crazy one-night stand between an Alfa Romeo MiTo and the Honda OSM Roadster.
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