Even for a Japanese company, the redesign of a brand new model just 18 months after its launch onto the market is a surprising move and it suggests that there was something wrong with the car to begin with.
It all started with a hammering of the (North American market) ninth generation of the Honda Civic by Consumer Reports, which dropped the car from its "Recommended List" and continued with an admission from Honda Motor CEO Takanobu Ito that the compact model wasn't what it should have been.
Surprisingly, despite all the pounding from the press, the Civic increased its sales this year by 40 percent through September, to 234,029 units…
Nevertheless, Honda wants to rectify all problems noted by motoring journalists and buyers alike, and which include the Civic's mundane looks inside and out, and the quality of the interior, with a redesign for the 2013 model year.
The revamped 2013 Civic sedan was introduced today in advance of its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November, with U.S. sales to start on the same day.
Honda said in a statement that the latest Civic "will encompass a host of safety, feature, comfort, chassis and interior styling enhancements that will further define the top-selling Civic as the best car in the compact class."
We only get two pictures of the exterior that reveal a redesigned face that borrows the more sculpted lines of the new Accord and a revised rear end with new combination lamps that extend into the boot, and a different bumper with new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent.
"The 2013 Honda Civic exterior refinements infuse Civic with a more youthful, premium style. Coupling these with additional changes beneath will ensure that Civic maintains its top-ranked status," said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda.
For more details including a look into what has changed in the interior and underneath the skin, we will have to wait until the unveiling of the car in LA at the end of the month.
18 Comments:
Very Good, please bring it to europe
Never been a Civic fan - this latest iteration is the best design the car has ever had. Borrowing design cues from the Accord & its twin the Acura ILX is the best thing that could have happened. Very handsome design indeed and priced well.
Honda's idea of a refresh is so predictable. Add a horizontal chrome strip across the rear, make the taillights wider or taller. I'm asleep already.
Oh a chrome stripe on the trunk connecting two disjointed taillights on a silver car. Never saw that before.
"Rectify the mundane looks" - and it manages to look even worse
I have to admit that I wasn't a fan of the current generation of Civics when they first came out. I suppose I was hoping for a more edgy and imaginative design after seeing it's competitors. It wasn't a bad look but it wasn't the best look either. I, like many others before me, was wholeheartedly disappointed as a matter of fact. It wasn't until recently that I realized that the seemingly ordinary look has somehow warmed itself into my heart. After a few years of tolerating its existence on the roads, somehow the simplicity of the civic's image manages to still captures my attention on the streets instead of aging along with its competitors. There is something to be said about a design language that exercises a certain level of constraint while maintaining a timeless persona that people of differing demographics can still appreciate and identify with. This new proposal seems to be able to capitalize on this trait...well at least on the outside. The stronger lines do impart an edgier feel. It also feels a little more grown up which I think will be a plus for sales. I just hope that Honda will do something about the interior especially the cheap interior plastics.
much much much motter better than the current generation although yes it is launched only 1 year ago but i think the poor sales points to the very bad design which is improved now
YOU do realize the Civic has been the best selling in its class for most of the last year?
I think it looks much more styled. I was so disappointed in the looks of the 2012 model, I hope they have added some features and upgraded the interior as well. The front grill looks much like the previous generation Accord, just on a smaller scale.
people who just bought the new civic will be furious finding out their cars will be updated to a better look in just a year..!! also the extra bit that gets to the boot in the rear tail light should be removed. then it will look much better.
Better than the last year of the previous Accord, when they slapped a red reflector strip in between the taillights (split by the license plate) that didn't match anything in any way. A minor change, but amazingly poorly done. It was like they just weren't trying. On the Accord before that they radically changed the whole tail end and tallights after just two years. Of course in the olden days American cars got facelifted and chromelifted every year.
I think Consumer Reports said the ride sucks and it was noisy too. And the interior was cheap. Sounds like they spiffed up the interior. Wonder about the NVH.
may be you are talking about the american market i dont know but about the whole middle east people went to korean (elantra/cerato) or german (jetta/octavia)and till now the resale of 2011 civic and earlier is better than 2012 model
oh dear, the civic is going back to being boring again
So it just a mini accord, great job honda....boring. Bring back the civic from back in day like the 1999 si and acura cars like the rsx, integra and legend. Still waiting on that nsx too.
Not sure about the Kia type mesh grill ... a pain to clean summer bugs & winter road salt. Is the center sliding armrest back? I do like the 2 tier/dash & digital speedometer. How bout a 5 door Civic Hatchback in the near future?
I agree with you, especially on the interior. I know, I own one. *runs and cries*
still no projector headlights!?!??!?!?!
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