Honda To Dealers: Reworked Civic coming before end of 2012

It's no secret that the 2012 Honda Civic has been the subject of harsh criticism since its launch earlier this year. It's also no secret that Honda is rushing to redesign the Civic, and while we originally reported that the new car would be coming sometime in 2013 or 2014, a memo to the automaker's dealer network states that the reworked Civic will arrive before the end of 2012.

We use the term "redesign" lightly, of course. As much as Honda wants to improve upon its new Civic, the truth is that the updates to the car will almost assuredly be the standard mid-cycle refresh kit. Our best guess is that the interior will benefit from more soft-touch materials and added sound deadening and there could be new paint and wheel design options. According to The Associated Press, American Honda President Tetsuo Iwamura stated that the automaker will "improve the Civic's drivability," meaning a slight suspension and driveline tuning could be in store, as well.

Still, any improvements will indeed be welcomed. Iwamura told AP that the Civic is still the "leader in compact cars," but lackluster sales and a failure to earn a Consumer Reports Recommended rating – a first for the Civic – say otherwise.