Honda aims to increase its annual sales in Europe to 200,000 units and the next-generation Civic is an essential part of the plan.

The Japanese automaker has announced that the tenth-generation Civic will be launched in Europe in early 2017, with the five-door variant to be exclusively built at Honda’s UK Manufacturing plant (HUM).

In order to prepare for this new model, Honda has invested €270 million ($303.7 million) in new production technologies and processes, bringing the total investment in the site to €3 billion since 1985.

Last week, Honda unveiled the tenth-generation Civic in the United States in sedan form, with the hatchback version to be imported from the UK after the start of production. The US market will also get a Civic Coupe.

The Honda Civic Sedan is offered in the US with a new-generation 1.5-liter direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a CVT. The unit is believed to produce around 173hp. There’s also a 2.0-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine delivering 158hp. Honda did not say whether the sedan and coupe body styles will be sold to Europe as well, but the 1.5-liter engine will likely be offered across the Atlantic.

Besides the Civic announcement, Honda also said it will bring the all-new NSX hybrid supercar to Europe next year.

Note: 2016 Honda Civic Sedan pictured

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