REPORT: Honda goes back to drawing board for smaller, lighter next-gen Civic
2009 Honda Civic – Click above for high-res image gallery
If you introduced an '80s-era Honda Civic to its modern counterpart, it couldn't recognize what it's become. But after decades of growing dimensions, Honda's going back to the drawing board for the next-gen Civic.
The change in direction was reportedly ordered last year before the global economy took a nose-dive by product chief Tsuneo Tanai who observed a rise in oil and raw metal prices. Once the financial sector hit rock bottom, the Civic emerged as a strong player, out-selling the Ford F-Series pickup as the number one vehicle in the United States in May 2008. Not satisfied with sitting back and seeing how things shape up, though, Tanai ordered his engineers and designers to scrap their plans and redesign the next-gen Civic to be smaller, cheaper, lighter and more fuel efficient.
The move coincides with Honda's re-strategizing vis-a-vis hybrids and electric vehicles, not to mention the cancellation of its V8 and rear-drive programs. But despite having put more people on the job, the decision to restart the Civic's development halfway through the process is sure to be a major setback for the company's lifecycle schedule. And not just for the Civic itself, but also for vehicles that share its platform, including the CR-V crossover, the Element sport-utility-box, the JDM Stream and European-market FR-V minivans, to say nothing of the upcoming CR-Z, Acura RDX, and of course the all-important Canadian-market Acura CSX.
Gallery: 2009 Honda Civic
[Source: Automotive News – sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Brian 4:30PM (10/26/2009)
Just as Ford and GM think they're going to have a "good" small car (the Cruze and next-gen Focus), Honda will come in with the next Civic and totally change the game. And Detroit will be caught with it's pants down, one step behind the transplants. Again
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cit09 4:39PM (10/26/2009)
This will be very interesting to see what Honda comes up with the next generation Civic. I am pretty sure that the next generation Focus will be a better car than it replaces and same for the Cruze. I hope that the other Japanese car competitors will take note cause it will another heated battle between them, the American auto-makers and their Korean counterparts.
Epsilon-Not 4:50PM (10/26/2009)
I assume that in the category of small cars, GM falls into the "Korean counterparts" section.
Soccer Mom 4:59PM (10/26/2009)
Average lateral driver size plays its role too....
James 5:00PM (10/26/2009)
The Civic can't get any bigger for the next gen..anything more would encroach the realm of the Accord.
It's about time Honda gets the Civic "downsized" (pun inclusive).
Luis 5:00PM (10/26/2009)
@cit09 - unfortunately the Cruze was due about 5 years ago. I've seen them on the streets on my recent trip to Oz and I was unimpressed. It's an aged design that will be severely outdated when it's finally released here. Not to mention in 2015 when the same model is *still* on sale.
Luis 5:01PM (10/26/2009)
@cit09 - unfortunately the Cruze was due about 5 years ago. I've seen them on the streets on my recent trip to Oz and I was unimpressed. It's an aged design that will be severely outdated when it's finally released here. Not to mention in 2015 when the same model is *still* on sale.
brad 5:06PM (10/26/2009)
Actually Brian, Ford will have the Fiesta on sale a year before the new smaller, lighter Civic.
Who's caught with their pants down???
Nice try Brian, but FAIL!!!
Brian 5:07PM (10/26/2009)
The Fiesta will compete with the Fit, not the new Civic.
And the Fiesta's seats don't EVEN FOLD FLAT unlike the fit, and it will be wearing an UGLY razor blade grill.
Dan 5:16PM (10/26/2009)
Honda's other recent products - new Accord, new CRV, new Pilot, Insight - haven't exactly been gamechangers. Outside of the Fit they haven't even been good.
Sure they're better than Detroit at segments Detroit ignores. But they sure haven't outdone - arguably haven't even kept up with - Toyota or Hyundai.
Luis 5:45PM (10/26/2009)
@Dan - I'd rather have an Accord over a Sonata or a Civic over an Elantra...however I wouldn't really want either the Accord or the Civic either. But definitely NOT the Hyundais.
Bob-omb 5:52PM (10/26/2009)
Nobody cares what you won't drive, Luis. If you don't want to own a Hyundai, you're missing out, plain and simple. And I own a '07 Civic.
The problem with the next Civic going smaller is that there is currently a whopping size difference between the Civic and Accord. So if the Civic is gonna essentially become a Fit sedan, the next Accord is gonna have to go smaller, too.
DKB_SATX 5:53PM (10/26/2009)
I'd actually take a Sonata over an Accord. After all, they're both generic transportation units. Even if you accept Honda's numbers which are quite optimistic for Accord depreciation and very pessimistic for Sonata resale, there's no way to make up the difference in transaction price, and the Accord isn't really offering much more than the Sonata anymore.
Elantra to Civic I'd have to agree with you, the Elantra is not a pleasing vehicle.
Like you, for my own vehicle I wouldn't have either unless required to choose between Honda and Hyundai. I drive a Subaru Legacy for now, though I'm afraid Subaru has left me.
Dan 6:21PM (10/26/2009)
Hyundais - outside the Genesis - aren't really aspirational cars here. Neither is a Civic on 15" steelies. The affordable family car isn't an aspirational segment.
Hyundai's recent product is competitive, their quality is outstanding, and their relatively low labor costs - both in Korea and Alabama - let them undercut everyone else on price. Their sales growth has reflected that.
You may not be interested in a Sonata, most people on this website aren't. I guarantee you Honda and Toyota are.
Randy915 9:56PM (10/26/2009)
The current generation Civic is quite heavy for a car of its size and it's felt during acceleration; a diet would certainly help even if they carried over the same 1.8L motor.
Luis 8:56AM (10/27/2009)
@Bob-omb: Call me a snob if you wish, but I drive a Bimmer. I'm not missing out on anything Hyundai offers, thank you very much. And no, I could care less that my small 3-series cost the same as a Genesis.
Sea Urchin 4:31PM (10/26/2009)
Finally, someone is making a next gen car smaller, aside from Nissan Z i can not recall one car that became smaller after the redesign.
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ser 4:37PM (10/26/2009)
I think the current gen Altima's smaller than the previous.
Paul 4:43PM (10/26/2009)
i agree, it's an ongoing cycle of making cars bigger. it just forces automakers to then create a completely new smaller vehicle that makes up for it. examples: toyota corolla-->toyota yaris.
Evan 4:50PM (10/26/2009)
The Fit is the true successor to the '80s-'90s Civic. The Civic is supposed to be a small cheap hatchback. The current Civic is closer in size to the old Accord, and isn't even available as a hatchback!