First official glimpse on the next generation Civic revealed

Honda has given customers the first glimpse of what is to be expected from the ninth generation of the Civic with the presentation of two concept cars: the Civic Si Concept coupe and Civic Concept sedan. The North American International Auto Show was the stage chosen by Honda for the first presentation of a model that is scheduled to go on sale this spring.

"The Civic is known for providing a balance of 'just-right' packaging, fun-to-drive character and outstanding fuel economy, at a price that even first-time buyers can afford," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. "The redesigned Civic builds on this legacy and promises to be the best Civic yet."

With the 2012 Civic, Honda will be recovering a sentence that became the goal of the first-generation Civic: “Civic for all people.” To do so the Japanese brand will be offering the widest lineup of engine options available in the Civic’s class, as a way to meet the needs of an increasing group of compact-vehicle buyers.

The new Civic will be offered in sedan and coupe body types and the engine lineup will include conventional gasoline models, two sporty "Si" performance versions, a hybrid version and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.

Both models have cleaner lines than the previous generation Civic, yet they are more aggressive and give the new model a sportier look that should be more appealing to younger drivers.

Since its launch in late 2005 the current eighth-generation Civic has sold more than 1.5 million units and is a top-selling model for Honda. In 2006 the Civic received the prestigious Motor Trend "Car of the Year" and the North American Car of the Year awards.