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Honda to Sell Futuristically Styled European-Market Civic

North American-Bound Civics to be More Conservatively Designed

When Honda released the European-destined Civic concept car during last years Geneva motor show, representatives said that the compact hatchback was a 90 percent accurate example of the production model. The world collectively gasped when the tarp was pulled off, and for what seemed a single moment, paused.

What was Honda coming to? While weve seen some pretty radical looking stuff from Japanese automakers for their domestic clientele, no one could have expected Honda to take such a bold position with one of its highest volume vehicles.

The main question that everyone was asking, for the remainder of the Swiss show and for months after, was, would the orange, egg-on-wheels actually be the next Civic? Well, weve finally got an answer and Hondas officials werent lying; this is the European model year 2006 Honda Civic hatchback.

Eager to ditch any association of being synonymous with elderly, and terminally uninteresting, the European-market Honda Civic takes to the streets
No one could have expected Honda to take such a bold position with one of its highest volume vehicles. (Photo: American Honda)
with a completely new look, unlike anything ever seen from Honda before. Its aggressive styling escapes the realm of inoffensiveness, much the same way in which the Renault Meganes bold, pointy rump broke the mould of the conventional hatchback. Hondas main aim with the new Civic was to make it appear sporty and athletic, two terms that are key to success in the European C-Segment (Civic-sized) marketplace - two terms that recent generation Civics could never be described as. But after seeing photos of this Civic five-door hatchback, its safe to say that Hondas design team has easily mastered the head-turning art of looking cool. After eight generations (yes, its been that long), the Civic finally gets the style it has always deserved. Gone is the tall, minivan
Hondas main aim with the new Civic was to make it appear sporty and athletic. (Photo: American Honda)
shape, evident in the North American 3-door Si, replaced by a wind-shaped teardrop drawn with a surprisingly sporty coupe-like profile. After establishing a stance that puts a wheel at each corner, Civics design team went all out on the details, heavily inspired from the carrot-colored concept car.

Carried over is the polycarbonate grille-cover, which tricks the eye into thinking the headlamp is one long beam a la 80s Mercury Sable or Pontiac Grand Prix. Hidden rear door handles and funky triangular-shaped exhaust pipes add to its custom look. In comparison, the VW Golf, Opel Astra and even Fords radical second-generation Focus are yawn-inducingly boring.

While most cars grow in size and weight over the years, the latest Civic is smaller than the vehicle it replaces. Some 1.8 inches have been trimmed off the previous generation for a total length of 13.9 feet, but its grown in
Hidden rear door handles and funky triangular-shaped exhaust pipes add to its custom look. (Photo: American Honda)
wheelbase to 8.7 feet, and width to 5.8 feet. Though the Civic may be smaller, its bigger and roomier than ever before. Smarter packaging, which moved the fuel tank closer to the center of the car, and the addition of a torsion beam rear suspension allow an astonishing 14.7 cubic feet of cargo to be stored, despite the more rounded hatch. This increase, up from 13.1 cubic feet in the outgoing model, can be further increased with the addition of magic seats, which bump cargo volume up to 17.1 cubic feet by tumbling upwards and folding flat against the back hatch, a process that takes just one hand to execute. This equals some 2.3 cubic feet more cargo space than the competing Ford or VW.

If youre still staring in disbelief at the new Civics exterior styling, it may be best to turn your eyes away from the page because Hondas taken the sci-fi route in designing the interior of its latest compact creation. Modeled after a space
Hondas taken the sci-fi route in designing the interior of its latest compact creation. (Photo: American Honda)
ship (or possibly K.I.T.T from Night Rider), the cabin of the new Civic is completely left of the norm. The dashboard is highly complex, split into two tiers, both containing different controls and displays. The central instrument cluster is home to an oversized tach illuminated by Hondas traditional blue and white electroluminescent color scheme. The speedometer and optional LCD information display are strategically positioned on the top shelf, putting the information in the drivers line of sight, which will help to keep his or her eyes on the road. While the cars appearance may be the subject of many a debate for years to come, theres no arguing that the new Civic is ergonomically designed. All major controls for adjusting the interior climate are canted towards the driver, while the stereo controls seem easily within reach.
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