next generation Civic

Will the next generation Civic be released in 2005 or in 2006?

In 2004 model, the Vtec engine is available for the first time in a 4 door
Civic in Canada.
It was about time since almost all Japanese makers offer some kind of
variable timing or lift mechanism.
IMO, this is still not enough when compared with the competition.
The Civic gives a choice of a 1.7 non Vtec or Vtec (don't count the SiR
because of different size and price range).
Mazda 3 gives a choice of 2.0 or 2.3, Nissan 2.0 or 2.5 and I think that
Corolla has a 2.0. Mazda remade their compact completely while Nissan will
remake their Sentra in 2006.
In about 2 years I'll be shopping for a second car (we already have a 2002
CR-V)... I'd really like to buy a Civic and I'm wondering what will Honda do
to make me buy the next generation Civic? Will they be daring enough?

 

Larger engine size does not make for a better package. When factoring
efficiency, power and durability, Honda's 4 banger is as good as it gets.

The Civic's engine has definitely improved over the generations, however the
same could not be said for the rest of the car. For example, a friend of mine
bought his automatic Civic Si Hatch in 1990 and after 400,000km he's still using
it as his primary day-to-day vehicle. All components on the car is still
original, even the springs and shocks have never been changed... Now, lets
compare that track record to Honda's current Civic model which tend to need a
new strut every year or two..

Honda has always been good at reading the market and upping the anti with each
subsequent Civic release. I'm very interested to see what's in store for the
next generation. It will have to be very good to make up for the mistakes
attributed to the current model. Not that the current model is a bad car, it
just doesn't have the genes that made the Civic so endearing in the first place.
The current model does not seem to inspire a high degree of loyalty when there's
so many alternatives that share the same formula (a safe reliable mundane
commuter with ample cabin space).

Pars
98 Civic Hatch

 

I'm not sure what is meant here http://www.vtec.net/modelmatrix/ but I'd
guess their best guess is intro of the 2006 model in the usual Fall '05
timeframe.

In Thailand, which is a major mfr point for Honda Asia, the Civic is
available with a 2.0L K-Series engine... albeit only with AT. There's some
interesting stuff here http://asia.vtec.net/article/2003Civic/ on the
mid-life enhancements and indications that Honda realized that, in some
markets, the Civic has taken a beating from the Corolla/Altis and Sentra.
IOW there is work to be done. Whether we'll ever get a good front
suspension back, I tend to doubt it - more likely they'll follow the usual
Japanese practice of massaging and tweaking inferior designs.

Your point about the SOHC engine is well taken - that old thing is getting
tired... even antiquated. If they put the K-Series in the Civic though,
they're going to have to do a bit of juggling with the premium models like
the Integra and Civic Si(R) to keep some differentiation. I'm not sure
what the uptake is on the Hybrid in N.America but we could see increased
emphasis there, not that it appeals to me in any way. It'd also be nice to
see them implement their own DI diesel engine, as opposed to the Isuzu
they're selling in Europe but I doubt that the marketroids will see such a
thing as viable for N.America... in the same way that we don't get the
Accord Wagon.

Right now, if I were buying in your target segment, I think I'd go for a
Corolla, boring as it is, over the Civic - it's just a more comptetent car
for the job... and I'm weary of some of Honda's shortcomings. In 2006
though there're going to be quite a few new options. Nissan should be
introducing their new cross-over SUV/car, a sort of scaled down Murano and
I hear that Renault may bring in some models to be sold through Nissan
dealerships.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??