2012 Honda Civic exposed. (sorry for the disgraceful disappointment ahead of time)

[Kal-El]

So after a 6 year life of the current model (which I love), Honda takes a step backward and designs the ugliest Civic in modern history.

This was Honda's last chance to show they weren't led by visually impaired designers. Well, this proves they are. So sad.

http://www.carmiddleeast.com//pictures/car_images/Honda/Civic/608x380/2011-12Civic_3_1.jpg

http://www.carmiddleeast.com//pictures/car_images/Honda/Civic/608x380/2011-12Civic_2_1.jpg

http://www.carmiddleeast.com//pictures/car_images/Honda/Civic/608x380/2011-12Civic_4_1.jpg

http://www.carmiddleeast.com//pictures/car_images/Honda/Civic/608x380/2011-12Civic_5_1.jpg

[Kal-El]

How is this garbage from Honda supposed to compete with gorgeous designs from Ford, Hyundai, and Chevy?

2012 Focus
http://www.wheelosphere.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/2012-Ford-Focus-2.jpg

2011 Elantra
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/08/183997-copy.jpg

2011 Cruze
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FoXyvaPSnVk/TAffCo_NEKI/AAAAAAAC7BQ/bXgaf_rTAUw/s800/2011-Chevy-Cruze-01.jpg

[CTScott]

Wow! It looks like 2012 is going to be the year of the ugly car...

[detroiter]

I really hope that isn't the actual design. If it is indeed real, yes they did go backwards, it's starting to look like a Toyota. Hate to say that but can't hide the truth.


I love my Yaris but good lord, in my opinion all of the other Toyota models look so damn boring that it puts people to sleep just looking at them.

[Kal-El]

the ford's front is shamelessly lifted from audi:


Not even in the slightest. :iono:

[Black Yaris]

the ford's front is shamelessly lifted from audi:
http://www.auto-insight.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/2010-Audi-A3.jpg

funny you say that, Ford recently (a few years ago) acquired designers from VW to help improve their image

[Kal-El]

you need to know where to look, it is subtle yet still visible. look at the front lip towards the center the way the tips near the bottom part of the grill curve out, that is a signature style of the new Audis, basically Ford took the Audi design and made it narrower and thinner but it still screams Audi. And look at the four ventilation openings in the middle , look pretty much the same as on the audis

i would have to see the backside of that focus, but i bet its a mix of A3 and A4 styling just by looking at the lines near the rear.

Don't get me wrong I think Ford is doing great and has some beautiful cars (love the new Taurus), but they are not that original. That said I'd buy a Ford now without hesitation

Seems a bit of a stretch in that comparison. All cars can be compared that way.

Here's the back...

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/10q1/2012_ford_focus-auto_shows/gallery/2012_ford_focus_sedan_photo_10/3159399-1-eng-US/2012_ford_focus_10_cd_gallery.jpg

Have we not discussed the new Focus on Yaris World yet? Ford introduced this almost a year ago.

[SailDesign]

look at the taillights of the A4 and the Focus, at first glance theu don;'t look alike , but both have the same slants and pretty much the same flow of lines.
http://www.zcars.com.au/images/2008-audi-a4-32-sline12.jpg

PK - I don't want to poke sticks, but I design stuff for a living, and there is no similarity between those two at all. Except for the fact that they both have their tail-lights the same distance off the ground, on the two back corners of the car....
:smile:

[teddy]

The interior photo of the Civic has an "Econ" button which is present on the current Insight and upcoming Fit/Jazz Hybrid. I'd guess it's a Civic Hybrid. I seem to recall a while back Honda announcing that they were pulling all the non-hybrid Civics out of Japan (I think).

[SailDesign]

its ok Sail , the rear end is different . but IMO if you look at the front center lip you can see clearly the signature of the designer.

:smile:
Yubbut... The Evo did that particular trick before either Audi or Ford... IIRC

[why?]

it doesn't matter what the civic looks like, as long as they use the cheap ass suspension that lead to all the after market abandoning it, the car wont sell.

[silver_echo]

what is up with the two tier dash bit? looks like a cockpit... then it will really be "space ship" honda...

[firemachine69]

it doesn't matter what the civic looks like, as long as they use the cheap ass suspension that lead to all the after market abandoning it, the car wont sell.


Right. Because every commuter is just dieing to get their coil-overs on. :laugh:

[Kioshi]

Guys/gals, this could be the overseas version of the Civic....
The US may be getting a different rear end and front end...

Just look at the overseas versions of the Civics...versus the ones here. They have different tail lights and headlights....

[Kal-El]

Guys/gals, this could be the overseas version of the Civic....
The US may be getting a different rear end and front end...

Just look at the overseas versions of the Civics...versus the ones here. They have different tail lights and headlights....

True. Let's hope that's the case. For some reason, car companies make hideous designs for overseas. The tail lights here need serious work. They look like the were designed 8 years ago.

[p123456789]

looks like the front of an insight and the rear from a saturn ion fused together and it looks terrible.

[redglare45]

Civic's tailights remind me of the Saturn Aura

[cali yaris]

skipping all of the thread back to the beginning, yeah, that is an ugly Civic.

[SilverBack]

It's not ugly IMO. But it does look cheap, outdated, bland and boring. Definitely wouldn't stand out among other cars on the road if I saw it.

But then again, that's what I thought about the first gen. xB too and look at how many were into that...

[Thirty-Nine]

I don't understand what the hell Honda is thinking these days. I was a dyed-in-the-wool Honda guy for years, but I wouldn't buy any of their new product. I think the Fit is their most appealing product, and that's removing the fact I'm a small-car guy. I just don't get it. So many more interesting, better-looking vehicles.

[kimona]

Looks cheap AND ugly!

[toyo]

interior looks good lol

edit: as long as it costs as cheap as it looks, they might be on to something..

[Sabretooth]

I think I'm gonna stick with my Nissan Juke for bold yet beautiful styling.

[TickleTimeTim]

looks like the front of an insight and the rear from a saturn ion fused together and it looks terrible.

wow, i was thinking the EXACT same thing.

[TickleTimeTim]

oh, and i want that juke. was laying in bed watching tv with the wife last night, and as soon as the juke commercial ended, i said, "were getting that"

[chrisj]

Looks like an Accord. Ass end does anyway.

[Sabretooth]

I'm going to look at a juke right now...they don't have my color (white) but I have huge plans to mod that little beast....going to contact a local coilover maker to see what they can do for me, I want to slam it with some 17x9s with a little stretched tire, should look sick.

[why?]

Right. Because every commuter is just dieing to get their coil-overs on. :laugh:

Hmm, since the after market pretty much lead all Honda sales for a long time, and oh wait, since they changed it honda has pretty much dropped off the face of the planet sales wise, i think there is a huge connection.

[TickleTimeTim]

I'm going to look at a juke right now...they don't have my color (white) but I have huge plans to mod that little beast....going to contact a local coilover maker to see what they can do for me, I want to slam it with some 17x9s with a little stretched tire, should look sick.

ooooo, let me know how that thing rides!

[Kal-El]

Surprised there's so much interest in the Juke.

The majority of comments I've read elsewhere view the Juke as the ugliest vehicle since the Pontiac ASStec. In fact, it shares the 2-tiered light design and look of the Aztec.

I can't believe Nissan had the balls to copy the main design theme of the most epic failure in modern automotive history.

But should we not have a Juke thread? This is 2012 civic discussion.

[Sabretooth]

Post scion xb era has done a lot for the automobile industry. Its setup the oppertunity for comapnies to design vehicles that are a little more unvonventional, yet highly functionable.

[Kal-El]

Here's the sedan and coupe officially (well almost - the dark tint and smoked lights won't see the showroom. Also, these are the fully tricked out versions). Little better than initial spy shots but still a very lazy redesign from Honda.

http://www.hondaclub.cz/img/clanky/fotos/novinky/2205/honda-civic-9g-02.jpg

http://www.hondaclub.cz/img/clanky/fotos/novinky/2205/honda-civic-9g-01.jpg

http://www.hondaclub.cz/img/clanky/fotos/novinky/2205/honda-civic-9g-04.jpg

http://www.hondaclub.cz/img/clanky/fotos/novinky/2205/honda-civic-9g-03.jpg

[SailDesign]

Fugly, too. Blech!

[Soner]

The white 4 door seems really nice but of course that is going to be the top of the line Civic. Plus you can't (and shouldn't) tint front windows and lights. I am not sure how nice the basic model will look.

[matthewai]

yeah honda is wack but that new focus looks pretty sick i had a focus wagon before i got my yarii i also have a saab wagon turbo so no use having 2 wagons saabs are so sick though i wish i had the areo version

[Kal-El]

That's right, this is the 2012 Honda Civic in all its glory. Though it might be difficult to tell with just a casual glance, this Civic is brand-new, sharing practically nothing but its moniker with the previous generation. As much as we may have liked some additional visual flair, it seems Honda is being conservative and aiming right for the heart of the market with five separate and distinct flavors of its compact offering.

We'll start with the all-new HF model, which, as you may have guessed, is the most fuel efficient of the non-hybridized Civics that will be available in the United States. Honda expects the HF, with its 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon on the highway. The HF will share its aerodynamics package with the returing Civic Hybrid, which manages a combined rating of 45 mpg (a four-mpg improvement over the outgoing Civic Hybrid) thanks to its lithium-ion battery – a Honda-first – and 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine and CVT transmission. There's also a natural gas-powered Civic GX.

While those two models aim for the ultimate in fuel efficiency, we imagine that the standard Sedan and Coupe models will make up the bulk of sales. Buyers will find a 1.8-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine underhood with 140 horsepower that scores an EPA-estimated 39 mpg on the highway (a three-mpg improvement over the last Civic). The Civic soldiers on with a five-speed automatic at a time when most of its competitors are packing six ratios.

And then, of course, there's the sporty Si model. As the Civic that's meant to steal the hearts of performance lovers, it's nice to see a new 2.4-liter powerplant with 200 horsepower mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. Perhaps more importantly, the larger mill pumps out 170 pound-feet of torque, a 22-percent increase over the outgoing twist-starved Si. All that and an additional two mpg on the highway (31 mpg estimated) ought to make for a reasonably fun everyday commuter.

And now to the styling. We'll start off on a positive note: the 2012 Honda Civic is not ugly. Problem is, it's also not hugely attractive. In fact, *yawn* it's not really anything. Both inside and out, this latest Civic is barely distinguishable from the previous generation, and as competitors continue pushing their design envelope forward, well... we really expect more these days. Let's hope the driving dynamics live up to our lofty expectations, and let's also hope that Honda accidentally left the shipping blocks in the cars it used for photography – particularly the Si models – or the new model looks a bit high-riding.

In any case, you don't have to take our word for it. See the 2012 Civic for yourself in our high-res image gallery below and feel free to peruse the full press release after the break.

Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

* 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
* 5-speed automatic transmission
* ECO Assist technology
* EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
* EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg

Civic Hybrid Specifications

* 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
* Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
* Lithium-ion battery
* ECO Assist technology
* EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg

Civic Si Specifications

* 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
* 6-speed manual transmission
* EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/01-2012-honda-civic.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/04-2012-honda-civic.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/08-2012-honda-civic.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/05-2012-honda-civic.jpg

[Kal-El]

This is officially the worst redesign in automotive history. The current Civic has been one of my favorite designs out there since it came out, and now it's like blah, who cares. 2006 Civic = more modern than 2012 Civic = utter fail.

Also, Honda prided itself with the best economy car stance with little wheel gap on the current Civic. And now it is worse than Toyota economy car wheel gap. Now it's a Civic SUV.

And to remind people of the far superior interiors this thing must compete with...

Cruze

http://autocast.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2011-Chevrolet-Cruze-LT-Interior.jpg

Elantra

http://image.internetautoguide.com/f/auto-news/2011-hyundai-elantra-sedans-interior-first-look/28537736+w527+st0/2011-hyundai-elantra-interior.jpg

Focus

http://capitaltailgate.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2012-Focus-interior.jpg

And what adds to the embarrassment is that these are American and Korean cars that, until now, have always been much, much worse than Honda for interiors.

:thumbdown:

[severous01]

i'd take the audi....but that focus gets more of my attention every time i see it. and now they're supposed to be offering a full electric for 12 as well......if it's not 30k i may hop on the bandwagon.

isnt it cute.....that civid has flowers for wheels...guess those things really are designed for chicks.

[sqcomp]

Looks like an Accord. Ass end does anyway.

The front does!

http://www.airportmarinahonda.com/usr/theme/image/2010-honda-accord-coupe-1.jpg

http://www.carmiddleeast.com//pictures/car_images/Honda/Civic/608x380/2011-12Civic_3_1.jpg

Thr grill remonds me of the Ford Fusion...

[john21031]

I don't like the new styling either. I sat in the new one and the old one today and I like the old generation more.

The new civic reminds me of an ugly chevy cobalt.
http://www.pop.umn.edu/~eroberts/forblog/cobalt.jpghttp://www.thetorquereport.com/2012_honda_civic_spy_rear.jpg

[Kioshi]

the boxy designs of 2012....ikimashou~~~

screw all that...im keeping my Vitz FOR SURE now....

[Kal-El]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/05-2012-honda-civic-fd.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/03-2012-honda-civic-fd.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/04-2012-honda-civic-fd.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/19-2012-honda-civic-fd.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-2012-honda-civic-si-fd.jpg

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/02-2012-honda-civic-si-fd.jpg
First Drive: 2012 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe

by Zach Bowman

According to Honda, the designers of the 2012 Civic came to the U.S. for inspiration and found that the "one motion" concept of the '06 model was so well-liked that they simply decided to expand on the theme. If that's true, they've done an excellent job. It's difficult to pick the two models apart with a casual eye, though more faithful followers of Honda will notice a few more lines in the vehicle's front fascia and reworked headlights. Combined with a mesh grille, the details go a long way toward giving the compact an updated appearance.

The rear of the vehicle is adorned with new bodywork dominated by large, re-styled tail lamps and a slightly more expressive valance. The look does away with the slabish metal of the outgoing generation and makes the sedan appear considerably lighter on its feet than before. In coupe form, the styling seems lifted from the very-attractive Accord Coupe, and the lines wear well on the slighter form of the Civic.

If you were holding your breath in hopes that Honda would grace the American market with a resurrected Civic hatch, we're sorry to tell you that the company has no interest in bringing a three- or five-door compact to the market. That's despite the fact that both Ford and Hyundai clearly think the notion has legs. The reasoning is that Honda believes the large majority of American buyers don't want the extra functionality.

Overall, the new exterior is a logical progression from the eighth generation, and the 2012 Civic remains very attractive in coupe, sedan or hybrid guise. Likewise, the vehicle's cabin has been taken to the next level as well, though with mixed results. The dash has an even more driver-oriented pitch than before, and stacked layers of hard-plastic modules give the surface a disjointed, Picasso-like feel. The new design makes the eighth-generation dash seem calm by comparison.

If you found issue with the split-gauges of the last-gen car, you'll find no sanctuary behind the wheel of the 2012 model. The upper screen has been elongated to incorporate what Honda calls its i-MID system, or intelligent Multi-Information Display. The high-resolution five-inch LCD screen puts the navigation display to shame and educates the driver on audio selections, turn-by-turn directions and vehicle information. You can even upload your own personal backgrounds or leave the screen blank should you find it too distracting. Check out the Short Cut below for a demonstration. Oh, and don't listen to the narrator when he says its a 2011 model. He clearly doesn't know what he's talking about.

In Si trim, the upper gauge cluster serves up a few special tricks. For starters, the i-MID can be calibrated to display a special Power Monitor for real-time stats on engine power output. But the coolest part comes in the form of a sequential shift light nestled to the far left. Yellow and red LEDs illuminate beneath an i-VTEC logo, allowing stoplight racers everywhere to know exactly when the system engages. It's perhaps the single greatest piece of meme bait we've seen from any manufacturer in recent memory.

The good news is that Honda has implemented a handful of different colors and textures that serve to keep the dash from being completely unbearable. Unlike many low-buck offerings, the Civic hasn't resorted to graining its plastic to appear soft-touch. Instead, the materials give off an almost recycled aesthetic. Strangely enough, the dash uses harder materials that are more difficult to scratch than the door panels, which can be marred by an errant thumbnail.

Unfortunately, the kit just doesn't manage to stack up to the cabins of three of the newest competitors on the block: the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, 2012 Ford Focus and the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. Each of those vehicles offers a more up-scale, sorted dash while the Civic's cabin seems to have been lifted straight from the 1995 Prelude.

With 140 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque, the engine is as rev-happy as ever and begs to caned in all the right ways. Buyers can pick between either the optional five-speed automatic gearbox or a five-speed manual cog-swapper on lower trims, while the Civic Hybrid benefits from a CVT and the more menacing Si uses a six-speed manual. Thanks to the addition of full electronic power-steering, a little friction reduction inside the engine itself and a few aerodynamic adjustments, the EPA says that the 1.8-liter powered 2012 Civic is able to return 28 mpg city and 39 mpg highway when equipped with the standard automatic transmission. The mileage would represents a 3 mpg city and 3 mpg highway bump over the 2011 model.

With 32 mpg combined, the base Civic beats out both the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus at 31 mpg combined but falls behind the Hyundai Elantra at 33 mpg combined.

For buyers who want a truly-efficient gasoline-powered compact, Honda has resurrected its HF model designation to combat vehicles like the Chevrolet Cruze Eco and the Ford Focus SFE. The Civic HF uses additional under-body cladding to improve aerodynamics, special wheels, lighter tires and a unique rear deck lid spoiler to net 29 mpg city and 41 mpg highway with the five-speed automatic transmission. Though those figures tie the HF with the Bow Tie on the combined scale, Honda is quick to point out that the domestic offerings require buyers to opt for a manual transmission.

In order to help drivers eek the absolute best fuel economy from their Civic, Honda has installed its Eco Assist system on every 2012 model with the exception of the Si. This marks the first time that the driving coach has been implemented outside of the company's hybrid fleet, and just like in the CR-Z and Insight, bars to the left and right of the speedometer change from blue to green as the driver operates the vehicle more efficiently. In addition, a new Econ mode can be activated with a push of a button. The system automatically adjusts the vehicle's throttle-by-wire, shift mapping and air conditioning to make the Civic a more efficient vehicle overall. We wouldn't recommend mashing the little green button unless you're perfectly comfortable with full castration. The change is immense.

Meanwhile, the $22,955 Civic Si Coupe has gotten a respectable shot in the arm. Engineers yanked out the old 2.0-liter four-cylinder in favor of a meatier 2.4-liter unit with an extra four horsepower and 31 more pound-feet of torque. Final figures sit at 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of twist, which means for the first time in the history of the Si, there's actually a little bit of low-end grunt on hand. Full torque comes on at 4,300 rpm while max ponies are only available at a screaming 7,000 rpm. Make no mistake, this is still an engine that prefers to be wound tighter than a Hublot-wearing F1 fan.

We spent a fair portion of our time behind the wheel of an EX automatic sedan with brief stints in an Si, LX sedan and LX coupe with their respective manual offerings. After some time in a loaded EX-L that carried an MSRP of $24,205 with destination, we feel comfortable saying that if you have your heart set on a Civic, do yourself a favor and skip the topped-out trim. The leather seats, door inserts and wrapped steering wheel feel matched to a price point. The LX trim, on the other hand, offers quality cloth seats and a tiller that feels absolutely superb in your hands. It also weighs in at a very competitive $18,605 with destination when equipped with a five-speed manual transmission.

On the road, the Civic Sedan feels comfortable, though the high-winding 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine serves up its fair share of noise in the higher registers. Unlike some of its competition, the Civic still benefits from a four-link independent rear suspension that translates into a very stable, planted platform over the inconsistent pavement of the Beltway outside of Washington, D.C. and into Maryland. Still, we can't help but feel that the springs and dampers are a little on the soft side in sedan guise. In more aggressive driving, the four door serves up characteristic understeer with a good amount of body roll for the class. Fortunately, hopping into the coupe alleviates most of that feeling. Whether it's the benefit of not having to lug around two extra doors or simply the way the rear suspension is calibrated on both vehicles, we prefer the coupe's dynamics by far.

When equipped with the optional five-speed automatic transmission, shifts are handled quickly and without any drama. The 2012 Civic never feels harried or flustered, and while we can only speculate that the vehicle could net even more impressive fuel economy from a six-speed automatic or dual-clutch gearbox, the old unit has aged well. For those familiar with the Civics of old, sliding into the saddle of the ninth-generation feels just like pulling on your favorite pair of jeans. It's a level of familiarity that hasn't been lost through the modest exterior updates and bizarre interior.

With the standard manual five-speed transmission bolted behind the four-cylinder, the vehicle almost begs to be thrashed thanks to a fairly short throw. Unfortunately, a miserably light clutch means your left foot is afforded little to no feedback whatsoever. Still, despite having fewer ponies and less torque than the Elantra, the Civic is more engaging to drive. If we were looking for compact kicks, however, we'd be tempted to stick with the 2012 Focus.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about the Civic is that despite shunning all of the fuel-saving advancements employed by its competition, the vehicle still manages to come out as a solid player on this field. While we'd all love to see Honda knock out some truly incredibly fuel economy figures with its vehicles, the truth is that the company hasn't seen the need to add either cost or complexity to its systems given the results the vehicle is delivering right now.

Honda is well aware of the rising tide of capable compacts, and while strong entries like the Elantra, Cruze and Focus may take a bite out of Civic sales in the long run, brand loyalists will still beat down dealer doors to get their hands on this newest piece of hardware. Besides, if you were hoping for a full-on Civic revolution, history would point to you not having to wait too long. We give it another three to five years before a completely-new generation surfaces.

In the meantime, the 2012 Civic offers plenty of space, competitive fuel economy and a drive that's entertaining enough to keep you from going flat-line on your way to the office. It's a recipe that's kept Honda on the right side of history for years and it doesn't look to be failing any time soon.

[ERA]

its the end of the world!

[Kal-El]

its the end of the world!

It should be the end of Honda's world, but people will buy Honda's no matter how awful they become.

It boggles the mind that this is a completely new car. Not one shared panel, or anything and yet to the casual onlooker, they may confuse it with the 2006-2011 model. So sad.